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The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope, 1902
One of 160 unnumbered copies printed
Johnson #13, Ransom #12

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This book is printed in black and red to great effect. The only decorations in the book are the floral devices visible above. This copy has a prospectus for the Elston edition of Five Authurian Poems (by William Morris) tipped in the back.

The Rape of the Lock is a mock-heroic poem based on an actual incident. It seems a young nobleman in love with Arabella Fermor cut a lock of her hair depsite her protests. The families of Arabella and the young nobleman became quite hostile to each other over the incident, and Pope tried to placate everyone with this poem. (From The New Century Handbook of English Literature).

Click on the image above to see a close-up.