Bidspirit auction | Lawrence, T. E. The Odyssey

Lawrence, T. E. The Odyssey of Homer. Oxford, 1991. With a Two-Volume Set of Poems of Ossian. - This lot comprises a collection of hardcover books including a notable modern translation of classical literature and a two-volume scholarly set of Scottish poetry. The first item is The Odyssey of Homer, newly translated into English prose by T. E. Lawrence, published by Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 1991. This octavo volume is bound in green cloth with gilt-stamped spine lettering. It features decorative map endpapers titled The Wanderings of Odysseus and contains an introduction by Bernard Knox. The title page includes a woodcut-style circular illustration of Homer. The second item is a matched two-volume set of Poems of Ossian by James Macpherson, published by James Thin at The Mercat Press, Edinburgh, 1971. Both volumes are bound in blue cloth with gilt titles and a gilt heraldic lion rampant crest on the front covers and spines. These volumes include a scholarly introduction by John MacQueen of the School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh. Also included is a heavily distressed antiquarian volume bound in green cloth. The text includes an introduction referencing War Songs of the Germans, by J. S. B. - Edinburgh, 1870, identifying the author as John Stuart Blackie. This volume lacks a title page and shows significant structural damage.