Just Reduced by $500.00 Samuel Butler's 'Hudibras' is a literary treasure by any estimation. It concerns the English Civil War and it was intended to ridicule the Presbyterians, Dissenters, and others who had fought against the crown in the conflict between Charles I and Oliver Cromwell. It was published shortly after the restoration of Charles II and the poem had immense popularity at the time. This set is an extremely rare offering as it contains all three volumes (1663-1664-1678) in the first edition and the first issue. I have found no other copies of this set currently available and the ABPC indicates that no full first edition set has been offered for decades. The three volumes are the first issues of the authentic 'author's own' First editions. All points of issue in Lowndes are present in these books. The volumes are bound in full calf (mid 17th century) with hand tooled ornamentation on all front and back boards. The boards show some rubbing and staining from age but they are beautiful nevertheless. There are "Catchwords' on each page for the convenience of the printer in keeping things in their correct order.This is where our language added the word 'Catchword' to our dictionaries.The textblocks are virtually pristine with no foxing except on the blank preliminary pages. Volume two lacks the imprimatur preliminary page. Otherwise the texts are absolutely complete. There have been minor repairs done by a professional binder to strengthen the inner rear hinges of both volumes 1 and 2. The errata are all present as called for. Volume three has been rebacked. Volume three was issued in a different size than the other two volumes and this has been compensated for in the magnificent presentation that I commissioned for this work. These are extremely rare books. PRESENTATION CASE: These fine volumes are housed in a full leather case that is made of the finest leather. The case is lined in hand-painted book paper much as the marbled paper found on endpapers. There is a small shim installed in the case to compensate for the slightly differing height of volume three (less rthan half an inch). Each volume has it's own hand made cover that it goes into before inserting the volume into the case. The three covers are made from both leather and the same painted paper that is inside the case. The spines of the covers are leather with leather labels and 23k gold titling indicating the title and volume. I know that this sounds complicated but these things can be hard to describe. I would encourage you to ask for pictures if you have a serious interest in this set. The rear of the covers is also leather. All in all, this is a wonderful copy and presentation of the Great 'Mock-Epic' Hudibras.