Books

Volume measuring approx. 8 inches tall, containing 3 works by or attributed to Lord Byron from 1818 to 1819. Bound in full dark blue morocco by Bayntun of Bath, lettered and decorated in gilt, edges lightly rubbed, front outer hinge cracked and starting to loosen slightly, spine mildly sunned; all contents nearly FINE, clean and unmarked and free of age toning or spotting, binding square and tight. "Mazeppa" is the First edition, Second state, London, 1819, with the imprint on the reverse of p. 71 and the printer's name on the verso of the half title; the 'Fragment' is present, pagination 2 leaves, [1]-71, [1] ads. "The Vampyre" is the First Edition, the Sherwood, Neely third Issue, London, 1819, half-title is present, the 'Extract', pp. 73-84, is present; paginated [i] - 84. Gathering 'A' reset to 23 lines, and "almost" at the beginning of the final line p. 36. "Beppo" is the Fourth edition, London 1818, 51, [1] pages. Also bound at the end is an extra work "Letter to **** ******, on the Rev. W.L. Bowles' strictures on the Life and Writings of Pope", Second edition, London, 1821, 61 pages.

The Vampyre was written by John William Polidori in 1819. It is considered one of the first modern vampire stories and was inspired by a story fragment written by Lord Byron during the famous 1816 gathering at the Villa Diodati, where Mary Shelley also conceived Frankenstein. Polidori's novella introduced the aristocratic vampire archetype, which influenced later vampire literature, including Bram Stoker's Dracula.