[Literature] [Homer] Chapman, Geo(rge). The Whole Works of Homer; Prince of Poetts In his Iliads, and Odysses...

London: Printed (by Richard Field and William Jaggard) for Nathaniell Butter, (ca. 1616). Two parts in one volume. Folio. (xxii), (ii, errata), 341, (1), (8), (6, blanks); (xii), 376 (but 374), (2) pp.; with a separate letterpress title-page for the Odyssey; prelims in first part bound out of order; A5r in second part starting "Poet" instead of "Poet." (according STC, from the 1634 reprint). Translated from the Greek by Chapman. Illustrated with a tipped-in engraved general title-page by William Hole, engraved dedication leaf to Henry Prince of Wales (bound before the Odyssey), and woodcut initials, and head- and tail-pieces throughout text; without engraved portrait of Chapman (as called for in STC 13624, and "sometimes" found according to Pforzheimer). Full contemporary brown calf, stamped in blind, rebacked to style, orange gilt morocco spine label, boards lightly worn; red speckled edges; endpapers sometime renewed; engraved title-page toned and lightly soiled, edges to same with small chips, bottom corner of same repaired; scattered spotting and soiling to text leaves; contemporary ownership signature of Christopher Stephenson in upper margin of Ee1v; verso gutter of engraved dedication repaired. STC 13624; Pforzheimer 169 and 170 (and see note in 169)

Scarce first collected edition of George Chapman's translation of the works of Homer. The first complete translation in English, Chapman's work was extremely influential on English literature, and until Alexander Pope's translations in the early 18th century, was the primary and most accessible edition for English readers. Praised by the likes of John Keats, Algernon Charles Swinburne, and George Saintsbury, the latter who wrote, that "Chapman is far nearer Homer than any modern translator in any modern language."

Each part was first printed separately, ca. 1611-12 (Iliad) and ca. 1614-15 (Odyssey), with some remainder copies then bound together with a general engraved title-page as seen here. A reprint was issued in 1634, and according to Pforzheimer, in 1640 the Iliad was reprinted by Thomas Harper. This copy without the unsigned sheet containing the sonnets to Viscounts Cranborne and Rochester and to Sir Edward Philips, which according to Pforzheimer is a "great rarity" (only six copies with it were traced by him).

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Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

[email protected]267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

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[Literature] [Homer] Chapman, Geo(rge). The Whole Works of Homer; Prince of Poetts In his Iliads, and Odysses...

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