Examen Poeticum – John Dryden & Others – 1693 | First Edition Miscellany

Examen Poeticum is a 1693 collection of miscellaneous poems often refered to as “Tonson’s Miscellanies”. This first edition of the third installment includes some of the most iconic works of classical literature. Notable works include translations of Ovid’s Love Elegies as well as portions of Metamorphoses translated by John Dryden. Other selections include those of Catullus, selections for Fulvio Testi, odes of Horace, and passages from Homer’s Iliad. This work, and the others from the set, offered readers an exposure to ancient, classical literary traditions.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Examen poeticum: being the third part of Miscellany poems
• Author(s): various
• Illustrator(s):
• Contributor(s): John Dryden (Translator)
• Publisher: London: Printed by R.E. for Jacob Tonson
• Edition: First edition, 1693
• Format: (8vo), single volume
• Binding: Full leather
• Size:  8 in x 5 in (20.3 cm x 12.7 cm)
• Collation: [42], 468, [16], 84 pages
• Illustrations:
• Contents Include:
  • Translations of Ovid’s Love Elegies and portions of the Metamorphoses by Dryden
  • Selections from Catullus
  • Excerpts from Fulvio Testi
  • Odes of Horace
  • Passages from Homer’s Iliad
  • Syphilis
• Provenance: provenance
• Reference(s): references

Condition:

Good. Full leather binding showing rubbed corners and edges, with some loss at hinges. The text block remains complete, though age toning is present throughout the pages. Overall secure and stable, reflecting typical wear of a 17th-century volume.

Why Collect This?

• Early first edition in Tonson’s influential miscellany series
• Features Dryden’s significant English translations of Ovid and Homer
• Appeals to collectors of Dryden, classical translations, and Restoration-era printing

Item Number: # 29367