Ovid’s Epistles – 1729 | Heroides & Amours in English, Mythology | First Edition

Ovid’s Epistles: With His Amours, translated into English and published in 1729, is a rare edition of Ovid’s famous Heroides. These letters portray mythological heroines and goddesses writing to their heroic lovers, by whom, all had been mistreated. This first Tonson edition is notable for including the English translations of notable English poets including John Dryden, Nahum Tate, Edward Poley, John Cooper, and still others.

In addition to Heroides, this work includes Ovid’s Amours, his collection of love elegies he writes to a figure named Corinna. These verses are often paired with Heroides because of their similar theme.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Ovid’s Epistles: With His Amours
• Author(s): Ovid
• Contributor(s): John Dryden (Translator); Nahum Tate (Translator); John Cooper (Translator); Edward Poley (Translator); John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave (Translator)
• Publisher: London, Printed for J. Tonson
• Edition: First Tonson Edition, 1729
• Format: (16mo), single volume
• Binding: Full leather
• Size:  6.5 in x 4 in (16.5 cm x 10.2 cm)
• Collation: [24], 348 pp
• Illustrations: Full-page engraved plates throughout
• Contents Include:
  • Heroides
  • The Amours

Condition:

Very Good. Bound in full leather with some rubbing at corners. The text block is tight and secure. Pages show mild staining and moderate foxing, but all text remains legible. Plates are intact.

Why Collect This?

• Early English poetic rendering of Ovid’s Heroides and Amours
• Contributions from Dryden and other notable translators
• Illustrated throughout with full-page engraved plates

Item Number: # 29561