1864, 1st, THE QUEST OF THE SANGRAAL: CHANT THE FIRST, HAWKER, ARTHURIAN LEGENDS
$ 739.2
Description
The Quest of the Sangraal: Chant the First by R. S. Hawker Exeter: Printed for the Author 1864 First Edition Slim octavo, 45 pages, bound in quarter red leather over red cloth covered boards. Spine lettered in gilt. Marbled endpapers. Previous owner Nathan Comfort Starr’s neat bookplate and dated inscription, with additional ownership inscriptions by later scholars. New free endpapers. Some slight rubbing and wear, minor foxing and discoloration, else in very good + condition. The Quest of the Sangraal: Chant the First (Exeter, 1864) is a mystical Arthurian poem by Robert Stephen Hawker, the eccentric Cornish clergyman and poet best known for “The Song of the Western Men.” Written in elevated blank verse, the work reimagines the medieval quest for the Holy Grail as a Christian allegory of divine revelation and spiritual yearning. Hawker blends romantic medievalism with the moral and devotional intensity of the Victorian religious imagination, depicting Arthur’s knights as seekers of ultimate truth and purity in a world shadowed by sin and doubt. Though only the first “chant” of a projected sequence was ever published, the poem remains a striking expression of Hawker’s fusion of Celtic legend, Anglican mysticism, and poetic idealism—an ambitious, if fragmentary, contribution to nineteenth-century Grail literature. This copy bears Nathan Comfort Starr’s personal bookplate along with a sequence of dated inscriptions that together form an exceptional record of scholarly provenance. Starr—an influential American literary scholar and Rhodes alumnus—was one of the early twentieth century’s foremost authorities on Arthurian legend and the history of learning. His 1920 Oxford inscription situates the book at a formative moment in his academic career, when he was deeply engaged in the study of medieval and religious literature that would later define his work. The subsequent ownership by Elliot A. Wieser in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1928), and Michael L. Wyer in Ithaca, New York (1969), suggests the book remained within successive generations of university scholars, from Harvard to Cornell. The presence of Starr’s bookplate and these linked inscriptions together document a remarkable continuity of intellectual ownership, reflecting the sustained academic interest in Hawker’s Quest of the Sangraal across half a century. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and don't forget to check out my other listings.
Thank you very much for the wonderful children’s book. The item arrived exactly as described and in beautiful condition, and I am truly delighted with it. The packaging was extremely careful and secure, and I could feel your consideration the moment I opened it. The shipping was very fast, and the entire transaction was smooth and comfortable from start to finish. I sincerely appreciate your kindness and prompt communication. Thank you again, and I would be happy to purchase from you again if
The parcel was packaged and wrapped with significant care, I didn’t recognize it was my package at first due to its size…I would’ve gladly paid shipping fees for this kind of extensive packaging. Nothing was damaged during transit and it arrived on time, excellent work! The item itself is also exactly as described by the seller, no more no less. I am well satisfied with this purchase. Great seller!! A+++
Fantastic seller. Contacted me almost immediately with shipping details and an explanation about a potential delay due to the Juneteeth holiday. Book was wrapped in a ridiculous amount of bubble wrap so it would arrive safely. So awesome to have a book from the early 1800s on free trade. This was absolutely a great value and would buy from again! I have zero complaints.
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