[SMITH, Horace (1779-1849) & James (1775-1839)]. Rejected Addresses, London, 1812, 8vo, contemporary half calf (worn, covers detached). Fourth edition.

[SMITH, Horace (1779-1849) & James (1775-1839)].  Rejected Addresses: or, the New Theatrum Poetarum ... Fourth Edition. London: John Miller, 1812. 8vo (173 x 100mm). Half title (some staining at inner edges of the first few leaves sometimes affecting letters, some other light spotting or staining). Contemporary half calf (worn, lacks spine, covers detached). The Drury Lane Theatre burnt down in 1809. It was quickly rebuilt and in 1812 a competition was held for an address to be recited at the public reopening. Since the quality of submissions was considered inadequate, Lord Byron was commission to write one. In the meantime, having heard of the discouraging results of the competition, the brothers Horace and James Smith composed the parodies contained in the present volume purporting to be a collection of the rejected entries. Although the contents leaf identifies the supposed authors by initials only, it would have been clear that the writers parodied included Byron himself, Coleridge, Johnson, Scott, Southey, and - somewhat anachronously - Shakespeare. The preface declares the selection "... a fair sample of the present state of poetry in Great Britain." Provenance: From the Collection of the late Countess Bunny Esterhazy (1938-2021).