[DE QUINCEY, Thomas (1785-1859)]. Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, London, 1822, 12mo, half title, original publisher's boards, later book box by Riviere. FIRST EDITION.

[DE QUINCEY, Thomas (1785-1859)].  Confessions of an English Opium-Eater. London: "Printed for Taylor and Hessey," 1822 [Appendix dated Sept. 30th, 1822]. 12mo (180 x 105mm). Half title, with the blank leaves [i.e. free endpapers] at the front and back but without advertisements [as often] (a few isolated spots, some signatures detached or starting). Original publisher's grey paper boards, printed lettering-piece laid down on spine, uncut (corners lightly bumped, lightly rubbed, inner hinges weak or splitting, some inconspicuous repairs to spine), contained in a fine later red crushed morocco book box with red folding silk chemise by Riviere and Son, titled in gilt on the spine. Provenance: The Property of a Lady, by descent from her great grandfather; Sir [?]W. J. Stewart (old signature on front free endpaper). FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM of the "... the most famous account of drug addiction in English literature" (Norman) and the author's first book, published anonymously. The work had previously appeared in periodical form in the October and November 1821 issues of 'The London Magazine'. "De Quincey's study of his own opium addiction and its psychological effects traces how childhood and youthful experiences are transformed, under the influence of opium, into symbolical and revealing dreams. The central experience for subsequent dream-formations was his childhood loss of his sister, duplicated by the disappearance of the 15-year-old prostitute Ann, who befriended him during his months of homeless near-starvation in London. The euphoric reveries of the early stages of his addiction and the appalling nightmares of the later stages are described in sonorous and haunting prose, and the work, first appearing in the London Magazine in 1821, conferred instant literary fame on De Quincey, whose first book it was. In 1856 he greatly extended the Confessions for a collected edition of his works, but thereby blunted its effect" (The Oxford Companion to English Literature (ed. Drabble, 1985)). "... [C]ontaining some of his best work ... It excited much attention ..." (DNB). Green Thomas de Quincey. A Bibliography Based Upon the Collection in the Moss Side Library [Manchester] 354; Lowndes IV, 2026; Norman Library of Science and Medicine 619; Tinker 817. RARE, PARTICULARLY IN THE ORIGINAL BOARDS.