title: An Essay on Criticism
author:  Alexander Pope 
description: Privately printed by John Henry Nash in an edition limited to 250 numbered copies as a Christmas book for William Andrews Clark, Jr. Nash Printings p.60 . Includes an introduction by Williams, a bibliographical note by Cora Edgerton Sanders, a bibliography of Pope, a chronology of the life of Pope, followed by the text of An Essay on Criticism printed in reda and black and typeset by Nash. This is accompanied by a seperate 8vo. facsimilie of the first edition prepared from the copy in Williams' collection. Ornamental borders outline the frontispiece and title page. The frontispiece is a dry-point etching of Pope by William H. Wilke. Some foxing of vellum. Bookplate removed from front pastedown. Slipcase worn with damaged spots. iv ,43, 5 ; frontispiece, xlix,36, 2 pages. each bound in quarter vellum with paper-covered boards, in a 4to. paper-covered slipcase.. 4to. and 8vo..
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)  
  www.blackmask.com
  
  * * *
  
  An Essay on Criticism
  
  
  ALEXANDER POPE.
  
  
  AN ESSAY ON CRITICISM, WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1709
  
  
    
    
  PART I.  
    
  PART II.  
    
  PART III.
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2003 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  # An Essay on Criticism
  
  
  ### Alexander Pope
  
  
  This page copyright © 2003 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  * ALEXANDER POPE.
  
  
  
  
  
  * AN ESSAY ON CRITICISM, WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1709
  
  
    * PART I.
  
  
  * PART II.
  
  
  * PART III.
  
  
  
  
      
  
  Produced by Ted Garvin, David Garcia
  
  
  and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
  
  
  
  
  
  AN ESSAY ON CRITICISM.
  
  
  BY
  
  
  ALEXANDER POPE,
  
  
  WITH INTRODUCTORY AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### ALEXANDER POPE.
  
  
  * * * * *
  
  
  This eminent English poet was born in London, May 21, 1688. His
  
  
  parents were Roman Catholics, and to this faith the poet adhered, thus
  
  
  debarring himself from public office and employment. His father, a
  
  
  linen merchant, having saved a moderate competency, withdrew from
  
  
  busines