Fletcher, Phineas (1582-1650)
The Purple Island, or the Isle of Man. Cambridge: by the Printers to the University, 1633.First edition, quarto, regular paper copy, title page printed in red and black, all three blanks present; bound in contemporary speckled calf boards, rebacked, gilt-tooled spine, ex libris Frederic Robert Halsey, E. Hubert Litchfield, and John Drinkwater with all three bookplates pasted inside the front board; sold at Sotheby's November 15, 1977 as part of the David Borowitz library, and previously at the same venue on December 4, 1951; housed in a buckram chemise and slipcase, 7 1/4 x 5 1/2 in.The Purple Island was Fletcher's chief work, "an elaborate allegorical description of the human body, with anatomical notes" (Osler). "The work covers three large areas of Man: the external, physical anatomy; the internal, moral-mental-spiritual anatomy; and the war of virtues and vices. The Purple Island is easily one of the most unusual poems in English" (DLB).STC 11082; ESTC S102332; Pforzheimer 376 Hayward 67; Krivatsy 4121; Osler 4810; Westwood & Satchell, page 95.From the Ken Rapoport Collection.