MICKIEWICZ Adam, Poezye.

Poezye.

T. 1-2 (in 1 vol.) Wilno 1822-1823. printed by Jozef Zawadzki. 16, pp. XLII, 116, [2], 117-140, [4]; 214, [2], 14 vignettes in woodcut, pd. period binding.
First collective and debut edition of the poetry of Adam Mickiewicz. Volume 1 in an edition of 500 pieces dedicated to Jan Czeczot, Tomasz Zan, Jozef Jeżowski and Franciszek Malewski, friends of the poet. The print run was quickly exhausted and the poet, at the urging of his friends, decided to reprint the first volume (it is worth noting that the offered copy comes from an edition of 500 copies, as indicated by the presence of the "Printing Mistakes" card, the list of mistakes in the reprinted edition is no longer there). It contains the works: Speech; Ballads and Romances (Pierwiosnek, Romantyczność, Switeź, Switezianka, Rybka, Powrot Taty, Barrow of Maryla, To friends sending them Ballad: I like it, Glove, Pani Twardowska, Tukaj Ballada I, Tukaj Ballada II, Lilies, Dudarz); Miscellaneous Poems (Hymn to N.P. Maryi, Sailor, Checkers, Reminder Sonnet). Volume 2 has already appeared in an edition of 1,500 pieces. It contains: Grazyna (Epilogue of the Publisher, Historical Footnotes to Grazyna), The Phantom, Dziady Part II and Dziady Part IV. The poems have made a huge impression, especially "Dziady," heavily criticized by classicists. There is also flattering news, including from Vienna, from Prague, and already in 1826 there are the first translations into Russian and German. Volumes of the Vilnius edition are an extreme rarity. Treated as a national heirloom, they passed from generation to generation. Only 20 copies went to Galicia, to Lvov at the time (A. Semkowicz). "The Vilnius edition of 'Poetry' was already difficult to obtain before 1939. Today - after the destruction of the war - they are a great rarity" (T. Syga).
Period binding: brown half leather with red signboard with inscription: "Poezya A.Mick", under the signboard in the center field: "I. II.", "1822", while in the lower part stylized initials "S C" topped with a crown. Corners in leather; binding with scuffs and some rubbing at spine, gilt lettering on spine soiled. Pages with traces of dampstain and stains, just a few traces of woodworm. In pagination mistakes of bookbinding: contained in volume 1 pages 129-160 should be in volume 2, while contained in volume 2 pages 127-140 and 2 cards ("Inventory of Things" and "Printing Mistakes") should be in volume 1. An early note on the front pastedown, while a handwritten note on the second page at the bottom: "Given to me by my dear Brother these Works in Ro.... 1823." - who is the author of this note ? - at this point it is worth recalling that Adam Mickiewicz had two brothers, Aleksander (1801-1871) and Franciszek (1796-1862). One of the most important Polish books, the publication of which was a landmark moment in the history of Polish literature, and the date of its publication was accepted as the beginning of Polish Romanticism. Extremely rare and valuable, and above all, a complete piece.