£800
4 vols. bound as 2, 8vo, pp. xxvi, 94, [6], 143, [1], 192; 271, [1], 181, [23]. Contemporary half mottled calf, marbled boards, spines divided by gilt rolls and rules, green and brown morocco labels. Marginal running dampmark to rear of second volume, tear to one leaf of third volume sometime repaired. A little rubbed, some small areas of wear and insect damage to marbled paper. Modern booklabels to pastedowns, early ownership signature to title-page of vol. 1.
Johann Heinrich Merck's second edition of the Ossian poems, with engraved title-pages designed by his friend Goethe. It was Goethe who provided Merck with a copy of the text, and who cemented the work's popularity in the German-speaking world with the incorporation of some translated sections in his 1774 novel Die Leiden des jungen Werthers. The two friends had collaborated on their first edition of 1773 following the difficulty of obtaining an English-language printing in Germany at that time, with parts 3 and 4 being ready by 1777. This edition was completely reset, but retains the form of the earlier printing, including Merck's index to the rear of the fourth volume, in place of MacPherson's specimen of the Gaelic text in his edition. The engraved title-pages are re-engravings of the originals, which had been the work of Goethe's own hand.
This edition also reprints William Shaw's dissertation on the authenticity of the poems and Macpherson's friend John Clark's more lengthy rebuttal.
