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[WOMEN’S LITERATURE]. YEARSLEY, Ann (1753-1806). Poems, on Several Occasions. By Ann Yearsley, a Milkwoman of Bristol. London: T. Cadell, 1785. Prefatory Letter to Mrs. Montagu by Hannah More (1745-1833). 4to. xxx, [1]-127, [1, blank] pp. Approximately 10 ? x 8 ?”. Bound in contemporary full brown calf, boards ruled in gilt, spine tooled in gilt, brown gilt morocco lettering label (spine worn, boards edgeworn and somewhat scuffed, soiled, hinges barely starting, free endleaves re-attached or repaired, p. xxiii with creased tear near margin (not affecting text), text toned, occasionally thumbsoiled). Fine. FIRST EDITION. Possibly a subscriber’s copy (list of subscribers on pp. xiii-xxvii) with the signature of “A Clark” on verso of ffep (there is a “Miss Clarke” and a “Mr. Clarke” on the list of subscribers). Some subscribers include: Her Grace the Duchess Dowager of Athol, Her Grace the Duchess of Beaufort, Marquis of Buckingham (there are numerous nobles on this list), William Blake, esq., William Cowper Esq., Honourable Horace Walpole and more. Yearsley came from a poor background and was largely self-educated. Following her family’s eviction from their cottage and the death of her mother, Ann found work as Hannah More’s cook. More recognized her talent and encouraged her to continue her education. Yearsley was fortunate, as interest at the time in working-class poets (especially women) was quite high at the time, and More helped her secure subscribers for her first volume of poetry (the present volume). After publication, Yearsley and More had a falling-out; with the loss of her famous patron, Yearsley’s popularity declined.