The Book of the Rhymers' Club; The Second Book of the Rhymers' Club.

London: Elkin Mathews; Elkin Mathews and John Lane,, 1892 & 1894. First editions, sole printings. The Rhymers' Club was founded by W. B. Yeats in 1890 as an informal poetry society that met at the Cheshire Cheese pub in Fleet Street (where Samuel Johnson, in an earlier age, also used to drink). This set includes both volumes published by the group, featuring poetry by Yeats and 12 other contributors: Ernest Dowson, Edwin J. Ellis, G. A. Greene, Arthur Cecil Hillier, Lionel Johnson, Richard le Gallienne, Victor Plarr, Ernest Radford, Ernest Rhys, T. W. Rolleston, Arthur Symons, and John Todhunter. The collections include the first book appearance of Yeats's "Lake Isle of Innisfree", and the first British book appearance of the quintessential poem of the decadent 1890s, Ernest Dowson's "Non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae" (with its refrain..."I have been true to thee, Cynara, in my fashion"...). The print run for the first book was 450; for the second, 500 were issued in the UK and 150 in the US. Two volumes, small octavo. Original yellow and brown cloth, vol. I with paper label to spine, vol. II gilt titles to spine. 15pp. publisher's advertisements at the rear of vol. 2. Spine label to vol. 1 a little tanned and marked, minor rubbing to ends and corners, but generally a sound and smart set in excellent condition. Pencil ownership inscription "A.E." (Albert Ehrman, collector) to rear of vol. 2. Wade 291 & 294.