Odes of Pindar with Several Other Pieces in Prose and Verse, Translated from the Greek; To which is Prefixed a Dissertation on the Olympick Games

London: R. Dodsley, 1749. First edition thus. Hardcover. Near Very Good. 4to. [6], i, [23], iii-ccvi, [4], 3-315, [1], [2] (pages of publisher's advertisements) pp. Half recent calf over marbled boards with the spine in six compartments, recent purple label lettered in gold on the spine. Recent grey endpapers and pastedowns. The original endpapers are bound in. Title page printed in red and black with a wood-engraved bust of Pindar. With engraved tailpieces. Brueggemann 80. Moss 419. The Monthly Review was highly complementary of West's translation of Pindar: "The whole of Mr. West's book is indeed a treasure ..." The first edition of West's Pindar is rather difficult to find in commerce. Pindar is arguably the most famous of the Archaic Greek poets. His poetry is notably difficult to read (in Greek and English). His most popular pieces are focused on the celebrations and high points of the Olympic games. His poems help the historian to put the Olympic games in their proper context, and they help the historian understand what the games meant to Ancient Greek citizens and athletes alike. A pleasing edition of the Greek poet's work. The book is somewhat bowed and the top textblock has an old dampstain, a few of the leaves affected have subtle repairs to their top edges. The binding is quite clean.