ix, [1], 119pp, [1]. With an engraved portrait frontispiece and a further 11 engraved plates. Modern mottled calf, tooled and lettered in gilt to spine, with contrasting olive-green morocco lettering-piece. Very lightly rubbed. Lightly browned throughout, scattered spotting, with small marginal tear to fore-edge of second blank fly-leaf.

Securing both popular and critical acclaim with his first work, The Farmer's Boy (London, 1800), Suffolk poet Robert Bloomfield (1766-1823) departed from the single long poem format in this his second publication. Rural Tales explores and glorifies rural life and occupations in a series of shorter pieces.