Handel, George Frederic. (1685-1759) [Jennens, Charles. (1700 - 1773)]. Messiah: An oratorio. As it is perform'd at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden. Set to musick by Mr. Handel. Majora Canamus. [Word Book]. London: Printed for J. Watts: and sold by B. Dod at the Bible and Key in Ave-Mary-Lane near Stationers-Hall.. [1757]. 16 pages, 4to (c.21.5 x 16.6sms), woodcut head- and tail-pieces to each Part, some spotting and marginal fraying, final leaf browned and worn on centre-fold, upper inner corner split and crudely stitched with a little loss to lettering of two words to recto, but without loss of sense. Bound with [Glynn, Robert], The Day of Judgent: A Poetical Essay, 2nd edition, Printed by J. Bentham, Cambridge, 1757, 16pp., some spotting and soiling, final leaf dust-soiled and browned with some loss to upper inner corner affecting first three lines of recto and verso, contemporary upper wrapper only present and near detached with printed broadside (‘Psalms and Anthems to be Sung at the Anniversary Meeting of the Charity Children, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, on Thursday, May 30, 1805’) pasted to front pastedown, slim 4to.


The first edition of Messiah libretto was printed by Watts for the first London performance in 1749; later printings by Watts appearing in [1750] and 1757-1759. All early printings of these libretti are very rare.