Poems and Ballads is Swinburne's landmark and most controversial poetry collection, first published in 1866 to great scandal for its sensual and unorthodox themes, including "Dolores," "The Garden of Proserpine," and "Anactoria." This fifth edition (1873) reprints the original First Series.

Condition: Green cloth hardcover binding, blind-stamped panel design on boards, gilt lettering to spine (partially worn/rubbed). Spine head and tail frayed with cloth splitting/loosening at the top of the spine. Corners bumped and worn. Boards show general shelf wear and soiling. Internally, pages are age-toned with scattered foxing and spotting throughout, heavier on some leaves. Several period ownership inscriptions in pencil/ink on flyleaves ("Adah Isaacs Monkhouse," "C. J. Hearne," "E. J. Hearne, Lake Wallace North, Edenhope, 1892"). A. B. Scott bookseller's label (Swanston St., Melbourne) affixed to rear pastedown. Binding is secure with visible sewn signatures. Overall condition: fair to good, consistent with age — a well-used, well-traveled copy with genuine 19th-century Australian provenance.