The life of Sir John Falstaff. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. With a biography of the knight, from authentic sources, by Robert B. Brough, Esq
London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts, 1858. First book edition, 8vo, pp. [iii]-xx, 196; 20 etched plates by Cruikshank plus a nearly full-page woodcut; later half brown morocco over brown cloth, gilt-decorated spine in 5 compartments, gilt-lettered direct in 1; frontispiece loose, but present; joints and extremities scuffed and rubbed; a good copy. "Falstaff, in Shakespeare's Henry IV, a fat, witty, good-humoured old knight, loving jests, self-indulgent, and over-addicted to snack; a braggart who, when exposed, has presence of mind and resource enough to find some shift to save his face; he seems to exaggerate and boast his vices in order to bring out their humorous side" (Oxford Companion to English Literature). Cohen 96. Item #59825
Price: $150.00
