“PERHAPS THE ONLY ONE WORTHY TO RANK WITH SHAKESPEARE”
JONSON, Ben. The Works. London: Edward Moxon, 1838. Thick octavo, contemporary three-quarter brown calf gilt, raised bands, marbled boards.
Later edition of the plays and poetry of “the Virgil of dramatic poets,” with engraved frontispiece portrait and additional engraved title page, handsomely bound.
Jonson was “dramatist, friend and contemporary of Shakespeare, and perhaps the only one worthy to rank with him” (Hartnoll, 446). To Dryden, “Shakespeare was the Homer or father of dramatic poets, Jonson was the Virgil” (Allibone I:998). With biographical essay by Barry Cornwall. Old pencil owner signature and annotations to endpapers.
Occasional light foxing. Joints and corners expertly reinforced, light fading to spine.