Description:
New York & London: D. Appleton and Company, 1858. Complete in two volumes. Small quartos (10" x 7"), xii, [6], & 1136 pages (continuously paginated), volume I with extra engraved title page, the set "Embellished with 24 Portraits on Steel and hundreds of wood engravings." Publisher's one-half black pebbled morocco & marbled paper over bevel edged boards, the spines in five compartments separated by raised bands, lettered & decorated in gilt. Text in two columns.Edges & joints rubbed, hinges cracked at pastedowns of volume I & front free endpaper of volume II which also has a brief, old tape repair, text moderately toned, otherwise Good.
"I have observed, that in Comedy the best actor plays the part of the droll, while some scrub rogue is made the hero, or fine gentleman, So, in this farce of life, wise men pass their time in mirth, whilst fools only are serious." ~Bollingbroke, excerpted from the title age.