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spine, with green label, gilt, with the ‘urn’ bookplate of William
Downes (1751–1826), chief justice of Ireland from 1803: an
attractive copy.
Mason (1726-1809), educated at Trinity College, Dublin, sat in the
Irish House of Commons for much of the time between 1761 and 1798,
holding various government offices. Prompted by what he considered
imperfections in the Johnson and Stewevens edition of 1778, Mason
determined to produce his own and busied himself in preparing the
text. Unknown to him Isaac Reed was undertaking the very same thing
and his edition was published earlier in 1785. Mason rmarks in his
preface that this caused him to feel ‘somewhat mortified’ He had to be
content with publishing his ‘Comments’ as here. This Dublin edition is
rare.
€100-€150 (£80-£120 approx.)
1276
.
SHAKESPEARE: - MASON (John Monck).
Comments
on the several editions of Shakespeare’s plays, extended to
those of Malone and Steevens.
Dublin: Printed by Graisberry &
Campbell, Back-Lane,
1807
SECOND EDITION, REVISED & ENLARGED, pp xv, (1),
608 and errata slip, 8vo, three small, faint stamps on title and
some light foxing, otherwise very good in recent boards.
An edition not found on-line in D. In two parts: the first refers to the
edition by Johnson and Steevens, 1778; the second to that of Steevens,
1793. Mason (1726?–1809), Dublin-born literary scholar and
politician, planned a complete edition of Shakespeare’s plays but was
beaten to it by the publication of Isaac Reed’s edition in 1785. His
scholarly reputation and abilities were viewed ambivalently by his
contemporaries. Francis Douce praised his Shakespearian efforts,
aligning him with Steevens, Malone, and Thomas Tyrwhitt, the great
editors of the 18C. Mason’s Comments of 1785 and 1807 have not
been entirely forgotten by the editors of the 20C variorum editions of
Shakespeare’s plays (ODNB).
ALSO WITH THIS LOT: (1)
TOOLE (John Lawrence): -
HATTON (Joseph).
Reminiscences of J. L. Toole. Related by
himself, and chronicled by Joseph Hatton … Illustrated by
Alfred Bryan and W. H. Margetson. Third eedition. In one
volume.
Hurst and Blackett …,
1889. With a portrait frontispiece
and some 75 text illustrarions, pages xvi, 447, 8vo, original red
pictorial cloth: the binding a little worn at corners and very
lightly stained, one small section working loos, the inner joints
strong and not cracked: a very good copy inscribed by Toole
“To Bailie [sic] Gage / from his Old/Young Friend / J. L.
Toole. “ and with the bookplate of T. R. Baillie Gage on the
front endpaper.
The main source for the life of the noted Victorian comic actor and
theatrical manager. “The last great low comedian of the old school. “
— DNB.
(2)
KENEALY (Edward Vaughan Hyde).
A New Pantomine
Reeves and Turner,
1863. Pages (8),570, 8vo, recent paper boards:
a very good to nice copy.
The eccentric Kenealy’s “final development” of his verse pantomine,
first published “in fragmentary form” in 1850 as “Goethe; a New
Pantomine”. It is as counsel for the Tichborne claimant that Kenealy is
chiefly remembered: his conduct of the case and his scurrilous attacks
on witnesses and judges secured his disbarment.
(3)
SKINNER (John).
of Leisure Hours: or poetical pieces,
chiefly in the Scottish dialect. To which is prefixed, a sketch of
the author’s life, with some remarks on Scottish poetry. 1809.
spine a little worn but the binding strong, otherwise a nice copy
in original state.
Edited by his son. Includes `Tullochgorum’, called by Burns the best
Scots song Scotland ever saw. This was not an isolated success, as
Skinner was one of the finest Scottish song writers.
(4)
POLLOK (Robert).
The Course of Time: a poem, in ten
books. The eighth edition.
Edinburgh: William Blackwood …,
1829. Pages (4),294, (2, adverts), with the half-title, large 12mo,
original boards, uncut: wanting the backstrip but the binding
strong and otherwise a very good copy in original state.
His one permanent contribution to literature, prompted by Byron’s
‘Darkness’.
(5)
HAZLITT (Wm.).
Criticisms and dramatic essays on the
English stage. Second edition. Edited by his son.
G. Routledge
and Co.,
1851. Pages xix, 324 and vii, (1) adverts, large 12mo,
original bluish green cloth: very good-nice
Keynes 30.
(6)
JONES (Sir Wm.).
Poems. Selected by Jonathan Benthall.
Cambridge, Sebastian Carter,
1961. FIRST EDITION THUS,
frontispiece, (16)-pp, small 8vo, original printed wraps: fine.
Poems by the great British orientalist printed in an edition of only 220
copies.
(7)
€150-€180 (£120-£144 approx.)
1277
.
SHAKESPEARE: - Upton (John).
Critical observations
on Shakespeare.
Dublin: Printed for George and Alexander Ewing, at
the Angel and Bible in Dame-street,
1747
FIRST IRISH EDITION, pages 287, (13), 12mo, some light
browning of preliminary leaves, but otherwise a fine and
attractive copy in contemporary calf, with label, gilt.
Alston III. 83. A handsome copy of a scarce edition of a valuable work
on Shakespeare’s language and grammar, by the editor of Spenser.
ALSO WITH THIS LOT:
SHAKESPEARE (Wm.): -
[Montagu (Elizabeth Robinson)].
An essay on the writings
and genius of Shakespear, compared with the Greek and
French dramatic poets. With some remarks upon the
misrepresentations of Mons. De Voltaire.
Dublin: Printed for J.
Potts, W. Sleater, D. Chamberlaine, J. Williams, and W. Colles,
1778.
SECOND IRISH EDITION, pages (2, blank), (6),242, (2,
blank), complete with the half-title, 12mo, contemporary
mottled calf, with label, gilt: a very good to nice copy.
An uncommon edition of a work first published, at Dublin, in 1769.
Offended by Voltaire’s contemptuous references to Shakespeare,
Montagu, the original ‘blue stocking’, undertook to refute him. Her
book, both sensible and sympathetic, fulfilled its purpose and was
greatly admired: Wharton regarded it as the most elegant and judicious
piece of criticism of his time.
(2)
€150-€180 (£120-£144 approx.)
1278
.
SHELABY (Jacob Esh), i. e. YAKUB, al-Shalabi.
Notices of the Modern Samaritans, illustrated by incidents in
the life of Jacob Esh Shelaby. Gathered from him, and
translated by Mr. E. T. Rogers.
Sampson Low and Son,
1855
FIRST EDITION THUS,55-pp, small 4to, original red cloth,
gilt, by Bone & Son, with their ticket: some very light scattered
foxing in places, still, a bright, fresh and attractive copy.
With preface by Rev. George Fisk, another, also 2-pp, by C. Marriott
and a further 6-pp preface by George Williams, B. D. With a neat
contemporary inscription over a neat red wax seal (both Syrian?),
presumably that of Yakub himself, on flyleaf.
ALSO WITH THIS LOT: (1)
PALESTINE: - Bentwich
(Norman De Mattos),
ed.
Legislation of Palestine 1918-25.
Including the orders-in-council, ordinances, public notices,
proclamations, regulations, etc.
Alexandria: Printed for the
Government of Palestine by Whitehead Morris,
1926. Pages
xxii,50,50a,51-578. 578a-578j,579-668, xxiii-xxxii: (2), viii,536,
ix-xiv,2 vols, 4to, original half calf: a very good to nice copy.
Bentwich (1883-1971) was an exponent of Zionism in a moderate and
scholarly form and a keen supporter of humanitarian causes As
Attorney General in Palestine, a post he held for almost 20 years, he
played a notable part in reshaping the legal system of the country,
drafting laws for a developing society which have since been taken over
by the State of Israel.
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