The Works of Mr. Thomas Brown, Serious and Comical, in Prose and Verse

London: Al. Wilde; C. Hitch; L. Hawes; Sam Briscoe; et al, 1719-60. Leather. Good. 6.5" by 4". Not Stated. An illustrated set of the works of satirist Thomas Brown, a harlequin set comprising of the fourth, fifth, and ninth edition. A harlequin mixed edition set. Volume I is the 9th edition, published in 1760. Volume II is the fifth edition, and Volume II and III are the fifth edition, all dated as both 1719 and 1720. Volume I illustrated with a frontispiece, one folding plate, and three plates.Volume III illustrated with a frontispiece, and four plates.Volume II illustrated with a frontispiece, and five plates.Volume IV illustrated with a frontispiece, and five plates. Two pages of adverts to the rear.The collected poetical works of Thomas Brown.Brown was a notable seventeenth century satirist, known particularly for 'Amusements Serious and Comical', and 'Letters From the Dead to the Living'. He was a lifelong friend of Aphra Behn, and assisted her in her literary career. Satirising prominent figures of the day brought Brown a lot of controversy and enemies during his lifetime, though upon his deathbed Brown regretted his previous licentiousness.Volume I includes a brief life of the author.Bookplate of C. Browne Esq of Lincoln's Inn to the front paste downs. Bookplate of Richard Luckett to the front paste downs. In a full calf binding, Volumes II-IV in an older calf, Volume I in a more modern binding. Externally, generally smart. Volumes II, III, and IV are rubbed and a little worn, with bumping to the head and tail of the spines and to the extremities, resulting in a little loss of leather to the head of the spine of Volumes II and III. A little loss to the spine label of Volume III. Faint surface cracks to the spines of Volumes II, III, and IV, heavier to Volume III. Volume I is smart with some light discolouration to the extremities and some minor marks. Joints and hinges of Volume II are starting but firm. Volume II is lacking the endpapers. Two bookplates to the front paste downs. Internally, firmly bound, Volume III is generally firmly bound. Pages are a little age-toned and generally clean with some scattered spots, a little heavier to Volumes III and IV. Faint tide mark to the tail of pages 113 to 172 of Volume I, to the head of the first and last few pages of Volume III and IV. Good