Details
LAMB, Charles (1775-1834) and James WHITE. Original Letters, &c. of John Falstaff and His Friends; Now Made Public by a Gentleman, a Descendant of Dame Quickly, from Original Manuscripts. London: Printed for the Author and published by Messrs. G.G. and J. Robinson; J. Debrett; and Murray and Highley, 1796.
12o (172 x 106 mm). Engraved frontispiece. (Some light spotting.) Original paper-backed marbled boards, uncut (spine mostly worn away, boards rubbed); morocco pull-off case. Provenance: purchased from Ximenes, New York, 10 April 1967.
FIRST EDITION of this scarce play attributed to Lamb and White who were classmates at Christ's Hospital. The strongest evidence of their authorship comes in a letter from Southey, commenting on White: "He and Lamb were the joint authors of the 'Original Letters of Falstaff.'" Lamb himself, however, never claimed authorship of the book in any of his published letters, although he often refers to it, as in several letters of 1796 to Coleridge in which he describes "White's book." It seems at least that Lamb had some part in its production, providing perhaps "incidental hints and corrections," according to another schoolmate. While at school, Lamb introduced White to the pleasures of Henry IV and White became adept at playing Falstaff. William Henry Ireland produced a Shakespearean forgery, Vortigern, in 1796, and it is presumed that Lamb and White quickly collaborated on this burlesque. Their Falstaff therefore contains Lamb's second appearance in print, after his publication in Coleridge's Poems on Various Subjects, spring 1796 (see lot 23). Lamb was fond of the book, and would later buy copies from second-hand booksellers to give to friends. Roff/Livingston, pp.17ff.
12o (172 x 106 mm). Engraved frontispiece. (Some light spotting.) Original paper-backed marbled boards, uncut (spine mostly worn away, boards rubbed); morocco pull-off case. Provenance: purchased from Ximenes, New York, 10 April 1967.
FIRST EDITION of this scarce play attributed to Lamb and White who were classmates at Christ's Hospital. The strongest evidence of their authorship comes in a letter from Southey, commenting on White: "He and Lamb were the joint authors of the 'Original Letters of Falstaff.'" Lamb himself, however, never claimed authorship of the book in any of his published letters, although he often refers to it, as in several letters of 1796 to Coleridge in which he describes "White's book." It seems at least that Lamb had some part in its production, providing perhaps "incidental hints and corrections," according to another schoolmate. While at school, Lamb introduced White to the pleasures of Henry IV and White became adept at playing Falstaff. William Henry Ireland produced a Shakespearean forgery, Vortigern, in 1796, and it is presumed that Lamb and White quickly collaborated on this burlesque. Their Falstaff therefore contains Lamb's second appearance in print, after his publication in Coleridge's Poems on Various Subjects, spring 1796 (see lot 23). Lamb was fond of the book, and would later buy copies from second-hand booksellers to give to friends. Roff/Livingston, pp.17ff.