Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

Folio (298 x 203 mm). Comprising 104 pages (69-172) on 52 leaves (I3-r6). Woodcut head- and tail-pieces. (Small tear to I3 lower margin, not affecting letters, lower margins trimmed close, a few affecting printed border and catchwords, some occasional dampstaining and spotting, else a clean copy.) Modern red morocco gilt.

SECOND FOLIO PRINTING OF FOUR COMPLETE PLAYS. In Henry V, an insult from a French Dauphin pushes the King of England to invade France to claim what he believes to be his rightful throne. This play encompasses the events before and after the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War.

The three Henry VI plays are thought to be the first plays Shakespeare wrote, and Henry V is perhaps the most highly regarded of his history plays, both for its thematic richness and for its famous opening verses and St. Crispin Day speech.