Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama by Cobham Brewer - 1892

Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama: A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook.
by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, edited by Marion Harland. New York, Selmar Hess. Copyright date is 1892, Revised American Edition, Four Volumes.
A.E. Abbey (illustrator).
Hardbound. Condition: very good. Full leather with gilt titles on spines.
Vol. I: 408pp; Vol. II: 408pp; Vol. III: 408pp; Vol. IV: 384pp.
399 plates (including 4 colour frontis., 20 Photogravures & etchings & 306 wood-engravings & typogravures). Some plates with printed tissue guards, all edges gilt.

A fabulous set of reference, revised to include current (at the time, anyway) American literary figures and characters. Many American artists are represented within these volumes.
Illustrated profusely with black and white plates, chromolitho frontis pieces. Half leather with gilt title on raised spine, all edges gilt. Moire endpapers.
Large heavy octovo volumes, 9 3/4" x 12". Text is bright and clean, binding is secure.