The Workes of Ben Jonson

London: Printed by W. Stansby and to be Sold by Rich. Meighen, 1616. [12], 1015, [1, blank] with engraved allegorical title by William Hole (Pforzheimer state A). Lacking the rare initial blank, as with Pforzheimer's copy. Volume 1, 1616, pages measure 10 3/8" by 7". a small-paper copy. The title to Every Man Out of his Humour has no border and reads LONDON: Printed by WILLIAM STANSBY , for Iohn Smithwicke (rule) M. DC. XVI. The Dedication, recto G2, is signed "By your true honorer , Ben Jonson". Line 6 verso reads "PVNTERVOLO....; the catchword on recto (G5) is "Naked", on verso "Where"; recto (G6) begins "Where I want arte" ; and eighth line from bottom on verso(G6) reads "But why enforce I this, as fainting? no". The title to Cynthia's Revels is in compartment with LONDON printed by W. Stansby 1616. The tirle for Poetaster , p. 277, is in compartment and reads LONDON, printed by W. Stansby for M. Lownes 1616. Bound in contemporary calf, the late 18th c. bookplate of S.P Peach,Tockington at front paste down. About Very Good, front cover separarting yet held by cords, boards rubbed, with a peeling lacquer at spine not quite obscuring the label. Internally tight and clean, without foxing and with only a few spots of scattered browning. An unsophisticated copy of the earliest edition of Jonson's Works, later volumes were published in 1640-41. Pforzheimer 560. . First Edition. Calf. Very Good. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.