PRINTED 1795 INQUIRY INTO DOCUMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO SHAKESPEARE FAMOUS LEGAL CASE

Description

Up for auction a rare edition of :
An Inquiry Into the Authenticity of Certain Miscellaneous Papers and Legal Instruments, Published Dec. 24, Mdccxcv. and Attributed to Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth, and Henry, Earl of Southampton Malone, illustrated By Facsimiles Of The Genuine Hand - Writing of That Nobleman , and of Her Majesty; A new Fac-Simle of the Hand - Writing Of Shakespeare , Never Before Exhibited; And other Authentick- Documents :
In A Letter Addressed To The Right Hon. James, Earl of Charlemont;
Edmond Malone Esq. London,  Printing By Baldwin : For T. Caldwell, Jun. a& W. Davies ( Successors to Mr. Caldwell) In The Strand. 1796.
I believe this volume is a 1st Edition of this famous legal inquiry into manuscript forgery. In addition is the
armorial
bookplates belonging to :
Scrope  Berdmore, Vice Chancellor Merton College, University of Oxford, and English
Shakespearean actor
Henry C. Compton
.
“Henry Compton (real name Charles Mackenzie) (22 March 1805 – 15 September 1877) was an English actor best known for his Shakespearean comic roles
. Compton began his career in Shakespeare plays in the British provinces. He then began to specialize in low comedy roles in touring companies, where he played for over a decade. He first appeared in London in 1837 and joined the company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane later that year, again playing in Shakespeare. Other notable roles that followed included Tony Lumpkin in She Stoops to Conquer, Gnatbrain in Black-Eyed Susan, Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal and Foresight in Love for Love.
By the early 1840s, Compton had earned the reputation of being the best Shakespearian clown of his age both in London and in the provinces.
He performed for three years at the Princess's Theatre, London, famously playing Touchstone in As You Like It in 1844. He also played at the Olympic Theatre for three years, then the Royal Strand Theatre. In 1853 he joined the company at the Haymarket Theatre, where he originated roles in important new plays. He also won praise as Mr. Cox in revivals of Box and Cox. “
Condition : Rebound (quarter bound) in leather and period marbled boards with  424 pp. 6 x 9.5 inches. Gilt lettering on spine “ Malone’s Inquiry “ This vol contains all thee engraved folding plates. Cover board has moderate edge wear, with exposed board at corners. Corners are bumped.  Slight cracking along spine leather lightly worn on ridges of spine and at head, as well as along the shoulder. Front and back boards are faded and show rubbing. Text block slightly age toned stray inventory pencil marks on paste down. Generally a good edition and handsome copy. As always any questions feel free to ask.