Georgio Ruggle [George Ruggle]; John Sidney Hawkins — Ignoramus, Comoedia

Londini [London], Prostat Venalis apud T. Payne, 1787 . First edition. Leather. An attractive first edition thus of George Ruggle's college farce, with this being John Sidney Hawkins significantly edited edition. With prefatory material in English, and the play in the original Latin.The first edition thus of this work, being the first Hawkins edition.'Ignoramus' was a popular 1615 farce written in Latin, and is largely considered to be the most famous and influential academic play of English Renaissance drama. Collated, illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, and one woodcut plate, but lacking a second woodcut plate.ESTC T154171With the bookplate of Josceline Grove to a front blank.Designed to ridicule the language of law and the dullness of lawyers, the play is based on events relating to a dispute between the vice-chancellor of Cambridge University and the mayor of the town. In a full calf binding, with gilt detailing to back strip. Light rubbing to back strip head, and head of rear joint. Front hinge a touch strained to head, but firmly held. Bookseller's label to front pastedown. Bookplate to a front blank. Internally, firmly bound. Pages a touch age toned due to paper type, otherwise generally clean and bright. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .