The Library of Stephen J. Farber

12mo (152 x 89 mm). Half-title; folding engraved frontispiece, 2 folding plates, 17 plates reinserted with contemporary pagination to their new designations, trimmed from the original 5 folding plates, several laid down; 10pp. publisher's catalogue at end. Contemporary tree calf ruled in gilt, smooth gilt spine in 6 compartments, red morocco lettering-piece gilt in second (joints rubbed, head worn, small split to front joint). Provenance: Emmanuel-Joseph Quecq de Burgault (1756-1843), Councillor to the King at the royal seat of governance of the Sovereign Bailiwick of Lille (bookplate).

SIXTH EDITION. A wildly imaginative collection of exaggerated adventures recounts the fantastical exploits of the legendary German nobleman Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen, whose tall tales of military service and impossible feats had circulated widely in European anecdotes before being gathered in print. First published as Baron Munchausen's narrative in 1786, the work quickly became a classic of comic fantasy, recounting such improbable adventures as journeys to the moon, rides on cannonballs, and other feats of heroic absurdity. ESTC online lists only four copies of this edition.

[With:] CRUIKSHANK, George, illustrator. -- RASPE. The Travels and Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen. London: William Tegg, 1869. 8vo. 5 hand-colored plates after Cruikshank. Contemporary half morocco gilt (split to front joint, front free endpaper detached).