more important far than

[joham]

Burke said there were three Estates in Parliament, but in the Reporters' Gallery... there sat a fourth Estate
more important far than they all. (Taken from the New Fowler's Usage)

Is the 'more important far than' another way to say 'far more important than'?

Thank you in advance.

 

[emsr2d2]

Burke said there were three Estates in Parliament, but in the Reporters' Gallery... there sat a fourth Estate
more important far than they all. (Taken from the New Fowler's Usage)

Is the 'more important far than' another way to say 'far more important than'?

Thank you in advance.

That is not natural in any way. I would suggest there is a typo, or an error in the post. Not only does "more important far than" not make sense, but "than they all" is incorrect.

"... there sat a fourth Estate, more important by far than all the others."
"... there sat a fourth Estate, far more important than all the others."