(a) all valid claims to it on the part of any person; and
  (b) all defenses of any party which would be available in an action on
a simple contract; and
  (c) the defenses of want or failure of consideration,  non-performance
of  any  condition  precedent,  non-delivery,  or delivery for a special
purpose (Section 3--408); and
  (d) the defense that  he  or  a  person  through  whom  he  holds  the
instrument acquired it by theft, or that payment or satisfaction to such
holder   would   be   inconsistent  with  the  terms  of  a  restrictive
indorsement. The claim of any third person  to  the  instrument  is  not
otherwise  available as a defense to any party liable thereon unless the
third person himself defends the action for such party.