THE WORKS OF CHARLES AND MARY LAMB, HANDSOMELY BOUND

LAMB, Charles and Mary. The Works in Prose and Verse. London et al.: Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press, circa 1850. Two volumes. 12mo, contemporary full polished red calf gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers and edges. $700.

“Oxford Edition” of the Lambs’ works, including their famous “Tales from Shakespeare,” in handsome prize binding by Bickers.

These handsome volumes contain all brother and sister Charles and Mary Lamb’s writings, from essays and poems to plays and dramatic fragments. Their most celebrated literary effort remains Tales from Shakespeare: “Charles did the tragedies and Mary the comedies, and the book skillfully guided the young through the stories of the plays while avoiding the canting humbug which mars so much of the work written for children in that age” (Kunitz & Haycraft, 358). With frontispiece portrait of Charles Lamb in each volume. Prize bookplates from Epsom College (founded 1853 in Surrey, England); the College’s coat of arms and motto grace each volume’s front board in gilt.

Closed tear to front free endpaper of Volume I. A fine pair of volumes.