"LOVE IS A SMOKE MADE WITH THE FUME OF SIGHS…"

SHAKESPEARE, William. Romeo and Juliet. With an Introduction by Richard Henry Stoddard and Illustrations by Jacques Wagrez and Louis Titz. New York: Duprat, 1892. Royal octavo, contemporary full dark blue morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, uncut. $5500.

Limited edition, number 31 of 50 copies on Japan paper (out of a total edition of 350 copies), illustrated with 21 plates by Jacques Wagrez and Louis Titz, this copy extra-illustrated with 64 additional plates from other editions of Shakespeare, handsomely bound.

"To more effective account did Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet (his first tragedy) turn a tragic romance of Italian origin, which was already popular in the English versions of Arthur Broke in verse (1562) and William Painter in prose (in his 'Palace of Pleasure,' 1567). Shakespeare made little change in the plot, but he impregnated it with poetic fervor, and relieved the tragic intensity by developing the humor of Mercutio, and by grafting on the story the new comic character of the Nurse. The fineness of insight which Shakespeare here brought to the portrayal of youthful emotion is as noticeable as the lyric beauty and exuberance of the language" (DNB). With an introduction by Richard Henry Stoddard and glossary and notes by J. Thomson. Bookplate.

Fine condition.