“THE GLORY OF ENGLISHMEN AND THE WONDER OF THE WORLD”: SHAKESPEARE’S WORKS, GENEROUSLY ILLUSTRATED

SHAKESPEARE. The Complete Works of Shakspere; Revised from the Original Editions… London and New York: London Printing and Publishing, circa 1864. Four volumes. Thick quarto, contemporary full pebbled black morocco gilt, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, all edges gilt. $2400.

Handsomely bound mid-19th century edition of the Bard’s comedies, tragedies, histories and poems, boasting numerous in-text vignettes and 91 engraved plates, including many portraits of noted contemporary Shakesperean actors in character.

"Shakespeare is the Canon. He sets the standard and the limits of literature" (Harold Bloom). With 81 engraved plates (three of which are frontispieces and three of which are additional engraved title pages), depicting dramatic highlights from the plays as well as specific contemporary Shakespearean actors in their most celebrated roles (engraved from daguerrotypes and paintings), among them Charles Couldock as Richard III, James Hackett as Falstaff, Charles Kean in multiple roles, including Hamlet, and William Macready in a large number of roles. Jaggard, 537.

Smudging to top margin of two leaves in Merry Wives of Windsor, interior otherwise crisp and clean; bindings handsome and fine.