The Plays and Poems of Shakspeare, with a Life, Glossarial Notes, and One Hundred and Seventy Illustrations from the Plates in Boydell's Edition.
London: A.J. Valpy, 1832; 1833; 1834. First edition thus. Hardcover. 15 vol. Small 8vo. [5], vi-cxx, 195, [5]; [10], 3-336, [4]; [10], 3-334, [6]; [10], 3-352 [the final two pages are publisher's advertisements], [4]; [10], 3-391, [5]; [10], 3-352, [4]; [10], 3-423, [5]; [10], 3-416, [4]; 312 (the last two pages are publisher's advertisements), [4]; 385, [2], 388, [1], 390-392, [4]; [10], 3-392 (last two pages are publisher's advertisements), [4]; [10], 3-319, [5]; [10], 3-299, [2], 302-304, [4]; [10], 3-332, [1], 334-336, [4]; [10], 3-316 (the last two pages are publisher's advertisements), [4] pp. Early twentieth-century half blue calf over marbled boards with gilt rules on the boards, spines in six compartments, each volume with two red morocco labels and gilt lettering and decorations on the spine; top edges gilt. Marbled blue endpapers and pastedowns. Bound by Root & Son. Volume one illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of William Shakespeare and thirteen additional plates illustrating scenes from the Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Shakespeare's life; volume two illustrated with a frontispiece and fourteen additional plates; volume three with a frontispiece and ten plates; volume four with a frontispiece and fifteen plates; volume five with a frontispiece and fifteen plates; volume six with a frontispiece plus twelve plates; volume seven with a frontispiece and fourteen plates; volume eight with a frontispiece and fourteen plates; volume nine with a frontispiece and eleven plates; volume ten with a frontispiece and nine plates; volume eleven with a frontispiece and five plates; volume twelve with a frontispiece and seven plates; volume thirteen with a frontispiece and ten plates; volume fourteen with a frontispiece and seven plates; volume fifteen with a second frontispiece portrait of William Shakespeare and three plates, the final one not listed in the list of illustrations. Plates are outlines engraved on steel, beautifully rendered. All half-titles present. Jaggard 673. Lowndes 2267. The first Valpy edition which was later frequently reprinted. An extraordinarily beautiful set of Shakespeare's complete works, greatly enhanced by the illustrations of classic scenes from the plays. Near Fine. Item #00009849
A Near Fine set with minor wear to the extremities; leaves clean with just a few plates showing a tiny marginal dampstain, and very occasional, minor foxing.
Price: $2,500.00