The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Reprinted from the First Folio, In Thirteen Volumes, complete, Harrap, 1906

2023 saw the 400th anniversary of the publication of the first collected works of Shakespeare - The First Folio. Copies of that surviving book are now so precious that few of us will ever even see an original printing, never mind owning one. This charming set features the text of the works in that First Folio. 

The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Reprinted from the First Folio. Edited by Charlotte Porter and H.A. Clarke, with an Introduction by John Churton Collins. In Thirteen Volumes, complete. 

Published by George G. Harrap & Co., London. 1906 first edition, thus (dated from introduction, as issued).

A near fine complete set of brown cloth hardbacks with gilt design to front cover and gilt titles (original Publisher's binding). With light wear. Soundly bound. Bookplate of 'D.A. King' to first free endpaper. Some offsetting to first and last free endpaper. The main title page spread features a portrait frontispiece image of Shakespeare opposite the title. These 2 pages are printed on a different, glossier stock than the main text pages. The interaction between the 2 images has created spotted offsetting (even with the tissue guards present in the vast majority of volumes), as is often the case with this particular set.

Text is beautifully clean and bright throughout, with gilt top edge and rough cut elsewhere. A few minor pencil annotations from the previous owner, plus some detailed ink footnote annotations (very neatly done). A very smart set.

Text in English.

Dimensions of each volume: Approximately 185mm high x 134mm wide x 28mm deep.

Weight approximately 4.9kg (the set - unpacked).