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South East Asian Art and Antiques, & Antiquarian, Rare and Collectable books
South East Asian Art and Antiques, & Antiquarian, Rare and Collectable books
The Works of William Shakspere; Imperial edition. Edited by Charles Knight, With Illustrations on Steel, 4 Volumes, Virtue, c. 1880

The Works of William Shakspere; Imperial edition. Edited by Charles Knight, With Illustrations on Steel, 4 Volumes, Virtue, c. 1880

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SKU LAN8681

The Works of William Shakspere; Imperial edition. Edited by Charles Knight, With Illustrations on Steel, 4 Volumes.

RESERVED

Published by Virtue & Co, London. Undated, but c. 1880.

A good set of the Imperial Shakspere in a maroon cloth hardback binding with an elaborate pictorial decoration with gilt. This set is more commonly bound as two larger volumes, but this is complete in 4 volumes in an uncommon binding. Covers are bumped and rubbed, and frayed to head and tail of spine. Covers have discolored staining along the open vertical edge. Endpapers are cracked at inner joints resulting in some give in the spine. These volumes are substantial in size.

The text pages are very good - bright and clean throughout,  with just mild age toning. Very occasional small marginal closed tear. Gilt edges to text block. One loose plate in the third volume.

The highlights of this set are the beautiful steel engravings which are in near fine condition, and all are present as called for, in the list of illustrations in Volume IV. All titles pages are also present. As is often the case with this type of book, which was originally issued as a subscriber's partworks set, to be bound in the manner of the Owner's choosing at a later date, the plates have been bound at the front of the volume, rather than inserted into the appropriate place in the text.

Text in English.

Section I; Volume I; Portrait frontispiece + Pictorial title vignette + 10 Plates with guards + Full Title + 415pp;

Section II; Volume I; 9 Plates with guards + Full Title + 1pp Play Title + 416- 810pp;

Section I; Volume II; 10 Plates with guards + Full Title + 1- 405pp;

Section II; Volume II; 8 Plates with guards + Pictorial Title vignette + 1 Plate with Guard + Full Title + 1pp Play Title + 406- 778pp + Full title Page for Vol I + Contents Page for Vol I + List of Illustrations to Vol I + Full title page for Vol II + Contents of Vol II + List of Illustrations to Vol II.

Weight: a very heavy set weighing over 12kg unpacked.

Dimensions:

Each volume approximately 378mm high x 290mm wide x 40mm deep.