SHAKESPEARE, William

THE PLAYS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: THE COMEDIES, HISTORIES & TRAGEDIES with THE POEMS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: 39 volumes

Limited Editions Club New York 1939-40 Thirty-nine folio (8-3/4" x 13") bound in gold-stamped half natural buckram, top edges gilt, with the paper sides, printed in four colors, reproducing a patterned wall painting recently uncovered in a room where Shakespeare might have seen and admired it. Edited by Herbert Farjeon, who created the Nonesuch edition text of Shakespeare, to restore the original typographic style and spelling; typography planned and production supervised by Bruce Rogers. Each of the 37 volumes of the PLAYS is illustrated by one of the world's leading book artists including Arthur Rackham, Eric Gill, Robert Gibbings, Jean Charlot, and Frans Masereel. Media include wood engravings and lithographs with some hand coloring. An attempt to "produce a text such as Shakespeare himself might have passed for the printer had he personally read the proofs," and surely one of the most beautiful editions, if not the most beautiful edition, of Shakespeare ever produced. Each volume of the PLAYS is copy #380 of 1950 copies issued unsigned. The two-volume set of the POETRY is copy #380 of 1500 copies SIGNED by the designer, Bruce Rogers, on the colophon page. A commentary toeach play is laid into each volume, and the pamphlet A SHAKESPEARE COMMENTARY is also included. Very difficult to acquire this set in this condition. Slightly darkened spines. Near Fine

• USD 2,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: 014470

• bookseller: Charles Agvent (USA)