The Plays and Poems of Shakespeare Antiquarian Book Set Edited by A.J. Valpy 1844

Just arrived at the Portsmouth Vintage Bookstore: A unique antiquarian set of the works of William Shakespeare. This set contains 11 of 15 volumes from the The Plays and Poems of Shakespeare, published in 1844 by Henry G. Bohn, London. A coveted edition of Shakespeare's works edited by A.J. Valpy. Beautifully bound by Zaehnsdorf.

This set is now available for purchase on Ebay!

Description:

Tan/brown boards, which I believe to be morocco. Tooled leather spines featuring gilt lettering and design. Front and back boards feature a gilt emblem featuring the initials "WS". Marbled end papers bordered by gilt dentelles. Each volume is illustrated and features a decorative frontispiece.  

The set features many of Shakespeare classics and includes:

Volume I: Life of Shakespeare, Dr. Johnson’s Preface, The Tempest, The Gentlemen of Verona

Volume II: Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure, Comedy of Errors

Volume IV: Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It

Volume VI: Macbeth, King John, King Richard the Second

Volume VII: King Henry IV – Part I & Part II, King Henry V

Volume VI: King Henry VI Part I, II, III

Volume IX: King Richard III, King Richard VIII

Volume X: Troilus and Cassida, Timon of Athens, Titus Andronicus

Volume XII: Antony and Cleopatra, CymbelineFive of the eleven volumes are in Good condition, with nice tight spines and covers and all pages attached. A blank page at the front of Volume VII is detached at spine and still present. Front boards/end papers of Volumes I, VIII, IX, XIII are cleanly detached at spine and still present. Front board of Volume X appears to be glued along spine.

Decorative leather bands along the spines are brittle with age, with some pieces missing. Some bumping to corners, edges and scuff marks/scratches in surface of boards.

Pages are lightly tanned. Very little foxing found in these volumes, mostly limited to fly leafs and plates. Plates have acquired an attractive gray-purple hue. Frontispieces and plates have acquired an interesting gray/purple hue over time. Some minor chipping, tears found along a few individual page edges.

Volume XIII: King Lear, Romeo and JulietThis set includes:

Volume XV: Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece, Sonnets, The Lovers Complaint, and The Passionate Pilgrim

Condition:

Five of the eleven volumes are in Good condition, with nice tight spines and covers and all pages attached. A blank page at the front of Volume VII is detached at spine but still present. Front boards/end papers of Volumes I, VIII, IX, XIII are cleanly detached at spine but still present. Front board of Volume X appears to be glued along spine.

Decorative labels along the spines are brittle with age, with some pieces missing. Some bumping to corners, edges and scuff marks/scratches in surface of boards.

Pages are very lightly tanned. Very little foxing found in these volumes, mostly limited to blank sides of end papers and plates. Plates have acquired an attractive grey hue. Frontispieces and plates have acquired an interesting gray/purple hue over time. Some minor chipping, tears found along a few individual page edges.

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