THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE.

London: George Routledge & Co. Farringdon Street, 1858. 3 volumes. First edition edited by Howard Staunton and illustrated by John Gilbert. Engraved frontispiece of the Bard and a great profusion of engraved illustrations throughout, both within the text and as full page plates. 8vo, original midnight-blue three-quarter morocco edged in gold over pebbled cloth boards, spines richly gilt, separated into compartments with gilt lettering, gilt ruled raised bands, and elaborately decorated gilt panel designs within the compartments, marbled endpapers, a.e.g. lxviii, 746; 768; 816 pp. A fine set, all gilt and all bindings still very handsome and bright, with only expected minor foxing to the prelims. A HANDSOME SET INDEED. Staunton has painstakingly researched Shakespeare’s original language and manuscripts (when possible) in an attempt to wrap himself around the Bard’s mind, “to explain his obscurities, to disentangle his intricacies and to illustrate his allusions” [preface]. The result is a well-glossed and intelligently edited set of Shakespeare’s plays, complete with an extensive biographical section about Shakespeare, miscellaneous documents relating to his estate, and a reprint of his famous will in which he bequeaths to his wife his “second best bed, with the furniture.” This edition also contains a plethora of intricate and delightful illustrations by John Gilbert. A truly beautiful set.