Three comedies.

Shakespeare, William. Three Comedies (The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, As You Like It). New York: Harcourt, Brace & co., 1929. First edition of these illustrations. 4to. Originial blue cloth, gilt. Slight fading to spine. vi, 409 p., black & white and color plates, text illustrations by James Daugherty. (9.5" x 7").

James Daugherty (1887-1974) began a distinguished art career by sketching illustrations to books his father, a statistician for the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, read aloud to the family. In 1903 the boy began studying evenings at Washington's Corcoran School of Art, and subsequently studied with William Merritt Chase at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. From 1905-07 he studied with Frank Brangwyn at the London School of Art, where he learned the techniques of mural production. Daugherty illustrated many popular books for children. He also illustrated editions of Carl Sandberg's books as well as Poor Richard's almanacs. His distinctively "muralistic" style lent itself to American history as well as Shakespearean scenes. In 1940 he was awarded the John Newbery Medal for his Daniel Boone, selected as the year's most distinguished contribution to American children's literature. Reference: "James (Henry) Daugherty." St. James Guide to Children's Writers, 5th ed. St. James Press, 1999. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: The Gale Group. 2003.