THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Stratford-On-Avon: The Shakespeare Head Press, 1904. 10 volumes. First Edition printed by the Shakespeare Head Press. Limited and Numbered, this being copy number 525. Illustrated with the Droeshout and Chandos portraits as frontispieces as well as the additional gravure frontispieces of known portraits of Shakespeare to every volume. 4to, handsomely bound in three-quarter emerald-green morocco over turquoise cloth covered boards, the spines with raised bands gilt stopped, the compartments with panels in gilt featuring double fillet border lines, corner tools and central ornamental tooling all in gilt, two compartments lettered and numbered in gilt, marbled endleaves, top edge gilt. The text-blocks and illustrations are all in good order, clean and fresh, and very handsome, the bindings have wear to the edges and tips, one board detached but easily repaired, an honest set, internally very pleasing, one portrait with a small water stain at a corner of the blank portion of the leaf. FIRST AND BEST EDITION PRODUCED BY THE SHAKESPEARE HEAD PRESS IN STRATFORD-ON-AVON. The Shakespeare Head Press was the dream child of A. H. Bullen, who wished to produce beautiful editions of Shakespeare’s works-- set, printed and bound in the famed author’s home town of Stratford-Upon-Avon. The press expanded significantly over the years and printed many wonderful editions by a plethora of writers.
The books were printed for A.H. Bullen and F. Sidgwick at the press, in the house of Julius Shaw the poet's friend and one of the witnesses to his will. The text with essays by H.C. Beeching, Robert Bridges, Henry Davey, E.K. Chambers, J.J. Jusserand and M.H. Spielmann. The type was composed under the supervision of T.E. Summerton. The whole was printed by F.S. Cooper. The work was begun in July, 1904 and finished in January 1907.
Colin Franklin, writing in THE PRIVATE PRESSES, says that in the years after the death of A. H. Bullen (the Press's founder), the Shakespeare Head Press "became the most mature and sophisticated of the private presses, producing some works in the grand manner which are a great pleasure to read and examine now" (p. 147). This set indeed is "in the grand manner," beautifully printed on fine paper, and very handsomely bound and presented.
This is a pleasing set internally, showing the full effect of the beautiful Shakespeare Head Press printing of Shakespeare. The bindings have seen much better days but are still reasonably presentable.