The Works of William Shakespeare, 1888 Bedford Edition, Within Presentation Box

A beautiful complete twelve-volume miniature edition of Shakespeare's works, published by Frederick Warne & Co., London and New York, in 1888.

Known as the "Bedford Edition," the set contains Shakespeare's plays, poems and sonnets, together with a life of Shakespeare and glossary, carefully edited from contemporary texts.

All twelve pocket-sized volumes are uniformly bound in black leather, with gilt lettering and numbering to the spines, "Shakspeare" in gilt to the boards and all edges gilt. The attractive title pages are printed in red and black within ruled borders.

Particularly desirable is the survival of the original fitted presentation case, with a gilt "Contents of the Volumes" panel inside the lid detailing the works contained within each volume.

The Bedford Edition

Published during the Victorian period, the Bedford Edition transformed Shakespeare's complete works into a remarkably compact miniature library. By 1888 Shakespeare had become a central figure of British literary culture, and publishers produced increasingly attractive editions for both reading and display.

This complete leather-bound set is a particularly charming example of that tradition.

Condition

Complete in all twelve volumes with original fitted case.

The books remain in attractive antique condition with strong leather bindings, clear gilt lettering and bright gilt page edges. Minor rubbing and signs of age are present.

The original case shows considerably more wear, including rubbing, scuffing, surface loss and an old repair/reinforcement, but remains an important and attractive part of the set.

Please examine the photographs carefully as part of the condition description.

Author: William Shakespeare
Edition: The "Bedford" Edition
Publisher: Frederick Warne & Co.
Date: 1888
Volumes: 12, complete
Binding: Black leather, gilt lettering
Edges: All edges gilt
Case: Original fitted presentation case

Dimensions:

Weight -2.15kg 

Height - 24.5cm

Width - 13cm

Thickness - 13cm