[Rarebooks] FS: One of the most beautiful editions of Shakespeare's Plays Illustrated by Rackham, Gill, Masereel, etc.

[Charles Agvent]

First time offered to the public:

SHAKESPEARE, William. THE PLAYS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: THE COMEDIES, 
HISTORIES & TRAGEDIES: 37 volumes. New York: Limited Editions Club, 
1939-40. Thirty-eight folio (8-3/4" x 13") volumes bound in gold-stamped 
half natural buckram, top edges gilt, with the paper sides, printed in 
four colors, reproducing a patterned wall painting uncovered in a room 
where Shakespeare might have seen and admired it. Edited by Herbert 
Farjeon, who created the Nonesuch edition text of Shakespeare, to 
restore the original typographic style and spelling; typography planned 
and production supervised by Bruce Rogers. Each of the 37 volumes is 
illustrated by one of the world's leading book artists including Arthur 
Rackham, Eric Gill, Robert Gibbings, Jean Charlot, and Frans Masereel. 
Media include wood engravings and lithographs with some hand coloring. 
An attempt to "produce a text such as Shakespeare himself might have 
passed for the printer had he personally read the proofs," and surely 
one of the most beautiful editions, if not the most beautiful edition, 
of Shakespeare ever produced. Issued unsigned. Of a total of 1950 copies 
printed, this copy is not numbered (in place of the number is written in 
ink "Office Copy") and bears the Club's blindstamp stating it is one of 
15 presentation copies. In addition to the 37 volumes published, this 
set also has a special bound matching volume containing all of the 
Commentaries for each play with a hand-typed index bound at the front 
listing the plays both alphabetically and in order of shipment to 
members. The volume perfectly matches the other 37 and is lettered on 
the spine: "A Shakespeare Commentary." We are aware of only one other 
set with a similarly bound Commetaries volume, that belonging to Macy 
himself and also in our possession. Spines slightly and fairly evenly 
darkened, corners firm. Near Fine and quite scarce. (#016389)        
$3,000.00

Some sample images here:

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/Shakespeare-shrew.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/Shakespeare-tempest.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/Shakespeare-timon.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/Shakespeare-titus.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/Shakespeare-troilus.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/Shakespeare-verona.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/Shakespeare-winter.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/Shakespeare-wives.JPG

-- 
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CHARLES AGVENT
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