The Plays of William Shakespeare. In Nine Volumes. London: John Scott, 1805, 12mo.
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An excellent early set of the works of Shakespeare in lovely contemporary bindings, the text blocks being notably clean throughout. This John Scott edition is notably very scarce, we could not trace any sales records of this edition and WorldCat records just 20 copies held institutionally worldwide.
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Size: 80 x 133 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[1ff, 282pp]; [1ff, 328pp]; [1ff, 383pp]; [1ff, 369pp, i]; [1ff, pp.3-381]; [1ff, pp.3-412]; [1ff, pp.3-342]; [1ff, pp.3-394]; [1ff, 325pp]
Contemporary uniform full marbled calf, spines decorated in gilt, each retaining its original tooled red morocco label, with the modern spelling of Shakespeare's name. Bindings a little rubbed, more so at the extremities, but show very attractively on the shelf. A little shelf and edge wear as typical. Joints rubbed, some cracked, but with all boards attached. Every volume is easily readable. Top page edges uniformly dulled as typical. Each volume retains the original sown head and tail pieces. Boards slightly scuffed, some slightly faded, but mostly very good. Remnants of removed bookplates to the front pastedowns of all volumes except volume three. Generally very clean throughout text blocks, indeed remarkably so. Volume one with a flowers pressed opposite pp.75. Volume one title page trimmed at the head to remove an ownership inscription, but there is an ownership inscription to the half title for the Tempest, approx. early to mid 19th century. Volumes five to eight bound without half titles and individual titles for the plays. Some commensurate toning to pp.74-75 owning to the aforementioned flowers pressed between the leaves in volume one (only). Flower pressed in volume eight between pp.20 and 21, also with the commensurate toning. Some edge toning to endpapers as commensurate with the full calf bindings.
An excellent set.
[OCLC 795031378].
