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London: John and Josiah Boydell, 1802. 9 volume set, 17 inches tall. A magnificent full Georgian morocco binding with wide gilt raised bands, splendid gilt tooling in the panels and on the boards, typical of the period. Gilt dentelles and all edges. With the armorial bookplate of Charles Augustus Wild. Most unusually there is absolutely no splitting to the joints, no repairs and no loss. There are dents and abrasions to the boards but overall a spectacularly fine copy. Embellished with 95 engraved tissue guarded plates, making a total of 97 with the portraits. There is a degree of foxing to the plates, as usual. "A Magnificent national edition, in which splendour of production was to go hand in hand with correctness of text" Updike.

London: John Bell, 1785-1788. 38 volumes, 5.5 inches tall. Full straight grain dark blue morocco with gilt bands, titles, dentelles and all edges. Tiffany bookplates. Some slight foxing to the plates but generally very clean. Engraved frontispieces, title pages and plates throughout. Although this celebrated Bell's Edition first appeared in 38 volumes it is very unusual to find it in this form, with each volume bound individually, rather than with every 2 or 3 volumes bound together. There is no splitting or loss at all. An absolutely exceptional set.

London: Bohn, 1848. Half morocco, 15 inches tall. A glorious tall copy from the library of the Duke of Gloucester at Kensington Palace. Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester was the third son of King George V, brother of King George VI and King Edward VIII. In pristine condition this copy was bound by J. Wright, one of the finest binders of the early Victorian period, with gilt raised bands, label and magnificent gilt armorial centre tools. All edges gilt. Decorated with 60 full page hand coloured plates, all dated 1811-13.

Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1857. 25 volume set, 8.75 inches tall. A truly spectacular set in full dark pink morocco in marvellous condition. With gilt raised bands, twin green labels and extra gilt panels. The boards are decorated with a very delicate and ornate panel framed within a triple roll. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Engraved frontispieces, title pages, portraits and views throughout. Other than a few very superficial marks this set is in pristine condition with no wear or fading.

London: John Bell, c.1810. 38 volume set, 6 1/2 inches tall. A remarkable complete set bound in Regency half red straight grain morocco with gilt and blind bands and very fine and ornate centre tooling. With the bookplate of J. Gotterson, dated 1817. There is also another previous owner's name, in ink, dated 1907, on the first blank. This set has the 74 plates called for and has been extra illustrated with a further 97 plates. All the volumes show signs of wear, in particular volume I, there is foxing around many plates and a few loose signatures, but there is no splitting or loss and this edition of Shakespeare's Plays is very scarce in 38 volumes.

London: Longman et al., 1814. Full morocco, 15 inches tall. A magnificent tall full hard grain morocco with gilt raised bands, superb twin labels and spectacular gilt tooling to the panels. The boards are framed by triple gilt fillets and centre tools. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Embellished with 95 splendid engravings. The tallest and best edition of this work in an exceptional binding.

London: Walter Spiers, 1838; Longman et al., 1847; Bradbury and Evans, 1853; Bradbury and Evans, 1854; Bradbury and Evans, 1858; Bradbury and Evans, 1860; Bradbury and Evans, 1865. 7 volumes, 8 1/2 inches tall. Splendid, sparkling full calf by Bumpus with gilt raised bands, 'country' gilt centre tools, triple labels (excepting the first novel, 'Jorrocks's Jaunts' which was published anonymously) and with gilt corner tools and triple fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. These are all first editions in single volume book form excepting 'Handley Cross'. "Jorrocks's Jaunts' has 12 full page illustrations by 'Phiz', 'Hawbuck Grange' 8 plates by 'Phiz', the remainder have hand coloured plates by Leech. Some foxing and a small superficial stain to the lower board of 'Jorrocks's Jaunts'. A wonderful collection of these hilarious, vulgar and rollicking novels of English Country life in the early nineteenth century

Paris: Paulin, 1845. 4 volumes bound in 2, 10.5 inches tall. A stunning full cat's paw calf by Clarke & Bedford, one of the finest London binders of the period in pristine condition. With gilt raised bands, delightful labels and superb gilt tooling to the panels. With gilt dentelles and all edges. Armorial bookplate. 83 wood-engraved plates, all but 13 by Gavarni, 1 folding map and around 600 engraved vignettes. A celebrated edition in a stunning binding. In the original French.

London: George Bell, 1892. 5 volume set, 7 1/2 inches tall. A gorgeous full calf by Sotheran of Piccadilly with gilt raised bands, twin labels and gilt tooled panels. The boards are framed within corner tools and twin fillets. gilt dentelles and top edges. 150 copies of the Large Paper Edition, of which this is number 65, have been printed of this Aldine edition. Portrait. A delightful set of the works of this great romantic English poet.

London: J.F.Dove, 1830. 8 volume set, 9 inches tall. A splendid early Victorian full calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and exceptionally attractive gilt tooling to the panels. With a 'Life of the Author' and notes by W. Harness, friend of Lord Byron. With 3 portrait frontispieces and charming engravings throughout. Some foxing, almost exclusively facing the plates. This fine set includes the Sonnets.

London: Archibald Constable, 1899-1901. 12 volume set, 9 inches tall. A splendid set in a half morocco binding by Zaehnsdorf with gilt raised bands and rather unusual dense gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt top edges. This is a fine and highly readable edition of these great 18th century picaresque novels.

London: Charles Knight, 1842. 8 volume set, 9.5 inches tall. A stunning extra gilt full morocco with gilt raised bands, fine gilt tooled panels and spectacular gilt tooling to the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Armorial bookplate. Occasional abrasions. A splendid set of this celebrated edition which is illustrated throughout.

London: Chapman & Hall, 1866. 9 volume set, 8.75 inches tall. An exceptionally handsome set in full red morocco with gilt raised bands, gilt titles, panels and all edges. the boards are framed with gilt and blind tooling. With the Royal cipher of Marie Therese. A fine copy of the celebrated Dyce edition of the Complete Works of England's greatest playwright.

London: Gale, Curtis and Fenner, 1814. Full morocco, 10.75 inches tall. A splendid later 19th century binding by Root with gilt raised bands, very fine panels, triple fillets framing the boards, dentelles and top edge. Adorned with 20 beautiful circular hand coloured aquatints. A superb copy of this most attractive work.

London: Law, Johnson et al., 1797. 8 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A fine edition in a later full tree calf with gilt bands, twin labels and elegant gilt centre tools. minor expert repair to the turn ins of the first volume. Portrait. From the library of Maurice Baring and with his curious bookplate. A splendid set of these great 18th century works.

London: London Printing and Publishing Company, c 1870. 3 volume set, 11 inches tall. Sparkling full morocco with gilt raised bands and superb gilt tooling to the panels and boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. With Splendid vignettes and full page illustrations by Kenny Meadows. A pristine set of this entertaining edition.

London: Hughs, 1789. 8 volume set, 8 3/4 inches tall. A wonderful late 18th century straight grain morocco with gilt bands on a smooth back with fine gilt tooling to the panels. The initials M.W. embossed in gilt to the upper boards are framed within a series of gilt fillets. All edges gilt. The green of the boards has slightly faded on the spine and there is some rubbing to the heads and tails but with no splitting or loss. From the library of Michael Walker of Eastwood Hall whose letter, recommending this set to his niece, dated 1791 is tipped onto the second blank. A super copy of this tall and finely printed edition.

Glasgow: Printed by and for R. Chapman, 1809. Half Calf, 8 1/2 inches tall. A simple but pleasing near contemporary binding with raised bands, label and blind pallets. This 12th edition Glasgow printing is "Enriched with a portrait and Life of the Author". Slight discolouration in the top panel and offsetting from the engraved portrait but a nice clean copy of this scarce edition.

London: Chatto & Windus, 1912. 6 volume set, 7 1/2 inches tall. A superb full plumb morocco binding by Wood. With gilt raised bands, delicate gilt tooling to the panels and decorative gilt fillets and corner tools framing the boards. Gilt top edges. Neat ink inscription, dated Christmas 1918, on the second blank. Fine set in pristine condition from the library of an Oxfordshire country house.