Search

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 Pickering, 1825. Full calf, 7.5 inches tall. A ravishing full Spanish Calf binding by Riviere with gilt bands, triple labels and ornate rococo gilt tooling to the spine. The boards are framed within triple gilt fillets. Gilt dentelles and top edges. This set has the bookplate of the Rosenbach Foundation, from which it was released in 1968. A truly beautiful 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: Charles Knight, 1842. 12 volume set, 8.75 inches tall. Magnificent set in superb early Victorian full calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and extra gilt panels. 2 gilt fillets, 1 blind fillet and gilt corner tools frame the boards. A neat ink inscription on the reverse of the free endpaper which is foxed, the rest of the text being clean. With engraved vignettes throughout. A wonderful copy of this great edition.

London: J.Johnson et al, 1798. 10 volume set, 7.5 inches tall. Splendid bindings, bound by the great Christian Kalthoeber, and with his ticket. Full 18th century tree calf with gilt 'Greek key' bands, twin labels and charming gilt floral tools to the panels. Fine gilt rolls frame the tree calf of the boards. With the armorial bookplate of Edward Astle. There is a slight nick to the head cap of volume 4 and a one inch split to the head of volume 1, but still a superb set by one of the greatest London binders of his period.

Edinburgh: A & C Black, 1865. 48 volume set, 7 inches tall. A superb mid-Victorian half calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and extra gilt panels. The armorial bookplate of Walter F. Morice. With engraved frontispieces, title pages and vignettes. In pristine condition inside and out.

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: 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.

Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1877. 48 volume set, 7 inches tall. A handsome, neat mid-Victorian half calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and elegant gilt panels. With engraved frontispieces, title pages and vignettes. In fine condition inside and out.

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.

LONDON: Cassell, Petter and Galpin, c.1870. 3 volume set, 10.5 inches tall. A very handsome set with gilt raised bands, twin labels and ornate gilt 'theatrical' centre tools. A gilt prize block on the upper boards and an ink prize inscription on the first blank. Illustrated throughout. A splendid set.

London: Routledge, 1858. 3 volume set, 10 inches tall. A splendid full hard grain morocco with raised bands, finely gilt panels and elegant gilt tooling to the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Edited by Howard Staunton and illustrated with engravings by John Gilbert. Slightly rubbed but overall a super copy of this celebrated edition.

London: Virtue, c. 1850. 8 volume set 9 inches tall. A classic Victorian half calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and delicate gilt tooling to the panels. Some rubbing and the book label of G. E. Stones. With full page plates and Vignettes throughout.