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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: Edward Moxon, 1843-1846. 11 volume set, 8.75 inches tall. A truly splendid full hard grain morocco by one of the greatest binders of the period, White of Pall Mall. With gilt raised bands, unusual dense gilt tooling to the panels and gilt dentelles. All the edges are gilt over marbling. The heraldic crest on both boards is framed within magnificent gilt rolls and individual tooling. The crest with the motto 'Sic Donec' is that of William Tatton Egerton, 1st Baron Egerton of Tatton Park. A wonderful set of the Works of these two early 17th century English playwrights, often considered successors to Shakespeare.

London: Septimus Prowett, 1825. 13 volume set, 9 inches tall. A splendid tall paper set in a magnificent hard grain morocco by one of London's most celebrated binders, Clarke & Bedford. With gilt raised bands, ornate gilt tooling to the panels and the play titles in the surely smallest type a binder could use. The boards framed within triple fillets, gilt dentelles and all edges. Some speckles to the boards. With the striking bookplate of John Wodehouse, Earl of Kimberley Foreign secretary under Queen Victoria. This collection of Elizabethan and Jacobean plays was significant in reacquainting the public with many previously neglected works. A very fine set.

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: 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: 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: T. Becket, 1781. Full calf, 9 inches tall. A very fine binding by Riviere with gilt raised bands, delightful gilt floral tooling to the panels and triple gilt fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and top edge, the remaining edges untrimmed. An exceptionally clean and tall copy, being untrimmed. This volume does have the very rare leaf of advertisements but lacks the half title, which could be explained by the fact that it is in a later binding and that it was discarded, or could indicate it is not a true first. Slight splitting to the head and foot of the upper board but still perfectly firm and solid. A very nice copy of this great play.

London: John Bell, 1791. 7 volumes, 6 inches tall. Full straight grain morocco with label, gilt bands, titles, superb centre tools, all edges and dentelles. This is the first 7 volumes of Tragedies, part of John Bell's British library series. Containing many plays all individually paginated. Each also has a superb engraved frontispiece and title page. An exceedingly pretty run.

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: Nicol, Rivington et al, 1813. 4 volume set, 9 inches tall. A simple but very fine later half crushed morocco by Ramage with gilt raised bands, titles and top edges. Bookplate. Portrait. A splendid set of the second edition of the dramatic works of this great seventeenth century English playwright.

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.

London: George Bell, 1887. Full morocco, 9.5 inches tall. A sparkling hard grain morocco with gilt raised bands, fine gilt tooling to the panels, superb gilt panels with ornate corner tooling, framing a crest on the upper boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Illustrated by W. Harvey. A splendid single volume edition.

Paris: Chez Prault pere, 1758. 10 volume set, 6 inches tall. A most attractive set in full speckled calf with gilt bands, twin labels, fine floral gilt tooling to the panels and pink edges. An early, revised and augmented, edition of this great French dramatist's works published just 4 years after his death.

London: Charles Tilt, c 1840. 8 volume set, 4 inches tall. Full morocco with gilt panels, gilt blocks to the boards and all edges gilt. A charming little set with a few small nicks to head and tail caps, otherwise in pristine condition.

Paris: Didot, 1803 (AN XI). 5 volume set, 5.5 inches tall. A delightful set in full straight grain morocco with gilt bands, centre tools, gilt roll framing the boards and all edges gilt. In the original French.

London: Longman et al., Printed by Gedge and Barker, Bury, 1812. Full calf. 5.75 inches tall. A fine example of this curious and rare title. With gilt raised bands, extra gilt panels, dentelles and all edges. Portrait of Shakespeare. Not signed but bound by Clarke and Bedford toward the end of the Victorian era. Expert repair to the top corner of the title page and slight stain to upper board, but overall a splendid copy.