"SHAKESPEARE IS THE CANON. HE SETS THE STANDARD AND THE LIMITS OF LITERATURE"

SHAKESPEARE, William. The Works of Shakespeare. Edited by Israel Gollancz. London: J.M. Dent, 1899-1900. Twelve volumes. Octavo, publisher's full beveled vellum, elaborately gilt-decorated spines and gilt cover emblems, top edges gilt, uncut and unopened. $7500.

Fine set of the "Larger Temple Shakespeare," number 5 of only 175 sets printed on handmade paper, beautifully illustrated with 40 full-page plates (30 hand-tinted), and copious in-text line cuts.

"Shakespeare is the Canon. He sets the standard and the limits of literature" (Harold Bloom). This splendid edition of Shakespeare's Works "aims at the elucidation of the text by means of illustrative drawings from old books, broadsides, antiquarian objects, [and] maps, belonging for the most part, to the poet's own times." With a biography of Shakespeare, "newly discovered" frontispiece portrait published for the first time, a folding view of London during Shakespeare's day, facsimile title and preliminary pages from the First Folio, and glossaries of Shakespearian English. Chapter headings printed in red.

Text fine, foxing to margins of some plates; original vellum exceptionally beautiful and fine, gilt very bright. A stunning set.