HANDSOMELY BOUND SET OF KNIGHT’S PICTORIAL SHAKESPEARE
SHAKESPEARE, William. The Pictorial Edition of the Works of Shakspere, edited by Charles Knight. London: Charles Knight, [1838]-43. Eight volumes. Octavo, late 19th-century three-quarter brown calf, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, red and black morocco spine labels, marbled boards. $3200.
Early edition of Charles Knight’s celebrated Pictorial Edition of Shakespeare’s works, handsomely bound and profusely illustrated with hundreds of full-page and in-text wood-engraved illustrations depicting views, characters and stage settings.
From 1837 Knight “had been occupied with what he himself probably regarded as his magnum opus. From the time of his boyish experience he had wished to edit Shakespeare… [the Pictorial Shakespeare was] ‘the first in the country conceived in the right spirit,’ and no future editor can afford to neglect it” (DNB). Includes Knight’s biography of Shakespeare. Jaggard, 522. Owner signatures dated 1875, occasional ink annotations.
Light restoration to several joints. A near-fine set, handsomely bound.