EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED ALDINE EDITION OF SHAKESPEARE'S POEMS, EXQUISITELY BOUND

SHAKESPEARE, William. The Crown Edition of the British Poets. William Shakespeare. London: British Literary Society, circa 1890. Small octavo, contemporary full crimson morocco gilt, elaborately gilt-decorated spines and covers with floral designs incorporating maroon, green and tan morocco inlays, green morocco-gilt doublures with red morocco inlays in a floral design, raised bands, watered silk endpapers, all edges gilt. $3800.

Limited "Aldine Poets" edition of the poems of Shakespeare, number four of only ten extra-illustrated copies with two hand-colored engravings and an original color drawing signed by the artist, splendidly bound in full morocco-gilt with multi-colored morocco inlays in floral designs.

The "Aldine" edition of British poets, first brought out by the publisher William Pickering beginning in 1830, aimed to introduce scholarly editions of the classics in a smaller, more affordable format. This collection includes a memoir of Shakespeare by the Rev. Alexander Dyce as well as Shakespeare's long poems, songs from the plays and—of course—the sonnets. The original color illustration in this volume is signed "Gabriel" by the artist.

Spine very slightly toned. A lovely copy, in fine condition.