Books

A stunning set of the complete works of William Shakespeare, in three volumes, illustrated by E J Sullivan. A reprint of the 1911 edition from J M Dent and Sons. Volume I is 'Comedies', Volume II 'Histories and Poems' and Volume III 'Tragedies'. In uniform bindings by Riviere and Son. Gift inscription to the recto of front free endpapers to all volumes, dated Xmas 1929.E J Sullivan's illustrations merge British illustration tradition from the nineteenth century with aspects of Art Nouveau. He illustrated many canonical works such as 'The Compleat Angler', 'The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam' and 'Sartor Resartus'. William Shakespeare was the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is widely regarded to be the greatest writer in the English language and his plays and poems are still widely read and performed today worldwide. In half calf bindings with cloth covered boards. Externally, very smart with minor rubbing to the extremities, heavier to the 'Tragedies' volume. Spines have faded slightly ,as expected with this colour. Binder's stamp to the verso of front endpaper, Riviere and Son. Gift inscription to the recto of front free endpaper to all volumes, dated Xmas 1929. Internally, all volumes are firmly bound. Pages are bright with just the odd spot, mostly to foredges. Near Fine.

Comedies, Histories & Tragedies is a collection of William Shakespeare's plays, published in the First Folio in 1623, seven years after his death. Compiled by his colleagues John Heminges and Henry Condell, it is considered one of the most influential books ever published in the English language.