SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM.
Complete Works. (c. 1904)
- This is a set of the smaller miniatures contained in a smaller revolving bookcase, and is much rarer than the usual though still uncommon slightly larger miniature set contained similarly, Glasgow & NY David Bryce and Son (1904) Forty volumes. Dedicated to the actress Ellen Terry, this complete set of Shakespeare was part of a series of literary sets or individual volumes dedicated to her. Of the Ellen Terry series, Louis Bondy wrote that these volumes are "Bryce's greatest achievement as a leading promoter of miniature books." and, in particular, he describes the Shakespeare as "the most prodigious of these sets." (Bondy, p.114). Most of the sets were printed in 1904. Included are all the plays, the sonnets, a biographical sketch, and glossary. Bound in gilt stamped Harlequin Leather (skiver) covers with Art Nouveau decorated spines in gilt and a similar
cartouche around the titles to front cover. Housed in the original 8-compartment marquetry inlaid on top, of dark wood revolving wooden bookcase, (with an unusual square base on which it revolves) by Bumpus, which can be very difficult to obtain. NB. A few of the covers are sun damaged and may require restoration or replacing. (Spielmann 459; American Art Association 182; Welsh 6264), (2 1/8 by 1
1/2: 55x38mm.). The set contains.
Comedies
All's Well That Ends Well
As You Like It The Comedy of Errors
Measure for Measuret The Merchant of Venice
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Love's Labour's Lost The Merry Wives of Windsor Twelfth Night, or What You Will The Winter's Tale
Much Ado About Nothing
Pericles, Prince of Tyre: The Taming of the Shrew
The Two Gentlemen of Verona or The Two Noble Kinsmen.
Histories
King John Richard 11
Henry IV. part 1
Henry V
Henry IV. part 2 Henry VI, part 1 Henry VI. part 2 Henry VI. part 3
Richard III Henry VIII
Tragedies:
Romeo and Juliet
Coriolanus
Titus Andronicus
Timon of Athens
[i] Hamlet
Julius Caesar
Macbetht
Troilus and Cressida‡
King Lear Othello
Antony and Cleopatra
Cymbeline* The Tempest
Poems
Sonnets and Poems Venus and Adonis
Other
Biography and Glossary
Case VG. Sold by a collector in a public auction at Bonhams, 9th November 2022.
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