TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE. Into several remote nations by RACKHAM. ARTHUR. Illustrates.; LAMB. CHARLES AND MARY - 1909

Chatto & Windus. London. 1891. FIRST EDITION. 3 Volumes. 8vo. (7.5 x 5 inches). Inscribed by the author on the half-title of volume I, "A. P. Watt with the Author's kindest wishes. 6th June 1891". 12 mono full page plates by Green, each with a tissue guard. Original dark green cloth blocked with elaborate blind decoration, spines lettered in gilt, floral patterned endpapers. Cloth very slightly rubbed at extremities and a few thin white streaks to the front board of volume one and some light foxing to the decorative endpapers, otherwise clean, tight and bright throughout. Overall a better than very good set. Alexander Pollock Watt (1838–1914) was the first successful British literary agent. His agency, started in 1875, is still active today and is, in fact, the longest-established literary agency in the world. He acted as Besant's agent, and also his literary executor.

Chatto & Windus. London. 1888. FIRST EDITION. 3 Volumes. 8vo. (7.5 x 5 inches). Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper of volume I, "A. P. Watt. From the Author". Original brown cloth blocked in metallic blue in a geometric pattern to the spines and front boards. The spines are lettered in gilt. Floral patterned endpapers. Spines rolled a little, some light spotting to endpapers and title pages but generally a clean, tight and bright copy. Overall a better than very good set. Alexander Pollock Watt (1838–1914) was the first successful British literary agent. His agency, started in 1875, is still active today and is, in fact, the longest-established literary agency in the world. He acted as Besant's agent, and also his literary executor.

Houghton, Mifflin & Co. The Riverside Press. Boston. U. S. A. 1898 + 1906. FIRST EDITIONS. 2 volumes. 8vo. (7.9 x 5.8 inches). The second work is the dedication copy. The printed dedication leaf reads: " To C. N. R. Thy acceptance Maketh blest". Both volumes are inscribed by the Author to Caroline Nelson Russell and Polly and the Aunt contains the author's manuscript addition of the real names of characters where they have been changed for publication, as well as some notes. Illustrated with mono portrait plates, each with the subjects names and birth (& some death) dates written by the Author on the reverse. Fine copies in fine contemporary presentation leather bindings by the Riverside Bindery. Both bound in full red morocco. Spines with raised bands. Compartments decorated and lettered in gilt. Double gilt ruled border on boards. Top edge gilt. Board edges with decorative gilt roll. Inner boards with decorative gilt borders to the leather turn-ins. Marbled endpapers. The… Read More

Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag (F. Hegel & Son). Kobenhavn (Copenhagen). 1890. FIRST EDITION. Preceded by 12 copies printed in London, England, with a view to securing copyright. 8vo. (7 x 4.8 inches). iv, 236pp. A fine copy in publishers original green cloth binding with elaborate decoration and lettering in black and gilt to the front board and spine. Rear board with blind stamped borders and central publishers logo. Decorative floral endpapers. All edges gilt. Previous owners neat oval leather bookplate, lettered and decorated in gilt, on the front paste-down endpaper. A lovely copy of this famous work. --- Printing and the mind of man no. 375.

The Modern Press. 1886. First separate issue, larger untrimmed variant, inscribed by the author. Originally printed in the April 1885-March 1886 issues of "To-Day", this first edition was printed from the corrected and revised stereos of the original setting for the journal. This is the larger, variant issue, with the preliminary blank leaf bound at the beginning. Shaw explains the variant this way: "The size of the bigger copies is due to the fact that they reproduced not only the type but the format of To-day. But the booksellers objected that in this form it occupied too much room to be displayed on their stalls and counters. It was probably cut down as far as the margins would allow to meet this objection" (Laurence). Inscribed by Shaw, "This is the first Issue, which was so tall that the booksellers refused to exhibit it on their counters, as it took too much room. So it had to be cut down. G. Bernard Shaw 26/7/30." . ---- Housed in a green cloth covered chemise and quarter green morocco slip… Read More

Chatto & Windus. London. 1891. FIRST EDITION. 3 Volumes. 8vo. (7.5 x 5 inches). Inscribed by the author on the half-title of volume I, "A. P. Watt with the Author's kindest wishes. 6th June 1891". 12 mono full page plates by Green, each with a tissue guard. Original dark green cloth blocked with elaborate blind decoration, spines lettered in gilt, floral patterned endpapers. Cloth very slightly rubbed at extremities and a few thin white streaks to the front board of volume one and some light foxing to the decorative endpapers, otherwise clean, tight and bright throughout. Overall a better than very good set. Alexander Pollock Watt (1838–1914) was the first successful British literary agent. His agency, started in 1875, is still active today and is, in fact, the longest-established literary agency in the world. He acted as Besant's agent, and also his literary executor.

Chatto & Windus. London. 1888. FIRST EDITION. 3 Volumes. 8vo. (7.5 x 5 inches). Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper of volume I, "A. P. Watt. From the Author". Original brown cloth blocked in metallic blue in a geometric pattern to the spines and front boards. The spines are lettered in gilt. Floral patterned endpapers. Spines rolled a little, some light spotting to endpapers and title pages but generally a clean, tight and bright copy. Overall a better than very good set. Alexander Pollock Watt (1838–1914) was the first successful British literary agent. His agency, started in 1875, is still active today and is, in fact, the longest-established literary agency in the world. He acted as Besant's agent, and also his literary executor.

Houghton, Mifflin & Co. The Riverside Press. Boston. U. S. A. 1898 + 1906. FIRST EDITIONS. 2 volumes. 8vo. (7.9 x 5.8 inches). The second work is the dedication copy. The printed dedication leaf reads: " To C. N. R. Thy acceptance Maketh blest". Both volumes are inscribed by the Author to Caroline Nelson Russell and Polly and the Aunt contains the author's manuscript addition of the real names of characters where they have been changed for publication, as well as some notes. Illustrated with mono portrait plates, each with the subjects names and birth (& some death) dates written by the Author on the reverse. Fine copies in fine contemporary presentation leather bindings by the Riverside Bindery. Both bound in full red morocco. Spines with raised bands. Compartments decorated and lettered in gilt. Double gilt ruled border on boards. Top edge gilt. Board edges with decorative gilt roll. Inner boards with decorative gilt borders to the leather turn-ins. Marbled endpapers. The… Read More

Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag (F. Hegel & Son). Kobenhavn (Copenhagen). 1890. FIRST EDITION. Preceded by 12 copies printed in London, England, with a view to securing copyright. 8vo. (7 x 4.8 inches). iv, 236pp. A fine copy in publishers original green cloth binding with elaborate decoration and lettering in black and gilt to the front board and spine. Rear board with blind stamped borders and central publishers logo. Decorative floral endpapers. All edges gilt. Previous owners neat oval leather bookplate, lettered and decorated in gilt, on the front paste-down endpaper. A lovely copy of this famous work. --- Printing and the mind of man no. 375.

The Modern Press. 1886. First separate issue, larger untrimmed variant, inscribed by the author. Originally printed in the April 1885-March 1886 issues of "To-Day", this first edition was printed from the corrected and revised stereos of the original setting for the journal. This is the larger, variant issue, with the preliminary blank leaf bound at the beginning. Shaw explains the variant this way: "The size of the bigger copies is due to the fact that they reproduced not only the type but the format of To-day. But the booksellers objected that in this form it occupied too much room to be displayed on their stalls and counters. It was probably cut down as far as the margins would allow to meet this objection" (Laurence). Inscribed by Shaw, "This is the first Issue, which was so tall that the booksellers refused to exhibit it on their counters, as it took too much room. So it had to be cut down. G. Bernard Shaw 26/7/30." . ---- Housed in a green cloth covered chemise and quarter green morocco slip… Read More