The Works of Shakespeare

London: Virtue & Co. Limited, 1873-1876. Leather. Good. 15" by 11.5". Various. The Imperial edition of this collection of works from the national bard William Shakespeare, with illustrations. Complete in two volumes bound in three. Dated from the British Library. Imperial edition. A complete collection of the works of playwright, poet, and actor, William Shakespeare, regarded to this day as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. The volumes contain a carefully revised biography, a notice of the original editions of the plays, an essay on the three parts of King Henry VI and King Richard III, a brief notice of opinion in the writings of Shakespeare and a thorough index. Edited by Charles Knight, an English publisher, editor, and author. Illustrated by C. W. Cope, W. P. Frith, C. R. Leslie, D. Maclise, E. M. Ward, C. Clint, H. S. Marks, W. Q. Orchardson, and others. Volume one is illustrated with frontispiece, vignette, and twenty-six plates. Volume two is illustrated with frontispiece, vignette, and fifteen plates. Volume three is illustrated with one plate and a few in-text images. Collated complete. In the original full green morocco with gilt decoration. Externally, sound with rubbing to the extremities resulting in light loss to the leather. Fading to the spine and the odd mark to the board. Paint marks to the rear board of volume one. Minor loss to the tail of the spine to volumes one and three, and the head of the spine to volume two. Front joint starting with a crack to volume three. Front hinges starting but firm to all volumes. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright and clean with the odd handling spot. Very light spotting and minor age toning to the endpapers. Good