Shakspeare's Dramatic Works:
with a life of the author, and a selection of notes, critical, historical, and explanatory, by the Rev. W. Harness, A.M. of Christ's College, Cambridge. To which are added, the author's poems. In eight volumes.
London: printed and sold by J. F. Dove, 1830 Stock Code: 129641
Elegant contemporary binding
An arresting example of the bookbinder's craft as the Georgian period drew to its close, and an exemplary demonstration of the care that the age was lavishing on the national playwright.The text is the second Harness edition of Shakespeare (first published in 1825), the principal work of the literary scholar William Harness (1790-1869), who was a friend of Byron's from their Harrow schooldays and, with some disruptions, in later life. The Harness prize for Shakespeare studies remains to his memory at Cambridge. The edition generally follows Johnson and Steevens, while the Biographical Memoir is a synthesis of Rowe, Johnson, Malone and others. Harness also provides straight reprints of the prefaces of Rowe, Pope and Johnson.
Description
8 volumes, octavo (218 x 136 mm). Contemporary calf, spines lettered in gilt, spines and front covers with ornate gilt blocking, marbled endpapers and sides, green silk bookmarks.
Illustrations
Droeshout portrait frontispiece engraved by Swaine, Stratford bust and Chandos portrait engraved by E. Scriven, each play with individual plate.
Condition
Contemporary bookplates of Augustus Terry Clarke. A few minor scuff marks to bindings, some pages with patches of discolouration and finger-soiling. A very good set.
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