Bell's edition of Shakespeare's plays

1774 William Shakespeare PLAYS Illustrated Theatre Julius Caesar Winters Tale 3v "The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good - in spite of all the people who say he is very good." – Robert Graves A rare set of the plays of William Shakespeare. This three-volume lot includes some of the most famous works of Shakespearean theatre, including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, and Julius Caesar. The plays in this collection are 'acting versions' of the staged plays, and according to Ritchie and Sabor, "this edition offers a valuable record of the ways in which the plays were being altered at the time, with an introductory advertisement justifying this practice." (Ritchie & Sabor, p.397) John Bell, the publisher of this landmark set, provided a "read-along guide to contemporary theatrical display with direct references to the performance of Shakespeare on the contemporary stage, it had commercial appeal." (R&S, p.232). This beautiful, charming set includes 26 plates depicting scenes from the plays and portraits of actors designed by Edward Edwards. Item number: #21565 Price: $750 SHAKESPEARE, William. Bell's edition of Shakespeare's plays London : Printed for John Bell, 1774. First edition. Details: • Collation: Complete with all pages; 3 volumes o Vol. 5: Julius Caesar; Timon of Athens; The Winter's Tale; Coriolanus; Twelfth Night – 359, [1] o Vol. 7: King Richard II; Henry VI Parts 1, 2 and 3 – 364 o Vol. 8: Titus Andronicus, Comedy of Errors, Midsummer Night's Dream, Love's Labour Lost – 287, [1] o Separate title pages for each play • References: ESTC N 474724; Lowndes 2262; Ritchie & Sabor, Shakespeare in the 18th-century; • Language: English • Binding: Leather; secure • Size: ~7.75in X 4.75in (19.5cm x 12cm) Our Guarantee: Very Fast. Very Safe. Free Shipping Worldwide. Customer satisfaction is our priority! Notify us with 7 days of receiving, and we will offer a full refund without reservation! 21565 Photos available upon request.