The Plays and Poems. by SHAKESPEARE, William - 1832: With a life, glossarial notes, and one hundred and seventy illustrations from the plates in Boydell's edition. Edited by A. J. Valpy.

London: Printed and published by A. J. Valpy,, 1832. Attractively bound First Valpy edition of Shakespeare's complete works, intended to be "the most useful, ornamental, and economical edition" of his writing (p. vi). The publisher, Abraham John Valpy (1786-1854), hoped that he "might rival the fame of Aldus and Stephanus as a printer and editor of classical works... For many years he published, either under his own editing or under the supervision of some classical scholar, numerous works, especially in ancient literature" (ODNB). 15 volumes, small octavo (172 x 116 mm). Contemporary green half morocco, spines with five raised bands, lettered in gilt to second and third compartments, remaining compartments decorated in gilt with foliate sprigs enclosed in borders of flower and leaf tools, twin gilt rules to spines and covers, marbled sides, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Frontispiece and 170 plates, after illustrations from John Boydell's edition, originally published between 1791 and 1805. Bookplate of Richard James Cross, possibly the railway official and banker (1841-1917), to front pastedowns, with his ownership stamp to first blanks; earlier ownership inscription to half-title of vol. 1 sometime erased. Extremities rubbed, a few corners lightly worn, contents evenly toned, occasional foxing to plates and facing pages, small damp stain to fore edge of vol. 2. A very good set.