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Shakespeare, William.
The Complete Works [Ellen Terry Shakespeare, complete in 40 volumes in wooden display cabinet].
Publisher: David Bryce and Son, Glasgow;
Date of Publication: 1904
Stock Code: 12008
Miniature volumes each 32 x 49 mm. Printed on India paper, with frontispiece to each volume. Original harlequin limp calf bindings with gilt titles, and floral and foliate decoration to spine and upper board; top edges gilt; blue or floral endpapers. The set housed in the original three-shelf elaborately carved oak hanging bookcase with twin hinged doors, elaborate forget-me-not open-work doors and carved embellishments head and tail. Retaining the original metal hanging eyelets to underside for wall mounting. Spines lightly sunned with rubbing and slight wear to tips, minor loss to several volumes at head of spine and repair to spine of “As You Like It”. Contents clean and crisp, with no annotation or inscriptions. Cabinet lightly scuffed with unobtrusive minor repairs to carving. This edition is “carefully edited and compared with the best texts by J Talfourd Blair” and dedicated to the celebrated Shakespearian actress Ellen Terry. Bryce was one of the foremost producers of fine miniature books, who embraced the new technology that made miniaturisation possible, and the wall-mounted bookcase of this edition is particularly rare (the National Library of Scotland has an identical example in their collection of miniature books with a Scottish connection). A charming set displayed to good effect in a finely carved wall mounted bookcase. £2000.00