The Complete Works of Shakspere [Shakespeare], Revised from the Original Editions with Historical and Analytical Introductions to Each Play, Also Notes Explanatory and Critical, and a Life of the Poet. (Vols. 1-3)

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKSPERE [Sic], REVISED FROM THE ORIGINAL EDITIONS WITH HISTORICAL AND ANALYTICAL INTRODUCTIONS TO EACH PLAY, ALSO NOTES EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL, AND A LIFE OF THE POET. (Vols. 1-3), Shakspere [Shakespeare, William]; introduction and notes stated as written by James Orchard Halliwell (see note below), hardcover, illustrated with many full-page engravings of mid-19th century actors in costume, 1850. BOOK CONDITION: all three volumes are in poor condition. Some pages are separating from the spine. Much foxing, age-tanning of pages, along with some stains. Some tears, but as far as I can tell, no missing text pages. No volume is a remainder or library book. No bookplate nor signature of previous owner of the three volumes. Marbled endpapers and gilt edges all around. The part-leather and mainly brown cloth boards are in poor condition for each volume: rubbing, scratches, tears. Four raised bands on spines. Part of the spine of the “Tragedies” volume is missing. 11 x 8, 576+496+ 516 = 1588 pages, 169 ounces (three volumes). XX Contents: Comedies volume (with notes following each play): The Tempest, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure, The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night or What You Will, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer-Night’s Dream, Taming of the Shrew, Winter’s Tale, Love’s Labour’s Lost, All’s Well That Ends Well. Tragedies volume (with notes): Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; Macbeth, Othello, the Moor of Venice; King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Cymbeline, Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Timon of Athens, Troilus and Cressida. Histories volume (with notes): King John, King Richard the Second, First Part of King Henry the Fourth, Second Part of King Henry the Fourth, King Henry the Fifth, King Henry the Sixth, King Richard the Third, King Henry the Eighth. Poetry and essays on Shakespeare. XX I believe that what makes these Tallis volumes especially interesting is that James Orchard Halliwell speaks of them as a "pirated cheap edition," and disclaimed all responsibility for it. Cf. London Times, October, 1850. [Note from Justin Winsor, Halliwelliana, a Bibliography of the Publications of James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, 1881]. This is not to say that the text of the plays is incorrect, just that Halliwell did not benefit from the publication of this edition and that attaching his name to the volumes, especially the notes, was misleading. The notes may very well have been taken from Halliwell’s numerous writings on Shakespeare, but the “Life of Shakespeare” and some of the introductions in the Tallis edition were written by Henry Tyrrell.…