The Dramatic Works Of Shakspeare Revised By George Steevens [Edited by J.Boydell].

SHAKESPEARE, [William] [1564-1616].

Published by London: Printed by W.Bulmer & Co.For John And Josiah Boydell, George and W.Nicoll From The Types of W.Martin, 1802.

About this Item

9 Volumes. large folio. with half-titles. 95 engraved plates (of 100?; incl. 2 portraits, 1 bound as a frontis.). contemporary blind & gilt-stamped straight-grained dark blue morocco, gilt backs, all edges gilt (rubbed, some surface abrasions to covers & spines, scattered foxing & browning). bookplate of William Kemmis. First Edition, Second Issue, of the 'Boydell Shakespeare'; our copy has 95 engraved plates whereas Jaggard calls for 100 (the NUC cites a frontis. & 96 plates). Boydell s Shakespeare combined the work of the best painters and engravers working in England at the time, among them Reynolds, Stothard, Hamilton, Smirke, Romney, Fuseli, Opie, Hamilton, Northcote, Neagle, Wheatley, West, Westall, and Schiavonetti. This work was "…the first great effort of the kind ever made by English artists, and its influence cannot be overestimated." (DNB) According to Jaggard the production of these "sumptuous" plates "swallowed up a fortune." "The original paintings filled the great Shakespeare Gallery in Pall Mall, and made the name of Boydell famous." (Idem.) "This work was meant to be a magnificent national edition, in which splendour of production was to go hand in hand with correctness of text. "With regard to the Typographical part of the work," Nicol says, "the state of printing in England, when it was first undertaken [1786], was such that it was found necessary to establish a printing-house on purpose to print the work; a foundry to cast the types; and even a manufactory to make the ink." (Updike) Jaggard p. 508. Updike, Printing Types, II p. 144.

Seller Inventory # elala3796

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Dramatic Works Of Shakspeare Revised By George Steevens [Edited by J.Boydell].
• Publisher: London: Printed by W.Bulmer & Co.For John And Josiah Boydell, George and W.Nicoll From The Types of W.Martin, 1802.
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • English-Literature