The Complete Works of Shakespeare - Annotated by Charles Knight | Imperial Edition 2-Volume Leather Hardcover Set with Steel Engravings | Perfect for Literature Lovers & Classic Book Collectors

Shakespeare, William; Knight, Charles. London. Virtue & Company . ND Circa 1870s. 

English Language, Imperial Edition, Very Good, HC folio 15" x 18", V1. 810 pp. / V2. 778 +188 pp.

Very Good in two volumes, 3/4 leather over boards, gilt border embellishment to leather edges, gilt lettering and illustration stamped to front cover, gilt lettering and embellishments to spine and five raised bands, all edges gilt. Leather at tips, hinges, and spinal bands is heavily rubbed, noticeable wear to leather at head and tail of spine, not affecting lettering, boards exposed at fore-edge tips, previous owner stamp to endpapers: Montgomery County Historical Society in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Some staining and age-toning to interior pages, reinforced gutters, headbands intact and bright, binding tight, all illustrations present with protective tissue guards. Volume 1 is 810 pp., Volume 2 is 778 pp. plus 188 pp. replete with 57 richly detailed steel engravings by 28 engravers based on the work of  35 painters, including narrative images as well as portraits. Both Volumes includes lists of illustrations. Also included in Volume 2 is the additional text: "A Brief Notice of Opinion on the Writings of Shakspere," two Indexes including Glossarial and Dramatis Personae, with the final 188 pp. comprised of a 12-chapter "Biography of William Shakspere" by Charles Knight, with its own Appendix.  Volume 1 includes a "Notice of the Original Editions of the Plays," which provides context for this publication, the 14 Comedies, and 9 Histories. Volume 2 includes the last of the Histories, 14 Tragedies, 5 Poems, and 13 Plays Ascribed to Shakspere, each entry also including an in-depth introductory note. This 2 Volume Imperial Folio set was in production when Mr. Charles Knight (1791-1873) passed away, so as a preface to his Biography, the editors also include his Preface to the last edition. From that Preface: "The form I have adopted may appear fanciful, but the narrative essentially rests upon facts. I venture, therefore, to think that I have made the course of Shakspere clear and consistent, without any extravagant theories and with some successful resistance to long-received prejudices." Quite a heavy set, but as figuratively hefty in content for the novice, fan, or scholar.