The Handy-Volume Shakspeare. By William Shakespeare. Handy-Volume Set. Thirteen Volumes. Bradbury, Agnew, & Co. London, Circa 1870.

William Shakespeare, the great English Bard, has defined a nation’s literature for over 400 years. He is perhaps the most quoted author of all time. His iambic pentameter, his adorned Early Modern English, his vivid characters, and his nuanced dialogue and plots have all been the inspiration of numerous artists. Shakespeare’s plays have also been reread, reimagined, and performed constantly since the 1600s. In this Handy-Volume Shakspeare set, his complete plays are presented in thirteen small volumes. They are pocket-sized, meant to be portable, showcasing the nineteenth century’s appreciation of the Bard as an author to be read out in the world. Published around 1870, this set also comes with the original box. It is a spectacular, gift-worthy version of Shakespeare’s plays from the Victorian era.

This Handy-Volume Shakspeare set is in near-fine condition. All thirteen volumes present. In the original red limp leather, finely gilt stamped, only very minor rubbing to some spine ends. Text blocks fine. Gilt edges. In the original box, very good with only rubbing and chipping to edges and hinge just starting. Gilt still bright. No rears or cracking. Silk ribbon lightly frayed at the end. Scarce in this condition.

A near-fine nineteenth century set of Shakespeare’s works.