Contemporary tree calf. A very handsome, four-volume set of Shakespeare's complete works, comprising his 36 canonical plays together with the late romance Pericles, Prince of Tyre, his sonnets, and narrative poems, edited with a revision of the text by the husband-and-wife partnership Charles and Mary Cowden Clarke, with a useful glossary of key terms and informative preface.

Illustrated with 66 photographic plates after original works in the Boydell Gallery, established in 1786 by the engraver and publisher John Boydell (1720-1804) to promote British history painting. The collection focused on the subjects of Shakespeare's plays, and included contributions from Sir Joshua Reynolds, James Northcote, and Richard Westall.

4 vols; 8vo (22.5 x 15.5 cm); portrait frontispiece, 66 photographic illustrations after original works in the Boydell Gallery, armorial bookplate to front pastedown of each vol., tipped-in contemporary presentation letter in pen; contemporary tee calf, gilt spines in 6 compartments, contrasting red morocco lettering-pieces, all edges gilt, minor wear to extremities, one or two marks to boards, occasional light spotting; [8], lii, [2], 725, [1]; [6], 730;[8], 700; [8], 751, [1]pp.