London, 1785 CE. This is a complete book collection of the plays of William Shakespeare*, published by John Bell (1745 - 1831) was a bookseller, newspaper proprietor, and printer who was a major player in the London book trade (for example, he is the one who did away with the long "s" in printing). The volumes here are trigesimo-secundo (32mo) size, with calfskin covers and gilded spines; there are three plays in each volume. Bell's editions are notable because they were based on Drury Lane and Covent Garden promptbooks, with the cuts and additions that would have been a part of performance. They also are notable because they include engraved portraits of contemporary actors portraying roles from each play -- these engravings provide us with some of the only examples we have of what actors looked like during this time period!** These engravings made the editions immensely popular with the public at a time when popular reading was in its ascendancy, in part because customers could buy the complete text of the play including the portrait of the actor for less than they could buy a print of the actor. This is a must for a fan of Shakespeare or anyone interested in historical celebrity culture. Size of each volume: 3.4" W x 5.6" H (8.6 cm x 14.2 cm)

*The only work missing from this collection is Pericles, Prince of Tyre, whose authorship is disputed and which is only included in modern editions. **See John Bell-Patron of British Theatrical Portraiture: A Catalog of the Theatrical Portraits in His Editions of Bell's Shakespeare and Bell's British Theatre, by Burmin and Highfill, 1998.

Provenance: Estate of Paul & Louise Bernheimer

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#111808

Wear to edges, spines, and binding; all are readable.