The Plays of William Shakespeare.

SHAKESPEARE, William.

Item Number: 121822

London: Printed by T. Bensley, 1803-1804.

Rare large paper edition of the plays of William Shakespeare. Royal octavo, 8 volumes bound in full contemporary calf with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spines in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling to the panels, all edge gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, wood-engraved vignette to each title page. In near fine condition. A beautiful set, desirable bound in contemporary calf.

English poet, playwright, and actor, William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His extant works consist of approximately 38 plays and 154 sonnets. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright to this day. Shakespeare’s early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best work ever produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies including Hamlet, Othello, and Macbeth; and in his late phase wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances.