The Beauties of Shakespeare, Rev. William Dodd, LL.D. — A New Edition

£380.00

The Beauties of Shakespeare, Rev. William Dodd, LL.D. — A New Edition

Name: The Beauties of Shakespeare, Rev. William Dodd, LL.D. — A New Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5204
Price: 380.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Bickers and Son, 1878

Formatting: 8vo, pp. x, 353, [18].

Condition Report: Very Good. Bound in exquisite full crimson morocco by Bickers, featuring five raised bands to the spine, rich gilt floral tooling to the compartments, and double gilt fillet borders with corner fleurons to the boards. The leather remains wonderfully supple and the crimson dye rich, showing only minor rubbing to the extremities, particularly the spine tips and corners. The boards are tight, and the hinges remain perfectly sound. All edges are gilt; the text block is securely bound and the gilt edges remain bright. Inside, the stunning combed marbled endpapers and elaborate gilt dentelle turn-ins are in fine order. The text pages and the mounted permanent photographs are remarkably clean and free from pervasive foxing, retaining a beautiful crispness. A remarkably well-preserved, tight, and attractive example of this finely bound volume.

Catalogue Note: The book is a handsome nineteenth-century edition of Rev. William Dodd's classic anthology of Shakespearean extracts. This particular issue is distinguished by the inclusion of twelve striking "permanent photographs" (Woodburytypes or carbon prints) reproducing historic engravings from the celebrated Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, adding a rich visual dimension to the text.

The volume is wonderfully presented in a superior presentation binding executed by Bickers. Their bindery's craftsmanship is on full display with the vibrant crimson morocco, intricate gilt dentelles, and elegant marbled endpapers. Such high-quality, bespoke retail bindings were a hallmark of Bickers & Son, catering to discerning Victorian bibliophiles.

Copies of this specific illustrated edition, particularly those surviving in such exquisite, unrubbed fine leather bindings, are scarce on the open market, making this an exceptional addition to any library of Shakespeareana or collection of fine bindings.

First published in 1752, Rev. William Dodd's The Beauties of Shakespeare was a landmark anthology that brought the most powerful, poetic, and memorable passages of William Shakespeare to a broader reading public. By isolating these "beauties" from their original contexts and organizing them by theme, Dodd created an accessible, highly influential digest that shaped the popular understanding of Shakespeare for generations. This splendid nineteenth-century edition pairs Dodd’s timeless selections with dramatic photographic reproductions from the famed Boydell Gallery, uniting the literary and visual grandeur of Shakespeare's enduring legacy.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Rev. William Dodd, William Shakespeare

Book Publisher: Bickers and Son

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1878

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Full Morocco

Illustrator: Boydell Gallery

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.