{"product_id":"the-beauties-of-shakespeare-rev-william-dodd-ll-d-a-new-edition","title":"The Beauties of Shakespeare, Rev. William Dodd, LL.D. — A New Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Bickers and Son, 1878\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 8vo, pp. x, 353, [18].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u0026amp; Son, catering to discerning Victorian bibliophiles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCopies 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst published in 1752, Rev. William Dodd's \u003ci\u003eThe Beauties of Shakespeare\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54629986074963,"sku":"5204","price":380.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260816_195007.jpg?v=1787134069","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-beauties-of-shakespeare-rev-william-dodd-ll-d-a-new-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}