This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/21/2024
LAMB, Charles (1775-1834) [and LAMB, Mary (1764-1847)]. Tales from Shakespear. Designed for the Use of Young Persons. Embellished with Copper-Plates. London: Thomas Hodgkins, 1807. 2 12mo volumes. Engraved frontispieces and 18 plates throughout after William Mulready. [i-ii], v-[xii], [1]-[236]; [iv], [1]-261, [3, ads], [2, blank] pp. Approximately 6 ¾ x 3 ¾”. Bound to style in modern half brown calf over marbled boards, spines ruled and lettered in gilt, modern marbled endleaves (volume I lacking first leaf of Preface, but this copy has the 3 pp. of ads in volume I, contemporary owner’s signature at the top of title-page of volume I, some toning, foxing, occasional soiling in text and plates). Fine. THE RARE FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE (with “T. Davison” imprint at the bottom of the final leaf in volume I, and the “Hanway Street” address in volume II). This title was the first attempt to make Shakespeare accessible to a young audience, and was commissioned by William Godwin’s children’s publishing house. Mary Lamb provided most of the stories, while her brother, Charles, worked on the six tragedies.