1798 Scarce Book - The Poems of William Shakespeare, Shakspeare' Fables Origin
Author: William Shakespeare. With a history by Edward Capell. Illustrated with portraits by Francesco Bartolozzi.
Title: The Poems of William Shakespeare: viz. Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece, Sonnets, The Passionate Pilgrim and The Lover’s Complaint, with Mr. Capell's History of the origin of Shakspeare's fables : To which is added a glossary. Ornamented with three portraits, by Bartolozzi.
Publisher: London, Printed for Edward Jeffery, No. 11, Pall-Mall, [1798].
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9.5 x 6 inches.
Pages: 233 pages, plus glossary.
Binding: Good contemporary brown morocco, richly tooled panels, rebacked (hinges fine, overall worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Marbled edges. An elegant period binding showing restoration, yet presenting very well on the shelf.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or toning - as shown). A handsome and well-preserved interior.
Illustrations: Complete with three finely engraved portraits by Francesco Bartolozzi, including Shakespeare and Henry Wriothesley.
Estimate: (Scarce: USD 600–750).
The book: A refined late 18th-century edition of Shakespeare’s poetic works, bringing together Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece, the Sonnets, and associated poems, accompanied by Edward Capell’s important historical essay on the origins of Shakespeare’s fables; issued in London by Edward Jeffery in Pall Mall, this scarce edition reflects the growing scholarly and collector interest in Shakespeare during the Georgian period; the inclusion of Bartolozzi’s engraved portraits adds a distinctly neoclassical elegance, elevating the volume beyond a simple reading copy into an object of artistic and bibliographical interest.
The author: William Shakespeare (1564–1616) remains the most celebrated playwright and poet in the English language; while his plays dominate his reputation, his narrative poems and sonnets were highly influential in his own time and continue to be regarded as masterpieces of lyrical and dramatic expression.
The illustrator: Francesco Bartolozzi (1727–1815) was one of the most important engravers working in England during the late 18th century; renowned for his refined stipple engraving technique, his works brought a softness and painterly quality to printed images; his portraits in this volume contribute significantly to its aesthetic and collectible value.