The Beauties Of Shakespeare; Selected From His Plays And Poems.

London: Printed for G. Kearsley At 46, in Fleet Street,. Good+ with no dust jacket. 1783. First Edition. Hardcover. Includes an Account of the Life of William Shakespeare. Full leather 'tree calf, 7 unraised decorated gilt bands, maroon morocco title label with gilt lettering and ruling. A gilt decoration in each compartment. The spine (only) seems to have been 'varnished', but it shines and looks good. Outer dentelles decorated, but some wear here and there, to the covers/edges, but mainly to the corners. The outer front hinge is split but holding. The rear hinge has two small splits but is o/w sound. An attractive volume overall. Internally a former owners name in old ink on the top of the front free endpaper. A VERY clean copy inside. (xxiii) + (1) + 36, 49-235, 248-275 (text continuous despite the gaps in pagination). Engraved title page showing circular vignette portrait of Shakespeare, with a profile of Garrick on his left. " 'Beauties' were popular books that doubled as entertainment and instruction. With the legal death of perpetual copyright the literary marketplace opened-up, with such compilations allowing the work of venerated authors to be used in many ways. Though his book selling career was tumultuous, George Kearsley (1739-1790) did see success as a 'Beauties' publisher, with editions of 'The Beauties of Johnson' (1781) appearing for the next 70 years (much to Johnson's disgruntlement) - At the very end of this book is a half page advert for other 'Beauties' volumes. First edition of this selection, a scarce 'Beauties', ESTC recording just 3 copies - BL, Cambridge, Folger. A different selection from that compiled by William Dodd, indeed Kearsley was a rival to Dodd. This version preceded by a 'Life' as noted above. 'Price Half a Crown Sewed' at foot of title-page. Under the title on the Title page = "He was a man take him for all in all; We shall not look upon his like again." See Images; Small 8vo 7" - 8" tall .