The Works of Shakespeare The text of the First Folio with Quarto variants and a selection of modern Readings

London: Nonesuch Press, 1929-1933. First edition. Leather. Near Fine. 9.5" by 6.5". None. A fantastic, bright set of this Nonesuch limited edition of William Shakespeare's works. The first edition of this Nonesuch set.A super set with much more even colour than usually seen. With the text based on the first folio, with quarto variants and a selection of modern readings. It follows the text of the First Folio faithfully, in its misprints and intermittent use of a comma for a full stop at the close of an uninterrupted speech. The editors note describes in detail the intention and treatment regarding substantive errors between the early editions. Numbered 60 of 1600 copies of this work, which have been designed by Francis Meynell and printed by Walter Lewis, printer to the University at the Cabmbridge University Press. The Nonesuch Press specialised in limited edition and private press. They were founded by Francis Meynell, his second wife Vera Mendel and their friend David Garnett. Their aspiration was for their publications to be aligned with the same aesthetic standards as the private press movement. They were unusual as they used a small Albion press to design the books, but had them printed by commercial printers. In doing so, books with the quality of a fine-press were produced, but available to a wider audience at lower prices. Edited by Herbert Farjeon, a major figure in British theatre in the early twentieth century. He wrote many works on Elizabethan theatre and was a great authority regarding Shakspeare's works.A very smart, bright copy of this work. Uncommon to see the spines in such a bright condition, as they typically sun. In the original full morocco binding. Externally, all volumes are smart with minor shelfwear to the raised bands. Rear board to volume VI is slightly bowed. A few marks to the boards. Internally, all volumes are firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Near Fine