The Plays and Poems. de SHAKESPEARE, William - 1825

London: William Pickering; Nattali and Combe; Talboys and Wheeler of Oxford,, 1825. The elegant deluxe issue First Pickering edition of the complete works; the handsomely bound and fully illustrated deluxe issue, containing 39 plates. In contrast, the trade issue had just a single frontispiece for illustration. Part of Pickering's "wreath series" of the classics, the edition was produced in an "exceedingly pleasant format, and on their title pages is his beautiful and individual wreath ornament" (Keynes, p. 16). The achievements of William Pickering (1796-1854) "are now well acknowledged: the introduction of cloth binding, leading to the wider availability of books at lower prices; the publication of reputable editions of both standard and neglected works; and a close attention to book design which had a lasting influence" (ODNB). Eleven volumes, octavo. Publisher's deluxe dark red straight-grain morocco, spines lettered in gilt, low raised bands and compartments tooled in gilt, twin gilt fillet on covers enclosing gilt palmette roll and blind floral roll, corners of board edges, and the turn-ins, decorated in gilt, brown coated endpapers, edges gilt. With 11 frontispieces and 28 plates, all steel engravings on mounted india paper. Wreath device on title pages. Bound without errata leaves. Ownership inscription on reverse of frontispieces of one J. C. Tompson of Lyneham, Wiltshire, dated 4 February 1856. Spines lightly sunned, small wear to a couple of headcaps and corners, a little rubbing, vol. II rear endpapers partially adhered at gutter, splash marks and browning to plates, affecting nearby leaves, else generally clean. A very smart set. Jaggard, p. 516; Keynes, p. 89.