Featured Shakespeare book thoughts

Hi all don' usually buy books but for $5.25 kinda thought this was a steal. Ok
The works of shakespeare by samuel phelps Esq
Engravings on steel by hablo k Browne
Now this is a Little weary from its long travel but is intact but some pages are coming out and stained . Can I safely say that the engravings are coloured after.
Are the engravings above each title woodblock of some sort.
What' nice is the inscription in front page which is a little hard to read but the dates are 1870 and 1877 would be from owner would say.
The main engraving pages are quite stained but adds to the whole age aspect in my opinion. Googled found info about the author and the artist but not much about the book. Any thoughts anyone would say mid 1800s given that samuel died in 1878 I believe. All thought welcome chris

 

Found one on eBay in England

 

I love books like this. Do you have both volumes? If you only have one the value would be less.

There are lots and lots of editions of Shakespeare. This one is nice due to the colored plates. I don't think the ones you show are woodcuts... although with some it's hard to tell. The title page says, "with engravings on steel" so that's what they are... steel engravings.

 

Hablot K. Browne, aka Phiz.

The set found on eBay is the 2 volume set. As Figtree said, a single volume is going to be worth much less. Also, A) the set looks in very good condition & B) that's the asking price, may not be what it would sell for.

 

One inscription is 'to [someone]...from [someone]' so a gift at one time.

Addendum: Looking again, think it may have been given from one family to another, not between individuals. If I'm seeing them correctly, the top--probably original owner-- date looks like 8th June 1870, while the second looks like July 18, 18[77?]. First is written in the British/European order; second would be American.

As Fig also said, volumes of the collected works of Shakespeare are common. Phiz was well-known for his illustrations of the work of Charles Dickens; his work here is what made the volumes special. Book probably of most interest to print sellers, who would slice out the illustrations & sell them matted.
-

 

How the blazes did you get that from that!
Only have the one book plan on keeping it love the history behind it.
Thanks for everyone' input as always.

 

It looks to me like it says: To the ____s/From the ______s. Nothing there looks like a first name or a last name with an honorific such as Mr. or Mrs.

I highly recommend it for reading, too. The copious notes should get you through all those lovely lost old words.

 

The second name looks kind of like "Rochmond" to me. Or something very similar.

 

Yes, Richmonds, I think.

 

Look what I found same shop
Vol1 little worse for wear engravings of hamlet and Romeo and Juliet not bad for 5.25

 

The value went up now that you have both. Looks like tgey went together.