Featured The Works of Shakspere Imperial Edition

Discussion in 'Books' started by Daniel G, Jan 13, 2020.

  1. Daniel G

    Daniel G Well-Known Member

    Webp.net-resizeimage 14.jpg Webp.net-resizeimage 5.jpg Webp.net-resizeimage 6.jpg Webp.net-resizeimage 7.jpg Webp.net-resizeimage 8.jpg Webp.net-resizeimage 9.jpg Webp.net-resizeimage 10.jpg Webp.net-resizeimage 11.jpg Webp.net-resizeimage 12.jpg
    Webp.net-resizeimage 13.jpg I picked these up at a local estate sale for $60. Aside from the boards, these seem to be in beautiful condition with minimal foxing. As best I can tell, these two volumes were published in New York around 1870 by Virtue and Yorston and measure roughly 11 x 15. The illustrations are pristine. I would love to learn more about this and would appreciate your thoughts on the redoing the boards. The binding is tight but the boards tattered a bit.
     
  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Nice set, and nice to see the old spelling of the name. He himself signed it different ways, no consistency in those days.
     
  3. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

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  4. Daniel G

    Daniel G Well-Known Member

    Thank you! Aside from the boards, the only really issue is some ink bleeding from the prints to the adjacent page (despite having protective paper between).
     
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  5. Daniel G

    Daniel G Well-Known Member

    That is interesting. I had no idea and I was wondering about the spelling.
     
  6. Ghopper1924

    Ghopper1924 Well-Known Member

    Damn, those are some beautiful books!! I'm drooling, and not just from lack of muscular control.....

    I'd say your idea re: date of publication is right on. I don't think the ink offsetting is an issue.

    I'm guessing the covers are leather? Book restorationists are rare, at least where I live, but someone who specializes in restoring leather might be able to help, perhaps even a dry cleaner?!?!?! Thinking outside the box here....:)
     
  7. Daniel G

    Daniel G Well-Known Member

    Thanks ghopper! Not much expertise here with books, aside from a solid collection of Harry Potter first/firsts. That being said, the price was right to take a chance. You are spot on with your assessment of the boards. Leather and quite solid but definitely showing some wear. Am I correct in assuming that these were from an earlier rebinding? Btw, not going to my cleaners. I have a hard time trusting them with my coats!
     
  8. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    There's some information here:
    https://www.worldcat.org/title/works-of-shakspere/oclc/855827487

    Sold by subscription. I doubt that it's worth the cost of restoration. This is the sort of publication that people take apart for the prints. In all probability there's more money in selling the prints individually than there is in selling the books entire.

    If you want them for yourself, it's an entirely nice compilation, and I wouldn't worry about it showing its age.
     
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  9. Daniel G

    Daniel G Well-Known Member

    Good to know. Thank you!
     
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  10. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    I have asked my partner, who knows more about antiquarian books. (He would get his own account, except he already spends too much time on Facebook. :rolleyes:) Here is his reply:

    2many's partner here. Virtue was a Victorian-era publisher specializing in the coffee-table books of the day: travel, view, and other illustrated books with those nice steel engravings. That's an original binding - probably the deluxe version; there was also almost certainly a version in decorated cloth, and maybe one with just a leather spine & corners. It would be absurdly expensive to have that binding replicated, hundreds of $ if not over a thousand, and not at all worth it. I have a similar three-volume set languishing at $400. @moreotherstuff is right, many of these have been broken for their prints, it being easier to admire a butterfly pinned to a wall than to chase it through the brush. But if they're intact, it's a kind of murder to take them apart - we do it, but only to irreparable or incomplete volumes. You MIGHT be able to track down a conservator who could touch up the rubbed spots and treat with a leather dressing, though not all conservators recommend that kind of treatment these days. My advice, if the binding is sound, is to leave them alone, let them have the dignity of their history.
     
  11. Ghopper1924

    Ghopper1924 Well-Known Member

    Great info, 2manybooks' partner! :)

    I like that "it's a kind of murder" statement. True enough!

    I still say you can get the leather restored, if you find it unsightly. If not at the dry cleaner's, then some kind of leather specialist. A beautiful set of books!
     
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  12. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

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  13. Daniel G

    Daniel G Well-Known Member

    Good to know. Thank you. Based on your input, I have decided to retain them as they are and just safely store them away.
     
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  14. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    I was composing this when you posted your excellent decision. But just in case you need more support:
    I agree with my partner - if the bindings are still strong, it would probably be best to leave the boards alone. The leather appears to be of good quality, not the kind subject to "red rot" deterioration. Any attempt at improving the appearance has a good chance of introducing potentially harmful materials that will increase the chance of deterioration down the road.
     
  15. Daniel G

    Daniel G Well-Known Member

    Please convey my appreciation to your partner as well!
     
  16. bluumz

    bluumz Quite Busy

    Oh, I do love that comparison and shall appropriate it for my own use, when applicable. :shame:
     
  17. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Already done. :)
     
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  18. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    This particular spelling was favoured during most of the 19th century.
     
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