[SIDNEY, Herbet (1858–1923)], SHAKESPEARE, William (1564–1616)

Scenes from Shakespeare for the Young […] edited by Charles Alias; preface by E.L. Blanchard

London: Alfred Hays, 1885

Oblong elephant folio format, 330 x 452mm; colour illustrated title-page and letterpress title-page, followed by sixteen colour plates, engraved by Lefman & Co., printed by B. Renaudet, each with corresponding leaf of text; index of plates to final leaf. Very good condition: elaborate gilt-decorated red cloth binding; spine worn and a little weak, frayed at the bottom; internally very good throughout.

Essay

A stunning production, and a high-point of Victorian Shakespeare-mania. Sidney’s evocative illustrations are presented in a massive and elegantly produced ‘elephant folio’, with a gilt version of Sidney’s pictorial title-page applied to the front cover. The title-page itself, with Shakespeare gesturing to Queen Elizabeth i, is much reproduced (see overleaf).

The work was backed by more than 1,000 subscribers, amongst them actors Henry Irving and Sarah Bernhardt, and soprano Adelina Patti. The volume was issued in June 1885 at price of 21 shillings (1 guinea), perhaps belying the notion that this was intended as an exercise in introducing Shakespeare to children.

Scarce: 5 copies listed on copac, with oclc adding 7 more; Sidney’s own copy is held at the Folger Shakespeare Library.