This complete ten volume 1843 edition of The Works of William Shakspere represents one of the most refined mid nineteenth century portable Shakespeare sets. Published in London by Charles Knight and produced as the celebrated Knight’s Cabinet Edition, it combines scholarly Victorian editing with a highly attractive book design. Each play is introduced by an engraved frontispiece, giving the set both visual charm and collectible appeal.
The volumes are bound in contemporary half leather with gilt spines and marbled boards, a binding style typical of quality private libraries in the 1840s. Time has left its gentle touches: rubbing to the leather, wear to corners, and one detached but present leaf. Internally, however, the paper remains clean and pleasantly toned, with the text printed in Knight’s crisp and readable typography. The result is a set that has been handled and enjoyed, yet still retains its dignity and coherence on the shelf.
Knight’s edition is notable for its thoughtful arrangement of the Shakespearean canon. The ten volumes move through the comedies, histories, and tragedies in a carefully balanced order that reflects the editorial scholarship of the early Victorian period. Known for bringing Shakespeare to a broader readership, Charles Knight sought to combine accessibility with literary respect, and this Cabinet Edition is among the finest examples of that mission.
Condition
The bindings show wear to joints, edges, and boards, yet remain structurally sound. One leaf is detached but included. Interiors are generally clean, with good impressions of the engraved frontispieces and minimal foxing. A complete and honest example of this increasingly scarce edition.
A nineteenth century Shakespeare with enduring charm
Victorian Shakespeare sets have become increasingly desirable among collectors, particularly those retaining their original bindings and complete contents. This ten volume Cabinet Edition offers not only the full dramatic canon but also a historical artifact of Shakespeare’s reception and publication during the period when his works were becoming central to English cultural identity.
A distinguished addition to libraries of English literature, book history, and Victorian illustration.
This complete ten volume 1843 edition of The Works of William Shakspere represents one of the most refined mid nineteenth century portable Shakespeare sets. Published in London by Charles Knight and produced as the celebrated Knight’s Cabinet Edition, it combines scholarly Victorian editing with a highly attractive book design. Each play is introduced by an engraved frontispiece, giving the set both visual charm and collectible appeal.
The volumes are bound in contemporary half leather with gilt spines and marbled boards, a binding style typical of quality private libraries in the 1840s. Time has left its gentle touches: rubbing to the leather, wear to corners, and one detached but present leaf. Internally, however, the paper remains clean and pleasantly toned, with the text printed in Knight’s crisp and readable typography. The result is a set that has been handled and enjoyed, yet still retains its dignity and coherence on the shelf.
Knight’s edition is notable for its thoughtful arrangement of the Shakespearean canon. The ten volumes move through the comedies, histories, and tragedies in a carefully balanced order that reflects the editorial scholarship of the early Victorian period. Known for bringing Shakespeare to a broader readership, Charles Knight sought to combine accessibility with literary respect, and this Cabinet Edition is among the finest examples of that mission.
Condition
The bindings show wear to joints, edges, and boards, yet remain structurally sound. One leaf is detached but included. Interiors are generally clean, with good impressions of the engraved frontispieces and minimal foxing. A complete and honest example of this increasingly scarce edition.
A nineteenth century Shakespeare with enduring charm
Victorian Shakespeare sets have become increasingly desirable among collectors, particularly those retaining their original bindings and complete contents. This ten volume Cabinet Edition offers not only the full dramatic canon but also a historical artifact of Shakespeare’s reception and publication during the period when his works were becoming central to English cultural identity.
A distinguished addition to libraries of English literature, book history, and Victorian illustration.
