The Plays of William Shakspeare. In fifteen volumes.

A fine set in contemporary red morocco of the 15-volume variorum of 1793, which was the last significant 18th-century edition and the last to involve Steevens directly. Jaggard quotes Lowndes’s summary that this was “generally called Steevens’s own edition” and “is by many considered the most accurate and desirable of all”. The first two volumes contain Prolegomena, extending Malone’s 1790 grouping by the addition of Farmer’s “Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare” and Colman’s “Remarks” on it. Steevens’s new preface is his longest yet.

15 volumes, large 8vo (222 × 142 mm). Contemporary red straight-grain morocco, covers with one-line gilt rules, spines lettered gilt in two compartments and numbered in a third, double raised bands with gilt rules between and either side, gilt rules at head and tail, inner dentelles gilt with a decorative roll, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Folding engraved plate of Morris dancers, 2 folding printed tables. Occasional slight marking to sides, spines with a little ingrained darkening, the contents generally clean and fresh, withal a fine set.