The Works.

London: Frederick Warne & Co.,, 1888. A portable Shakespeare library First Bedford edition, beautifully presented in its original Victorian wood display case, here retaining the pull-off pediment lettered "Shakspeare". The entry can be manually locked shut by pulling the inner latch to the left before closing; to unlock, push the external button on the left side. Produced for the gift market towards the end of 1888, the miniature set is printed in a small but perfectly legible type. Twelve volumes, miniature octavo (115 x 80 mm). Original blue boards, spines lettered and decorated in gilt, covers ruled in gilt at sides and corners, green patterned endpapers, top edge gilt. Housed in the publisher's rosewood glass-fronted display case with pull-off pediment hand-painted "Shakspeare" in gold with black outline, illegible stamp to case's base. Title page in red and black ink, contents bordered in red throughout. Book label of Percy Lane Oliver, OBE (1878-1944), founder of the first volunteer blood donation service, in vol. 5. Gilt and bindings bright, occasional light rubbing and wear, offsetting from endpapers and small spots, text clean overall, vol. 5 prelims soiled; hinge of display case entry partially split but sound. A lovely example.