Sentiments and Similes of William Shakespeare : A Classified Selection of Similes, Definitions, Descriptions, and Other Remarkable Passages in the Plays and Poems of Shakespeare

First edition (there was a second edition in 1857, similarly bound). [viii] 100pp. One of eight Victorian titles bound in papier mâché (see Mclean, Victorian Book Design). All edges gilt. Green marbled endpapers. Title page with gold decorated border and lettering in gilt, maroon and black. First page of text chromolithographed with gold ruling and initials decorating pages throughout. Mclean says of this volume “the single colour plate is indeed very fine, and is superior in technical quality’ to Humphreys’ earlier books. Humphreys was well-known for his highly decorative, experimental book bindings -this binding is a further advance in his papier mâché style. The intricately worked and decorated papier mâché boards are surrounded in leather, with a gold (now somewhat tarnished) background showing through the strap-work. The front board has a terracotta medallion of Shakespeare in the centre; on the rear board, this is replaced with a similar terracotta medallion carrying Shakespeare’s initials. This volume is complete but both boards are detached from the central text block, the leather is heavily rubbed at corners, cracked long spine joints and some loss at spine ends. The papier mâché boards are very good; the terracotta ovals on front and black appear a little blackened, and there is a tiny chip at the edge of the front medallion. Internally, the pages show just a little spotting in places, there are some mild smudge marks on the last page of the contents and the stunning first page is slightly chipped on lower edge. Overall, makes a very good prospect for restoration. A scarce survivor of this inherently fragile binding style. [Mclean, R, Victorian Book Design, pp109-11]. Reasonable offers welcome.