The Comedies and Tragedies of Shakespeare in 4 volume set 1944 Radom House in a case in very good vintage condition V cxxx
he Comedies and Tragedies of William Shakespeare (Complete 4-Volume Boxed Set)
Author: William Shakespeare
Publisher: Random House, New York
Date/Edition: 1944 Illustrated Edition
Format: Octavo (8vo) Hardcovers with Cloth Spines, Graphic Patterned Paper Boards, housed in a coordinating protective slipcase (case).
Detailed Description
This is a beautiful, complete 4-volume mid-century boxed library set of The Comedies and Tragedies of William Shakespeare, published by Random House in 1944. Released during the height of World War II, this edition remains a highly celebrated and sought-after format for the Bard's plays. It features clear, accessible text layouts accompanied by striking, artistic woodcut-style illustrations and atmospheric scene headers created specifically for this release.
The set is broken down evenly into two volumes of Comedies and two volumes of Tragedies, collecting all his greatest theatrical triumphs—including The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet. Bound in handsome dark cloth spines with gold gilt detailing and coordinating graphic patterned paper sides, this uniform set looks incredibly elegant on display and serves as a stellar foundational centerpiece for any vintage home library or classical drama collection.
Condition Report
Overall Condition: Very Good vintage condition.
Bindings & Structure: All four volumes feature tight, square bindings with un-cracked inner hinges. The books feel structurally solid and crisp.
Exteriors: The cloth spines show clean, legible gold gilt titles. The graphic paper boards are bright with only minimal edge rubbing or minor corner softening typical of gentle handling over the decades.
Slipcase (Case): The original protective case is intact and functional, showing typical vintage shelf wear, light corner scuffing, or minor structural rubbing from protecting the books for over 80 years.
Interiors: Pages are clean, complete, and flat. Completely free from childhood scribbles, highlight markings, or heavy water stains. Natural, uniform background age-toning to the paper stock, which is entirely standard for 1940s wartime print runs.