The Plays and Poems of William Shakespeare, Boswell's Malone Edition (Otherwise known as the Third Variorum), First Edition, F.C. and J. Rivington et al, 1821 With the Corrections and Illustrations of Various Commentators: Comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an Enlarged History of the Stage, by the Late Edmond Malone. With a New Glossarial Index. And with the important preface by Boswell and the prefaces by Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, Johson, Steevens, Reed, Malone, Richardson as well as commentary by other illustrious thinkers and writers of the day, and including Rowe's Life and Malone's Life of Shakespeare and Commendatory Poems on Shakespeare, as well as extensive notes on the plays, their order and an essay on the English stage et al. 21 volumes. The Boswell's Malone Edition, first thus. With engraved frontispiece portraits of Shakespeare in Volume I and II and III, engraved illustration of the Globe and folding leaves in Vol. III, with steel-engraved plate in Vol. VIII, a large folding engraved plate in Vol. XVI, and printed music in Vol. XVII. All 21 volumes are of common condition beautifully bound in quarter leather, decorated boards, spines attractively gilt tooled in panels between raised bands. A very handsome set in proper bindings - absolutely straight and solid, some rubbing to the extremities of the leather, gilt edging fully retained to all page edges, internally excellent - pages unmarked without tears or inscriptions with foxing to a couple of early and late pages. All illustrations and fold outs complete and secured in place. Same bookplate to front board to each volume. A very important early printing. This third variorum edition not only forms a fine summary of the cumulative scholarship on Shakespeare during the 18th century but is frequently recognised as the foundation of modern Shakespearean scholarship. Along with all of Malone's material this set contains three full volumes of scholarly works including the prefaces of all of the major editions of the previous century, more than one life of Shakespeare, Boswell's life of Malone, histories of the stage, Shakespeares Will, Coat of Arms and other relative documents to the Bards life and extensive notes on and from the modern editions. In addition to all of this material is the extensive and very useful Glossarial Index and an Addenda. It is alone among the variorum editions to include a volume of Poems. An exceptional set. Rare to find complete sets of this important edition in such excellent condition. We will pack professionally as always and despatch promptly with full insurance cover.