Tales from Shakespeare – Charles & Mary Lamb – 1909 | Signed by Arthur Rackham

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb was first published with the goal of making the complex narratives of Shakespeare accessible to younger readers during the height of his popularity in the late 19th century. Even in their simplified state, the stories retain as much of Shakespeare’s language as possible, distilling plays such as The Tempest and Macbeth into a format that is both approachable and lyrical. This 1909 limited edition, published in London by Dent and in New York by Dutton, features thirteen full-page illustrations by the celebrated artist Arthur Rackham. Known for his romantic and whimsical style, Rackham’s work lends itself perfectly to the theatrical nature of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. Signed by Rackham and numbered 542 of 750 copies, this edition includes the “Puck” plate that exclusive to this deluxe issue.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Tales from Shakespeare
• Author: Charles Lamb; Mary Lamb
• Illustrator: Arthur Rackham
• Publisher: London: J.M. Dent & Co.; New York: E.P. Dutton & Co.
• Edition: Limited Deluxe Edition, 1909
  • Hand-numbered 542 of 750 copies
  • Signed by Arthur Rackham
• Binding: Cream cloth with gilt titling and red ribbon ties
• Format: Quarto (4to), single volume
• Size: ~ 11.5in x 9in (29.5cm x 22.5cm)
• Collation: [2], xii, 304
• Illustrations: 13 full-page color plates including frontispiece
  • Including “Puck,” exclusive to deluxe edition
• Contents Include:
  • The Tempest
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Much Ado About Nothing
  • King Lear
  • Macbeth
  • Taming of the Shrew
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Hamlet
• Reference(s): Latimore and Haskell, 33; Riall, 90, 32

Condition:

Good. Binding is secure; cloth shows moderate soiling from handling, with only one of the ribbon ties still attached. Gilt titling is bright. Hinges are fragile but still intact. Illustrated endpapers show some discoloration. Internally complete and clean, with browning confined to the very edges of some pages. Illustrations vibrant and well-preserved.

Why Collect This?

• Limited deluxe edition signed by Arthur Rackham
• Includes a Rackham illustration not found in the trade edition
• Classic Shakespearean adaptations tailored for younger readers

Item Number: # 31145