"The Dramatic Works and Poems" by William Shakespeare, with Notes, Original and Selected, and Introductory Remarks to Each Play, by Samuel Weller Singer, F.S.A., and "A Life of the Poet", by Charles Symmons, D.D., complete in two volumes, published by George Dearborn, New York, 1835; illustrated. First printing of the 1835 two volume Dearborn edition with notes by Singer [note: second printing appeared in 1836].

Hard boards, original publisher's leather with four raised bands on spines [a little wear: see scan]; all four marbled endpapers are present; 6.1/4" x 10"; 522 + 596 pages + 15 plates; + frontispiece of Shakespeare design by William Harvey; engraved by John Francis Eugene Prud'homme (1800-1892), and engraved title page; some yellowish stains, a couple of small (up to 1/2") page edge creases, inscription on the first blank pages; very good condition.

Singer's edition of Shakespeare (including Symmons' Life) was first printed in England in 1826 and proved very popular in the American market (ref DNB + Lowndes). Two of two volumes, complete set of this nice and very early American illustrated Singer edition of Shakespeare; illustrated by engravers: William Harvey; John Francis Eugene Prud'homme; Archibald L Dick; Moritz Retzsch; Branche; W. Peters; Richard Westall; James Northcote; John Hamilton Mortimer; George Henry Harlow; Henry Tresham and Hopner.

William Harvey (1796-1866) was an English engraver and designer.

Born at Newcastle upon Tyne. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to Thomas Bewick, and became one of his favorite pupils. Bewick describes him as one "who both as an engraver & designer, stands preeminent" at his day (Memoir, p. 200). He engraved many blocks for Bewick's Aesop's Fables (1818).Harvey moved to London in 1817, studying drawing with Benjamin Haydon, and anatomy with Charles Bell. In 1821, he engraved for Haydon on wood, in imitation of copper-plate, the large block of the Assassination of L.S. Dentatus. This was probably the then most ambitious block which had been cut in England. Harvey switched to design, after the death of John Thurston, the then leading wood designer in London. One of his earliest works is his illustrations for Alexander Henderson's History of Ancient and Modern Wines in 1824. His masterpieces are his illustrations to Northcote's Fables (1823-33) and to E.W. Lane's "The Arabian Nights Entertainments" (1838-1840).

Rates vary per country, we will adjust shipping costs with the invoice.

US: Media (c 2-6 days) -------- $24.50
Canada: Priority (c 2-4 weeks) --- $54.50
World: Priority (c 2-6 weeks)----- $78.50