Lamb (Charles [and Mary]) Tales From Shakespear Designed for the Use of Young Persons, 2 vol., first edition, first issue with printer's imprint to the foot of vol. 1 p. 236, and the address "Hanway Street" in vol. 2 advertisements, engraved frontispieces and 18 plates after William Mulready, 3pp. advertisements at end of vol. 2, light occasional spotting, some light browning, contemporary half calf, double morocco spine labels, rubbed, joints worn, preserved in modern custom chemises and modern half calf drop-back box, 12mo, Thomas Hodgkins, at The Juvenile Library, 1807.*** The rare first issue of what was the first attempt to make Shakespeare accessible to a young audience, commissioned by William Godwin's children's publishing house. Mary Lamb (1764-1847), whose name was omitted from the earliest editions, contributed the majority of the stories, while Charles worked on the six tragedies. The plates were designed by William Mulready, and are often said to have been engraved by William Blake. Provenance: "Charlotte Allen" (ink signatures to titles, dated 1809).