The Plays.

London: for G. and W. Nicol [and 11 others],, 1813. An attractive set of the second Gifford edition, first published in 1805. "Gifford's editorial work as a textual scholar is accomplished. He produced various editions of English dramatists - Philip Massinger's Plays, Ben Jonson's Works, John Ford's Dramatic Works... The editorial apparatus of these collections often manifests that peculiarly Giffordian mixture of scholarship leavened with personal vitriol" (ODNB). Four volumes, octavo. Contemporary sprinkled half sheep, gilt fillets to spines, twin red and green morocco labels, floral centrepieces gilt to remaining compartments, patterned paper sides ruled in blind, bound blue silk page-markers. Engraved portrait frontispiece. Front pastedowns with the 19th-century book label of Baron Löwenthal, publisher and husband of Sophie, paramour and muse of German poet Nikolaus Lenau, together with the later label of Moravian nobleman and scholar Franz Pollack-Parnau (1903-1981); volume 1 front pastedown additionally with the recent bookplate of Robert J. Hayhurst, Lancashire dispensing chemist and discriminating collector of 18th- and 19th-century literature in contemporary bindings. Tips bumped and worn, a few small portions of superficial stripping to the leather, adhesive staining to the endpapers from the binding, offsetting from the frontispiece, otherwise the contents crisp and fresh. An excellent set.