THE WORKS OF CHARLES LAMB

This is 7 of the 12-book set of The Works of Charles Lamb, published in 1903 by Dent London and then co-published by Dutton New York. This collection was a best-seller and was printed four times. Four of these books are first editions from 1903; three are 1914 reprints. The set was printed in the UK and is of the best quality, but it was printed for mass-marketing in the UK and US, and likely presented so as to be affordable.

The books are the complete collected works of the great English writer Charles Lamb (1775-1834), who remains most famous for his Essays of Elia (Elia was his pen name). His essays were wildly popular and influential; he also wrote fiction, children's stories, poetry and criticism and, with his sister Mary, is credited with expanding the public's knowledge of the works of Shakespeare.

This set is in superb condition. All are heavily illustrated, in black and white.

Each book is 4 3/4" x 7 5/8". Beige boards with navy blue spines. Brilliant gold design on the front and spine.

Each book has the tiniest bit of shelfwear to the spine. Of course, the paper has darkened somewhat. Other condition issues are noted below.

Volume I: The Essays of Elia. Third Reprint 1914

317 pages. Fingerprint on page 24. Spine cracked at page 160--easily repaired.

Volume II: The Last Essays of Elia. Second Reprint 1914

278 pages. Small crease to the top of the cover, which appears to be an error by the printer. Otherwise perfect; there is no evidence that anyone read this book.

Volume III: Critical Essays. First Reprint 1914

338 pages. Vertical crease the length of the cover. The piece of tissue paper at the front has been folded for all of this time. Otherwise perfect; there is no evidence that anyone read this book.

Volume IV: Essays and Sketches. First Edition 1903

306 pages. There is dappling to the piece of front tissue paper and the back endpapers. Otherwise perfect; there is no evidence that anyone read this book.

Volume VII: Stories for Children. First Edition 1903

238 pages. There is dappling to the piece of front tissue paper. Otherwise perfect; there is no evidence that anyone read this book.

Volume IX: Specimens of English Dramatic Poets, Volume I. First Edition 1903

365 pages. This book has not been opened.

Volume X: Specimens of English Dramatic Poets, Volume II. First Edition 1903

377 pages. This book does not appear to have been read, or even opened--some of the pages are still stuck together from the printing process, but there was some kind of (long-faded) splash to page 201. Other than that, it's perfect.