Charles and Mary Lamb - Tales from Shakespeare

Charles and Mary Lamb - Tales from Shakespeare.

Graphic Supplementary Reader produced for schools. Collins Clear Type Press. Undated, probably 1900's. Soft cloth cover. Four colour plates. Included are The Tempest, Macbeth, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice and Hamlet (all told in story form to appeal to junior school aged children) along with notes on the text.

A find so rare we can find nothing else like it on the internet! This little red book of Charles and Mary Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare was once in the possession of an R. Smith who was keen to sign his name many times in pencil so as to show us the development of his signature as he progressed through his school years. Presumably, he also saw fit to decorate the book here and there with ink stains and to make certain schoolboy 'improvements' to the colour plates therein. The book was 'disposed of with authority' by the Head Teacher on 23rd November 1932. That it has survived since then is probably a miracle.

Your chance to own a real piece of social history. The book itself is also a delight.

Condition: Very well worn. Ink stained and rubbed but still bright red. Various scribbles and marks. Some minor tears inside but seems to have all its pages. Still holding together (just).

Dimensions: 7" x 5"