The Tragedies, Comedies, Histories and Poems of William Shakespeare, Three Volume Set, 1939-41, Wartime Presentation Copy from Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth, Gifted May 21, 1943

Shakespeare, William. Craig, W. J., editor. The Tragedies of Shakespeare. The Comedies of Shakespeare. The Histories and Poems of Shakespeare. London: Oxford University Press, Humphrey Milford, 1939, 1940, 1941. Oxford Edition. Three volumes. Octavo. Bound in dark blue Moroccan leather, embossed and ruled in gilt on the front board, with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt ruling and decoration on the spine, blind ruled on the back. With tipped-in original Buckingham Palace and City Hall Cardiff presentation material, documenting the set's presentation by Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth to Miss Melba E. J. Thomas in 1943.

Presented is a remarkable three volume Oxford Edition of The Works of William Shakespeare with distinguished royal provenance. Comprising The Tragedies of Shakespeare (1939), The Comedies of Shakespeare (1940), and The Histories and Poems of Shakespeare (1941), the three volumes are all finely bound in dark blue leather, ruled and titled in gilt, and accompanied by original presentation material linking the set directly to Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II. Gifted on May 21, 1943 to Miss Melba E. J. Thomas of Upper Llwchwr Girls' School as a prize in a wartime "Salvage Essay Competition," the three volume set survives with an exceptional collection of associated Buckingham Palace and City Hall Cardiff documents, establishing its provenance and royal association.

The three volumes in this Oxford Edition of William Shakespeare were edited by W. J. Craig. Each volume contains extensive introductory studies by the noted Shakespeare scholar Edward Dowden, while the volume of Comedies includes a general introduction by Algernon Charles Swinburne. Issued by Oxford University Press under the imprint of Humphrey Milford in 1939, 1940, and 1941, these handsome volumes present Shakespeare's dramatic and poetic works in a format intended for both serious scholarship and private libraries. The Tragedies volume contains thirteen plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Antony and Cleopatra. The Comedies volume presents fourteen plays ranging from The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing to A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night. The Histories and Poems volume gathers Shakespeare's historical dramas together with Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece, the Sonnets, The Passionate Pilgrim, The Phoenix and the Turtle, and other poetic works. Each play and poem is preceded by its own scholarly introduction, and each volume concludes with a substantial glossary.

The wartime presentation provenance of this set is particularly significant. In 1943, Princess Elizabeth was only seventeen years old and beginning to undertake public responsibilities during the most difficult years of the Second World War. Books and awards presented in her name during this period represent an important and increasingly sought-after category of royal memorabilia, documenting the public role she assumed long before her accession to the throne. 

The preservation of the supporting presentation material further elevates this set beyond a normal association edition. The volume of Tragedies retains a Buckingham Palace notecard tipped to the original decorative endpaper. Beneath the printed royal crest appears the inscription, "Prize for Salvage Essay Competition from Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth to Miss Melba E. J. Thomas Upper Llurchur Girls' School. 1943." The volume of Comedies contains a cream envelope stamped "City Hall, Cardiff" on the flap, together with a presentation note reading, "Presented to Melba Thomas on May 21st 1943 at the Lord Mayor's Parlour City Hall Cardiff by Lord Portal on behalf of her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth." The volume of Histories and Poems preserves a Buckingham Palace compliments slip dated May 11, 1943, and printed, "With the Compliments of The Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty The Queen." Surviving with its original Buckingham Palace and City Hall Cardiff presentation materials, the set offers a rare glimpse into Princess Elizabeth's wartime public duties with excellent provenance. 

CONDITION: 

Oxford Edition. Three volumes. Octavo. Each volume bound in dark blue Moroccan leather, embossed and ruled in gilt on the front board, with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt ruling and decoration on the spine, blind ruled on the back. All edges gilt. Blue ribbon. Decorative endpaper and frontispiece illustration. 

The Tragedies of Shakespeare: The text of the Oxford Edition prepared by W.J. Craig; with introductory Studies of the several Plays by Edward Dowden and a full Glossary. Near fine condition. Boards with light scuffing and corners with wear, gilt still bright on front, leather on spine is sun toned with light fading to gilt, and crackling of leather. Original decorative endpaper, to which is adhered a “Buckingham Palace” notecard, inscribed in black ink “Prize for Salvage Essay Competition/ from /Her Royal Highness /Princess Elizabeth/ to /Miss Melba E. J. Thomas/ Upper Llurchur Girls’ School./ 1943.” Notecard measures 3 ¾” H x 4 ¾” W. Red seal printed at top. Light toning to card, inscription is partially faded but still legible.  One of the front free endpapers has previous ownership in blue ink “Melba Thomas Meiriorfa Alexandra Rd Gorseinon.” Frontispiece illustration of Shakespeare.  Very clean interior pages. 1316 pp. 

The Comedies of Shakespeare: The Text of the Oxford Edition prepared by W. J. Craig; with a General Introduction by Algeron Charles Swinburne; Introductory Studies of the several Plays by Edwards Dowden, and a full Glossary. Near fine condition. Boards with light scuffing and corners with wear, gilt still bright on front, leather on spine is sun toned with light fading to gilt, and crackling of leather. Original decorative endpaper, to which is adhered a cream envelope, stamped “City Hall, Cardiff." on the flap in black ink, with accompanying inscribed note. Envelope is 4 3/16” H x 5 3/16” W. Note is inscribed in black ink “Presented to Melba Thomas/ on May 21st 1943/ at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour/ City Hall Cardiff./ by Lord Pontal on behalf/ of her Royal Highness/ Princess Elizabeth.”  The note measures 6 7/8” H x 4 1/2” W. Fold lines and creases, as expected. The inscription is partially faded but still legible. One of the front free endpapers has previous ownership in blue ink “Melba Thomas Meiriorfa Alexandra Rd Gorseinon.” Frontispiece illustration of Shakespeare. Very clean interior pages. 1128 pp. 

The Histories and Poems of Shakespeare: The Text of the Oxford Edition prepared by W. J. Craig; with Introductory Studies of the Several Plays and Poems by Edward Dowden, and a full Glossary. Near fine condition. Boards with light scuffing and corners with wear, gilt still bright on front, leather on spine is sun toned with light fading to gilt, and crackling of leather. Original decorative endpaper, to which is adhered a cream Buckingham Palace compliments slip, stamped “Buckingham Palace" in red at top right, inked inscription of the date “11.5.43” at top right, the slip is printed in black ink, “With the Compliments of The Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty The Queen.” The note measures 7 1/4” H x 4 4/8” W. Fold line, as expected. One of the front free endpapers has previous ownership in blue ink “Melba Thomas Meiriorfa Alexandra Rd Gorseinon”. Frontispiece illustration of Shakespeare bust statue.  Very clean interior pages. 1214 pp.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.