Edition Overview
Title: The Works of Shakespeare
Editor: Charles Knight
Publisher: Virtue & Company (London) / Patterson & Neilson (New York)
Date: Circa 1885
Binding: Leather-bound hardcover
Illustrations: Features steel-engraved plates by artists such as C. W. Cope, W. P. Frith, C. R. Leslie, among others.
 
The "Imperial Edition" is distinguished by its grand folio format, measuring approximately 15" x 11", and its rich leather binding adorned with gilt tooling. These volumes often include a comprehensive biography of Shakespeare and are embellished with numerous full-page steel engravings, making them a prized possession for collectors and bibliophiles.