SHAKESPEARE (William). — The Merchant of Venice. - Lot 265

SHAKESPEARE (William). — The Merchant of Venice. Translated from the English by Georges Duval. Illustrations by Sir James D. Linton. Paris, Ernest Flammarion, 26 rue Racine, n.d. [circa 1910–1911]. Large quarto (approx. 28.5 × 22 cm), VI-[2]-152 pp., paperback, embossed cover printed in bistre and adorned on the front cover with a large pasted-on color illustration. Untrimmed copy. A beautiful illustrated edition of Shakespeare’s famous comedy, translated by Georges Duval and adorned with 36 color illustrations by Sir James Dromgole Linton (1840–1916), including a frontispiece and 35 insert plates, printed separately and then mounted on heavy paper, originally protected by labeled mounts. This collation of 36 plates is confirmed by several bibliographic descriptions and auction catalogs. The illustrations by Linton, a British painter and watercolorist, constitute the work’s primary bibliophilic appeal: Renaissance costumes, Venetian interiors, and theatrical scenes are rendered in a particularly rich palette. The two plates visible in this copy are fresh and well-preserved. Undated edition. References found range from 1910 to 1911. A paperback copy in its original illustrated cover—a condition that is now considered more desirable than the commonly found later-bound copies. The cover is slightly dusty and discolored, with small marks and a few pinholes; the spine is creased with minor rubbing on the cap ends. There are a few foxing spots, particularly on the title page, but the illustrations remain in excellent condition. Overall, the book is sturdy and perfectly presentable. An attractive illustrated edition of *The Merchant of Venice*, sought after primarily for the extensive series of 36 pasted-in color plates by James D. Linton.