Twelfth Night – Shakespeare – c.1908 | W. Heath Robinson Illustrations

This illustrated edition of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare features 40 full-page color plates by W. Heath Robinson. Known for his playful style, W. Heath Robinson’s illustrations embody the humorous miscommunication and dramatic pining that are so central to this Shakespearean romantic comedy of mistaken identity and confused love. The volume includes the complete text of the play with an introduction by Arthur Quiller-Couch, a respected literary critic and author whose publication of The Oxford Book of English Verse influenced the literary taste and trends of the early 20th century. Quiller-Couch also took great interest in printings of Shakespeare’s works, and his notes add a scholarly credence to this decorative Hodder & Stoughton edition.   Bibliographic Details Title: Shakespeare’s Comedy of Twelfth Night, or, What you Will, With Illustrations by W. Heath Robinson Author: William Shakespeare Illustrator: W. Heath Robinson Contributor: Arthur Quiller-Couch (Introduction); T. and A. Constable (Printer) Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, London Edition: [c. 1908] Binding: Green cloth and decorative gilt Format: Quarto (4to), single volume Size: ~ 10 in x 7.75 in (25.5 cm x ~19.5 cm) Collation: xxiv, 143, [1] Illustrations: 40 color plates by W. Heath Robinson Contents Include: Introduction by Arthur Quiller-Couch Full text of Twelfth Night, or What You Will Full suite of Robinson illustrations Provenance: Handwritten signature of Eleanor Parke Custis on front flyleaf. Eleanor Parke Custis (1897–1983) was an American artist who began her art career as a painter, creating watercolors and illustrations for Scribner’s Magazine, Harper’s, Doubleday, and Harcourt. She was later known for her pictorialist photography. She was also a direct descendant of Martha Washington.   Condition: Very Good. The original cloth binding is lightly scuffed on both boards and around the edges. The text block is tight and secure, with intact hinges. Flyleaf reattached. The pages are clean, if very slightly toned around the margins. All 40 tipped-in plates are present and securely mounted with tissue guards.   Why Collect This? 40 color plates by W. Heath Robinson Early 20th-century illustrated Shakespeare Scholarly introduction by Arthur Quiller-Couch Item Number: #31293 Categories Literature Arts & Architecture Authors William Shakespeare Printing Date 20th Century Language English Binding Hardcover Book Condition Very Good Collation Complete