Shakesepeare's Seven Ages of Man
London: E. and C. M'Lean, 1824. Oblong broadsheets (15 1/4 x 11 1/8 inches; 387 x 282 mm). Seven hand-colored aquatints by and after Henry Alken, one sheet letterpress text at end; on wove paper without visible watermarks. Sewn in original printed drab wrappers; red cloth folding portfolio. Provenance: Herbert L. Carlebach (bookplate); Mary Crapo Hyde (bookplate). Lower right corners with some irregular losses, light soft creasing, some marginal spotting not affecting the images which are fresh and bright. Item #409956
First edition of Alken's excellent graphic rendering of Shakespeare's "Seven Ages" modernized for his contemporary audience. The speech 'All the world's a Stage' from As You like It is quoted on the text leaf. Dixon 72; Tooley 47.
Price: $1,500.00