1853–1855 “The Family Shakespeare” — Complete 6-Volume Full Leather Set with Gilt Floral Tooling & Marbled Edges (Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans)

A stunning mid-19th-century six-volume Family Shakespeare, edited by Thomas Bowdler and published between 1853 and 1855 by Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans of London. This complete set is handsomely bound in full wood-grain leather with richly gilt floral tooling across the spines—an exquisite example of Victorian craftsmanship.

Each volume contains an engraved frontispiece illustrating one of Shakespeare’s plays, accompanied by charming vignette engravings throughout. The set features marbled page edges, marbled endpapers, raised bands, red and black spine labels, and beautifully preserved leather boards with decorative borders.

Bowdler’s edition—intended to create a “family-friendly” Shakespeare—has become both historically significant and widely discussed for its role in literary censorship. Today, The Family Shakespeare is collected not only for its cultural context but for the elegance of its 19th-century bindings.

A refined and visually striking Shakespeare set—ideal for collectors of fine Victorian leather bindings, Shakespeareana, or 19th-century illustration.

Tight bindings; clean pages with some gentle age toning. 

Condition: Near Fine

Rarity of Bowdler sets in fine bindings

Size: 4.5” x 6.7”

A beautifully preserved Victorian Shakespeare set—ready to grace the shelves of a discerning collector.