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Price: US$6377.93 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: A unique copy of William Shakespeare's plays. Bound in boards made from old 'Herne's Oak' in 1864. Signed by many noted RSC actors and directors including Laurence Olivier and Trevor Nunn. Very scarce.With signatures from noted individuals from the RSC: 'Frank Inscribed on Herne's Oak 19.12.80 Trevor Nunn'. Nunn is a British theatre director and the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Second inscription reads 'To Frank, very best wishes Mary Rutherford'. Mary Rutherford is an actress best known for Antony and Cleopatra (1974), The Knock (1994) and The Walls of Jericho (1981). Inscriptions from Gillian Rhind and Frances De La Tour to page 149. Laurence Olivier's signature to recto of Hamlet plate 'L Olivier'Inscription 'For Frank with best wishes ever Terry Hands' in addition to an inscription to the top page of 'Midsummer Night's Dream' which is unintelligible. Contemporary inscription to the recto of front endpaper indicates 'This book is bound in boards made from old 'Herne's Oak' 1864'. Herne's Oak is a tree believed to be the dwelling of Herne the Hunter. Herne the Hunter was believed to live in the time of Richard II, and it is cited in the Merry Wives of Windsor. In this play the wives play a trick on Falstaff. The popularity of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' led to several depictions of Herne's Oak. There has been some confusion as to the identity of the tree, which attracted many eighteenth century visitors to Fairies' Dell, Windsor. In 1863 this tree blew down, and it was believed this tree was planted later to replace the original tree which was felled in 1796 by accident in a general cull of old and unsightly oak trees. Some Ordnance Survey maps show Herne's Oak a little to the north of Frogmore House in Home Park. An 1867 work 'A Treatise on the Identity of Herne's Oak.' by William Perry compares an account appearing in Samuel Ireland's 1791 'Picturesque Views of the Thames' and documents on the Park before concluding the tree blown down in 1863 was the original tree. His view was biased as he was given parts of the tree to make souvenirs. The Royal Collection hold a copy of Perry's treatise bound in Herne's Oak and carved by him.Prior owner's inscriptions to this work include 'Miranda Hall Aug 2nd 189-' and 'Michael from M Hall Jan 1943'.Loosely inserted are many pamphlets from RSC productions. In addition to this are two newspaper articles on the sources behind Shakespeare's plays and their historical characters. One regards Richard III and the other Cleopatra.A fantastic copy of this work. With fascinating association and inscriptions. In a quarter calf binding, with wooden boards. Externally, very smart. Light rubbing to the spine. Internally, firmly bound. A few chips to the extremities of plate to King Henry IV Part I and to the title page and frontispiece. Repair to the front endpaper. Pages are bright. Occasional presentation inscriptions throughout. Otherwise, just the odd spot. Near Fine
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom