The Lansdowne Shakespeare was an elegant and popular edition of the plays, whose publisher and editor William White said was “produced expressly to develop more clearly in reading that has ever before been accomplished, the proverbial philosophy, wit, wisdom, and genius of this ‘mightiest of intellectual painters.’ This effect has been produced by a new arrangement of the text, and a unique and beautiful style of printing in colours, thereby throwing out every passage in a bold relief, and disencumbering the memory of all abridgements. As an intellectual gift-book this volume possesses peculiar charms” (Advertisement in the Morning Chronicle, April 27th 1852). Provenance: The copy of one William Moore with his ownership inscription to the front free endpaper verso, “William Moore. St. George’s Day. 1853” (and) “From his Papa”