A BOOK OF SHAKESPEARE’S SONGS WITH MUSICAL SETTINGS BY VARIOUS COMPOSERS THE WHOLE ARRANGED AND DECORATED BY EDWARD EDWARDS.

4to. (12 3⁄4 x 9 1⁄2 inches), 3⁄4 blue paper over vellum with gilt decoration and leering to spine; tips modestly worn; slight soiling to covers; untrimmed. Endpapers decorated in Arts & Crafts style with medallion on each together with the name of the publisher, Schirmer, and the Latin expression Labrorum Dulce Lenimen (work sweetly soothing.) (100) pp., profusely decorated with large wood-engravings; elaborate, wide floral page-borders throughout. # 105 of 200 copies printed on Italian handmade paper. Printed by the De Vinne Press.
G. Schirmer has been publishing classical music for over 150 years. This volume contains the sheet music for 10 (truncated) songs by six songwriters including Schubert and Haydn. Distinguishing this book, however, is not the sheet music but the extensive use of Arts & Crafts decoration that brings to mind the style of William Morris. The sheet music for each song is preceded by a two page spread. The recto of the spread contains full page floral decoration surrounding a large panel containing lyrics in heavy black leering and the title in red. The facing page of the spread also contains extensive floral decoration with a panel containing a black and white illustration relating to the song. Each sheet music page contains floral wood engraved borders. The title page is part of the eleventh two page spread with a tissue guard between them. Rare with no copies currently available in the marketplace; last recorded auction sale was in 1981. Near fine! (Inventory #: 1000.1903)