Shakespeare His Mind and Art (1901) by Edward Dowden Twelfth Edition Antiquarian Study
 
Features
 
Twelfth edition of Edward Dowden’s influential Shakespearean critical study
Notable use of the spelling “Shakspere”, reflecting 19th-century scholarly conventions
Dark textured cloth binding with gilt crests and lettering
Rough-cut page edges, typical of period production
Coloured pastedowns and endpapers
Important late-Victorian work of literary criticism
 
Bibliographic Details
 
Author: Edward Dowden (1843–1913)
Title: Shakespeare His Mind and Art
Edition: Twelfth Edition
Publisher: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd.
Place of Publication: London
Year: 1901
Printer: Turnbull and Spears, Edinburgh
Format: Octavo (8vo)
Pagination: 434 pages (complete)
Binding: Original publisher’s dark textured cloth
Dimensions: Approx. 20.5 × 14 × 3.4 cm
Weight: Approx. 740 g
 
Exterior Condition
 
The book is bound in the original dark, textured cloth with panelled boards. There is gilt lettering and a gilt crest to the front board and spine, with a further small gilt crest to the spine.
 
The binding is intact, robust, and structurally sound, particularly for a book now over 120 years old. Wear is consistent with age and includes soft bumping to the corners, patches of rubbing to the edges, small splits at the head of the spine, and a few small or light surface marks. Overall, the boards present attractively and remain firm.
 
Interior Condition
 
The front free endpaper is lacking, as noted. All text pages are present and complete.
The pages are lightly tanned and show rough-cut edges, a common feature of books produced during this period, likely cut by hand from uncut gatherings. Internally, the book is clean and neat, with predominantly uncreased pages. There are only the occasional very small mark or light fold, none affecting the text.
 
There are no pen or pencil inscriptions. Most pages are free from tears; only a few show very small edge rips, including at the inner margin, all unobtrusive and not affecting the text. The binding remains secure, with just a handful of very light gutter cracks.
 
About the Book
 
Shakespeare His Mind and Art is Edward Dowden’s most influential work and one of the cornerstone studies of Shakespearean criticism in the late Victorian period. First published in 1875, it helped shape modern literary approaches to Shakespeare by examining the psychological development, philosophical depth, and artistic evolution of the playwright’s work.
 
The spelling “Shakspere”, used throughout this volume, reflects contemporary scholarly practice rather than error. During Shakespeare’s lifetime and well into the 19th century, variant spellings were widely accepted, and Dowden’s usage aligns with academic convention of the time.
 
About the Author
 
Edward Dowden was an Irish literary critic, poet, and scholar, widely regarded as one of the foremost Shakespeare authorities of the late 19th century. This book was his first major publication and established his international reputation. Dowden later became Regius Professor of English at Trinity College Dublin and was deeply influential in shaping Victorian literary criticism.
 
Rarity & Market Context
 
While not uncommon in later impressions, early and mid-run editions such as this 1901 twelfth edition remain desirable as period scholarly texts, particularly in original cloth. Interest is strongest among collectors of Shakespeare criticism, Victorian literary studies, and Edward Dowden’s work. Copies with sound bindings and clean interiors are increasingly scarce.
 
Collector Notes
 
Complete text despite the absence of the front free endpaper
Attractive original cloth with surviving gilt elements
Period-appropriate rough-cut edges enhance authenticity
A solid, readable antiquarian example of a landmark Shakespeare study