Judge, 1912-08-24 · page 24 of 24
Judge — August 24, 1912 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **full-page advertisement**, not a satirical cartoon. It advertises the "Booklovers Shakespeare"—a 40-volume complete works edition. The sales pitch emphasizes that while some volumes show minor wear, this is honest disclosure that actually builds trust. The advertisement uses testimonials and urgency tactics common to early 20th-century mail-order marketing: "YOU MUST ACT QUICKLY," the low initial price ($1.00), and payment plans ($2/month thereafter). The key appeal is accessibility—making Shakespeare affordable and portable (7x5 inches, easy handling) for middle-class households. The detailed features listed (annotations, topical index, study methods) suggest this edition marketed itself as educational, not just literary. The page reflects Progressive Era consumer culture: transparency as a selling point, installment buying, home examination privileges, and democratizing "high culture" Shakespeare for ordinary readers rather than wealthy collectors.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Booklovers Shakespeare Midsummer Clearance Sale 40 Dainty Volumes—7,000 Pages Handsome Binding—Large Clear Typography ESIRING to open the fall season with new stock exclusively, we D offer without reserve the few sets now on hand in our stock room. Some of these sets are in perfect condition, but here and there a volume shows slight signs of handling or perhaps its cover isa trifle dis- colored. Not one person in a hundred would notice these blemishes and most publishers would trust to their passing unnoticed. Our method, however, is to forestall possible criticism, and offer the books at a sweeping cut in price, a cut which more than offsets any slight imperfections. Such a bargain may never again be in your reach. EVERY WORD SHAKESPEARE WROTE The BOOKLOVERS is an absolutely complete The BOOKLOVERS is admittedly the best and unabridged edition of Shakespeare. Fach vol- Shakespeare in existence. It is printed in large type and with adlple margins, from new and perfect. ume contains a complete play and all the notes that plates, on pure white paper of a very high grade explain that play, ‘These notes are the most complete There are 40 dainty volumes of great beauty, 7x5 and valuable ever offered to readers of Shakespeare. inches (just the size for easy handling), 7,000 pages in all, handsomely and durably bound in half leather and superbly illustrated. There are 40 full-page plates in colors and 400 reproductions of rare wood- cuts, ‘The mere handling of these charming volumes affords a keen sense of artistic satisfaction YOU GET THE ENTIRE SET FOR $1.00 No deposit. “If a friend should desire to make me a present of a fine Shakespeare, and allow me to select the edition, 1 should beg him to give me the Booklovers. I have care- fully examined it and think it superior in_many respects, artistically as well as critically "—E. D. Phillips, Prin cipal Manual Training School, Kansas City, Mo. Examination costs nothing An entire 40-volume set of the BOOKLOVERS SHAKESPEARE will be sent for examination, prepaid to any address, if you will fill up and return promptly the coupon in the corer. We ask for no nonty now. We allow you ample time for a careful, intelligent and unprejudiced ex- amination of the set in the comfort and privacy of your own home. If you are disappointed you may return it at our expense. If you are satished—and we know you will be—that the BOOKLOVERS SHAKESPEARE is without a peer, you retain possession of the entire 40- volume set and send us $1.00 only. The balance may be paid at the rate of a $2.00 a month. Cam anything be fairer than this proposition? “wa YOU MUST ACT QUICKLY You will probably miss your chance if you don’t send the coupon at once; as many keen and intelligent bargain hunters will respond eagerly to this opportunity. “The regular price of the BOOKI.OVERS when sold through agents is $58.00. You can get a set now for $25.00, and you have the privilege of paying forita little each month. Any commentary on this fact would only weaken its importance The University Society 44-60 East 23d Street New York NO OTHER EDITION CONTAINS the fallowing tavaluable features. They = Topical Index sage tm the plays amd perms. te at Critical Comments {7./2/.01.” tw Dewden, Goethe and many ether a famed Sal Glossaries fale inka werd, . Two Sets of Notes 112) sim: mxiploneaiaty sit for ements Arguments 7.00.5 915, i. ior an ® Study Methods 107/1/../°/"s' we Life of Shakespeare Cane critical easays by Walter Bagedst, Lelie Sati “ Grant comicbooks.com