Judge, 1912-11-09 · page 24 of 24
Judge — November 9, 1912 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **full-page advertisement**, not satirical content—Judge magazine's pages frequently included paid advertising alongside editorial material. The ad promotes the "Booklovers Edition" of Shakespeare's complete works: 40 volumes, 7,000 pages, leather-bound, with illustrations and scholarly notes. The appeal is explicitly cultural and aspirational—Shakespeare is presented as essential to any refined home library, associated with figures like Abraham Lincoln and actor Edwin Booth. The sales pitch emphasizes affordability ($1.00 to examine; $35 total vs. $58 elsewhere) and psychological pressure ("YOU MUST ACT QUICKLY"). The company offers examination-at-home with no deposit, allowing customers to pay in installments. For modern readers: this reflects early 20th-century consumer culture, where complete literary sets were status symbols marketed to middle-class buyers. The aggressive "limited opportunity" language and payment plans are recognizable modern sales tactics, but the cultural reverence for Shakespeare as a home library centerpiece is distinctly period-specific.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Booklovers Shakespear e— “You need it in your home” 40 Dainty Volumes—7,000 Pages Handsome Binding—Large Clear Typography HAKESPEARE —Shakespeare, who delighted Abraham Lincoln and inspired Edwin Booth—Shakespeare, about whose Hamlet more books have been written than about any historical figure that ever lived—Shakespeare, the greatest literary heritage of the English-speaking world—Shakespeare, who “occupies a throne apart in the ideal and im- mortal kingdom of supreme creative art, poetic genius, and dramatic truth”—Shakespeare you must have. 1 Fashions in literature change; books come and go; Shakespeare abides. A set of the BOOKLOVERS EDITION means a small investment with lifetime returns of profit and pleasure. EVERY WORD SHAKESPEARE WROTE The BOOKLOVERS is admittedly the best Shakespeare in existence. It is printed in large type and with ample margins, from new and_ perfect plates, on pure white paper of a very high grade. ‘There are 40 dainty volumes of great beauty, 7x5 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 ot artistic satisfaction. The BOOKLOVERS is an absolutely complete and unabridged edition of Shakespeare. Each vol- ume contains a complete play and all the notes that explain that play. ‘I’hese notes are the most complete and valuable ever offered to readers of Shakespeare. “Ufa friend should desire to make me a present of a fine piehetearts and allow me to select the edition, 1 should beg him to give me the Booklovers, I nave care- fully examined it and think it superior in many respects, arustically as well as critically.""— E. D. Phillips, Prin- apal Manual Training School, Kansas City, Me. YOU GET THE ENTIRE SET FOR $1.00 No deposit. 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 allow. you ample time for a careful, intelligent and unprejudiced ex- Sor no monty now. amination of the set in the comfort and privacy of f you are satished—and we know you will be—that the ‘ou may return it at our expense. We ask ou own home. It you are disappointed BOOKLOVERS SHAKESPEARE is without a peer, you retain possession of the entire 40- volume set and send us $1.00 only. month. ‘The balance may be paid at the rate of a $2.00 a Can anything be fairer than this proposition ? “gam 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 BOOKLOVERS when sold through agents is $58.00. You can J shall pay $1.00 within Sve days af month, get a set now for $35.00, and you have the privilege of paying for Any commentary on this fact would only weak z a little each en its importance. The University Society 44-60 East 23d Street New York NO OTHER EDITION CONTAINS Topical Index Look the plays and perms, on the stata Critical Comments ‘herectm.. Tr are selected from the writings of Coleridge, Baxi Dowden, Furnival, Goethe a1 werlle famed Shaheipearcan shel a oe valde one in cach velemty Glossaries Ning every dificult, dale Sal or obsolete werd. One for the or Two Sets of Notes rat rasa alt upplementary set for students. gored The tive a condensed OT Arguments osach play in clear and trating pros, . Study Methods Mnilnt’s"s yurse af Shakerpearcam study, Dr. Life of Shakespeare Guitms, critical exays by Walter Bagehet, Ls Themas Spencer Baynes and Richard comicbooks.com