Judge, 1914-10-17 · page 17 of 24
Judge — October 17, 1914 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **mail-order advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes a discounted 40-volume Shakespeare set by The University Society (New York). The decorative header features classical imagery—a bust of Shakespeare and theatrical masks—designed to convey literary refinement and cultural value. The "Last Chance BARGAIN Sale" framing creates urgency. The advertisement emphasizes accessibility: the volumes are "handy" and "helpful," with annotations making Shakespeare comprehensible to "everyday reader[s]" rather than scholars alone. This reflects early 20th-century democratization of "high culture"—making canonical literature available to middle-class homes. The payment scheme ("no money down," installments of $2 monthly) targets working-to-middle-class consumers who couldn't afford large upfront purchases. Notably, the text addresses potential buyer hesitation about "slightly damaged" sets, attempting to normalize quality compromise for bargain prices. This reflects Judge magazine's commercial function: advertising products to its educated readership while maintaining satirical editorial content elsewhere.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BARGAIN Sale “Handy” Volumes 7,000 Justly Proportioned Pag 400 Illustrations, Including 40 in Full Colors. Each 7%x 5 Inches; !é Inch thick; Light and Easy to Handle. Large, Clear Type—Selected Paper— Approved Presswork. Choice and Serviceable Binding, with Decorative Side-stamps, Gold Back- stamps and Burnished Tops. This is the final offer of the 40-volume Booklovers Shakespeare at a sweeping reduction from the regular pric: A new edition is to be made and we must close out the remainder of our stock at a sacrifice, We offer, at bargain prices, without reserve, every a*t now on hand. Some of these sets are in practically perfect condition, In others, a volume here and there may show signs of handling, or there may be some trifling discoloration on the cover. The blemishes are of the sort that not one person in one hundred would notice. To offset these slight imperfections, we have decided to offer the books at a price so low that any critici:m is forestalled. This is your last opportunity to obtain a set of this best-known and ever-popular edition of Shakespeare at anything like these figures. This advertisement will not appear in. ALL of Shakespeare in Handy, Helpful Form You must have a Shakespeare of some kind if you have none at all—r if you have one that is defective in those helps and special features su necesssry toa perfect understanding of the nlays, you need the Booklovers. The Booklovers makes the knowledge of Shakespeare a literary enjoy- ment. It is in 40 dainty volumes, printed from new plates on rich cream-white With the famous Cambridge text, it gives everything that Shakespeare ever wrote. The annotations of thi Booklovers are unrivalled. It is no “dry-as-dust” edition, bot a lively and sympathetic interpre tion by world-famed sch: lars, for the use of the everyday reader. ‘The Booklovers is complete and unexpurgated. Each play and all the annotations that explain that play are complete in one volume. In the extent of the information it affords, the Boo lovers is @ Shakespearean Encyclopedia. I unique special features and the many famous names represented in its preparation appeal ttrongly to every intelligent reader, and the mere handling of the charming volumes is @ delight. BARGAIN Prices Notwithstanding the special low price of this offer, we are will ng to place a ret in your hands for investigation and comparison, absolutely without the expenditure of a cent by you. Fill out and return to us the special coupon now. If you delay, you may be disappointed. We will rend you, carriage paid, a complete set. We ask for no money now. If, after careful examination of the set, you do not care to retain it, it may b» returned at our expense. If you find it satisfactory, remit only $1.00, The balance may be pad in monthly installments of $2.00 each. Thus you assume ny burden and you pay for the books while they are paying for themselves. Fill Out and Mail Coupon—TO-DAY The reading public responds to a hargnin offer like this, We, therefore, urge prompt action on your part. You incur absolutely no liability or risk. You have the opportunity of examining the books in your «wn home and of paying our bargain price on terms.as easy as we can afford to make them. The subscription price now in effect on the Booklovers Shakespeare is $58.00. Under our Present offer these slightly damaged sets may be had, while they last, for $24.50. Nothing that we could say could add to the importance of thia simple statement. THE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY 44-60 EAST 23d STREET High-Grade Books by Subscription NEW YORK The difficult words are made fully clear and the obscure passages are elucidated. For the large clurs of busy, thinking people who have not the time to make Shakespearean scholarship their primary aim, but who would read the plays with understanding and profit, this edition ia inva’ uahle, At the same time, its elaborat make it by far the best edition for whree purpose is to subject the plays to close analysis. Free Examination No Money Down klover Care Unique Special Features Critical Comments —This is the only edition containing Critical ents on the plays and characters. They are selected from the writings of 200 world-famed scholars. Hazlitt, Dowden, Coleridge, Gorthe, Victor Hugo. Mra. Jameson, and others of equal weight. Arguments—Each play ia preceded by its SS analysia or Argument.” gir ing a concise sumuary of the plot in simple narrative style. Complete Glossaries—Explaining ‘solete, oher No other edition gi Ee doubtful word. glossaries so full and compl volume contains its own glossary. Two Sets of Notes—One for the student and schol contains this valuable feature. Equivatent to a course Study Methede— Frets skeapeare. The methods consist of Study Questions and Suggestions for each play. Life of the Poet—Filited by Teroe! Col- So taanez, sith exsaya on Shakespeare and his genius by Bagehot, Leslie Stephen, and other € ent critica. This life is replete with inter data concerning the master. the Special BARGAIN Coupon Jodge—10-11-14 44-60 East 23rd Street, New York _You may send. prepaid. for my eramina- tion, a set of the Hookli The University Society rols.)in half leather binding at your spe price of $2.40, If the books are satisfac- tory. I shall pay you $1.00 within fire days after their receipt. and $2.00 each month thereafter. "Ip they are not T shalt notyy yowand hold them subject to your order. Name... Full Address, comicbooks.com at