Judge, 1923-12-01 · page 23 of 36
Judge — December 1, 1923 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It promotes a complete Shakespeare collection published by Plymouth Publishing Company/Oxford University Press. The "secret" the headline teases is simply the book's innovative engineering: Oxford's use of thin India paper allows nearly 1,400 pages to fit in a pocket-sized volume. The ad emphasizes the book's rarity and craftsmanship, positioning it as a luxury Christmas gift. The portrait shown is **William Shakespeare** himself (standard historical depiction with period clothing). The accompanying scene appears to be a historical engraving of an **Elizabethan printing shop**, establishing the book's connection to Shakespeare's era and Oxford's prestigious printing tradition. The "three living men" who know the secret are implied to be the Oxford craftsmen responsible for this printing achievement—not a political reference, but a marketing hook suggesting exclusivity. This reflects early 20th-century consumer culture: marketing high-quality, compact books as prestigious gifts for educated readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
950 WORE ERLE 02, 10B LB, SELB LER LEY AGOGO LES LEGER LES LESSEE All of Shakespeare In this One Volume SIG REDS SENS SEIS PIS SLID SENS SIS PSIG SIDS SING SIP RIG SSIS LG, ()nly three living men know 3) PRLUBI SS LARS ER OE BS, yr 5 SIG NLS BETS BENS BS ‘~ > the secret which makes this wonderful book possible : Here, in a single slender volume, is everything that Shake- . speare ever wrote; it is a book of the rarest character, made : by the finest book-craftsmen in the world, at the Oxford University Press, in England. It contains almost 1,400 clearly-printed pages, yet it can be slipped easily into an overcoat pocket. How is this possible? How can it be E done? : xrorp jis very close to Stratford-on- 1,400 n : Avon. Shakespeare visited it fre- inch in quently. He must hav s it possible was { shop in the unive tudent in a j y t j born—books that today are precious paper ever made. : beyond value But even this is . the suf bookma c sed was selected from 1 tradition, centu The very ink v f the individual boc j could he have held in | ed Pluviusi Jern achievement of Oxfor men. It is a work of art For, here in one slim volume, is all of his Think how h much Shakespeare has meant to your payment will be led . k! It follows the exact text, without ww he has enriched your life!) When - ridgment, ne of the three authentic o wart vard hi i The Plymouth Publishing Company t copies of the First Folio, in the Bodleian fitti at you should own his \ 7 West 42d Street, New York City, N. ¥. : Library at Oxford. It is a book of almost form really we h Dept. 812 : rT “] : ; ; | Tue Puysourn Pustisiixe 812 i : Reservations for Christmas Must Be Made at Once —|._7 West 42d Street, New York C | Additional copies of this book should be received fr | geen ; bi olume | Oxford before Christmas; exactly how will come t 1 $4.95, cents | ; however, we do not know. If you wish t 1° sotuen the | : | : a Christmas gift, reservation uld be mad L1 Mi here if you p ! | : \ | ws eet ae KL SLD 29% MES, ¥: 2 | , OSES SEI SSIS SIISSIIS SIG LIS A EY SENG NS LIS SEIN 1 jwoses z i St 1 (= Sea)