Bernard Shaw: Three Plays by Bernard Shaw (The Franklin Library Limited Edition), 1979 🎭📚📜

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare, limited edition of Bernard Shaw: Three Plays, a beautiful and elegantly bound volume from The Franklin Library.

Published in 1979 as part of the "100 Greatest Books of All Time" series, this book is a premier acquisition for any serious collector of classic drama, decorative bindings, or books from this prestigious publisher.

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

This volume is a collection of three of George Bernard Shaw's most famous plays: Caesar and Cleopatra, Pygmalion, and Saint Joan.

The book is renowned for its high-quality production, a hallmark of The Franklin Library.

The book’s full genuine leather binding, a hubbed spine with 22-karat gold accents, and gilded page edges make it a work of art in its own right. The plays themselves are masterpieces of wit and social commentary, and this volume is a testament to the enduring power of Shaw's work.

3. About the Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and social reformer who is considered one of the greatest dramatists of all time. His work, which included over 60 plays, was known for its sharp wit, stimulating satire, and its exploration of social issues.

Shaw was a leading member of the Fabian Society and a co-founder of the London School of Economics.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 and an Academy Award in 1939, making him the first person to have won both.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1979, this book is a "time capsule" of a post-war era when there was a great public interest in classic literature and a desire to own beautifully produced books.

The book's publication by The Franklin Library, a publisher that specialized in high-quality limited editions, reflects a cultural moment where books were seen as both sources of knowledge and objects of luxury. The book's content, with its exploration of timeless themes, resonated with a public that was grappling with a new and uncertain future.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a curator of modern drama, a scholar of British literature, or a private collector of decorative books. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book for its literary and historical significance. The book appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of art, history, and the power of ideas.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a limited edition from a prestigious publisher, this book is a valuable asset. The Franklin Library did not produce reprints, so a well-preserved copy in this condition is a desirable asset. The value is a direct reflection of the book's enduring literary influence and its well-preserved state. The price reflects its status as a sound, collectible copy of a key work of modern drama. The book is approximately 46 years old.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

• This volume is in good vintage condition.

• The hardcover, a full genuine leather binding, is in a solid state, with a tight binding and clean pages.

• The covers show some rubbing and scuffing, which is expected for a book of this age.

• The gilded pages are bright, with some minor fading.

• The overall condition is an honest and transparent portrayal of a well-cared-for volume that was likely a cherished part of a home library.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• George Bernard Shaw famously refused the monetary prize that came with his Nobel Prize, stating that "my readers and my audiences provide me with more than sufficient money for my needs."

• The play Pygmalion was a sensation that was later adapted into the musical My Fair Lady and a highly successful film starring Audrey Hepburn.

• The Franklin Library, a division of The Franklin Mint, specialized in producing high-quality limited editions of classic works, making them a popular choice for collectors.

• The book is a fascinating example of a "crossover" collectible that appeals to collectors of rare books, literary history, and fine press publications.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Bernard Shaw: Three Plays

• Author/Maker: Bernard Shaw

• Year: 1979

• Publisher/Foundry: The Franklin Library

• Place of Origin: Franklin Center, Pennsylvania, USA

• Format/Binding: Full Leather, Gilt Accents

• Edition: Limited Edition

• Transcription: The book is a limited edition and is numbered as copy 1250.