Tales from Shakespeare

Edition: Collins School Classics
Printed by: Collins Clear-Type Press, London and Glasgow
Date of this edition: 1953 (reprinted 1956 and 1958)
Binding: Cloth-bound hardcover, red/orange
Condition: Fair — showing wear on edges, spine, and some personal writing (e.g., "John O’Gorman" inscription)

🕰️ Historical Background

Originally published in 1807, Tales from Shakespeare was written by siblings Charles and Mary Lamb as prose retellings of Shakespeare’s plays for children and young adults. This made the language and plotlines more accessible to younger readers and has been in continuous publication since.

The Collins School Classics series, like your 1953 edition, was created to offer affordable educational copies for schools, often widely distributed in the UK and Commonwealth countries.

📊 Market Value (as of 2025)

Your copy is a mid-20th-century reprint, not a first edition or rare antique, so it falls into the collectible vintage book category, not antiquarian.

• Estimated Market Value: $8–$25 USD
  (depending on condition, buyer interest, and presence of inscriptions)
• Condition Impact:
  • The writing inside and cover wear lower its value slightly.
  • If it had the dust jacket (which this copy does not), value would be a bit higher.
  • It retains charm and interest as a vintage educational edition with attractive design and typography.

📚 Collector Appeal

This book may interest:

• Shakespeare educators or enthusiasts
• Vintage children's literature collectors
• Ephemera or UK publishing history collectors
• Those nostalgic for Collins School Classics

It is more sentimental or decorative in appeal than financially valuable — but is still worth keeping for literary or educational interest.

🧾 Recommendation

You do not need a professional appraisal for this book unless it's part of a larger vintage or rare book collection. However, if you want to sell it:

• Try Etsy, AbeBooks, or eBay under “Vintage Collins School Classics.”
• Emphasize the charm of the 1950s school edition and illustrated introduction.