In 2024, Britannic Auctions sold a c.1870 edition of The Works of William Shakespeare for $2,214. While many antique editions of Shakespeare’s works exist, this particular copy stands out for its double fore-edge painting, a technique where two hidden paintings appear depending on how the pages are fanned.
Published by Oliver S. Felt (New York), this edition, titled Shakespear Comprising His Dramatic and Poetical Works, Complete: Accurately Printed from the Text of the Corrected Copy Left by the Late George Stevens, includes a glossary and notes, but its true value lies in the intricate, hand-painted artwork concealed along the page edges.
What Makes a Double Fore-Edge Painting Unique?
A double fore-edge painting hides two separate images beneath the gilded or marbled page edges. The artwork stays invisible when the book is closed. It only appears when the pages are fanned in one direction or the other.
In this Shakespearean edition, the artwork brings three of the Bard’s most famous plays to life:
- The Three Witches from Macbeth
- Bottom with the donkey’s head from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- The graveyard scene from Hamlet
A single fore-edge painting reveals only one image. The double variation takes greater skill, requiring precise work so that each painting appears only when fanned in a certain way. These features were often custom additions to high-end bookbindings, making them rare and collectible.
What Determines the Value of a Double Fore-Edge Painted Book?
Books with double fore-edge paintings can sell for a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Value depends on binding quality, condition, subject matter, and artwork execution.
The highest prices go to books that:
- The book itself is a desirable, finely bound edition that collectors would seek even without the painting.
- The double fore-edge painting is finely executed, with detailed, high-quality artwork.
- The subject matter is historically significant or thematically tied to the book itself.
- The book remains in excellent condition, with strong bindings, bright gilding, and clean pages.
Books with single fore-edge paintings are a bit more common on the market. Double fore-edge paintings require more skill and are seen less frequently, increasing their value.
Auction Sales of Double Fore-Edge Painted Books
Here’s how books featuring double fore-edge paintings have performed at auction in recent years:
- The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (1885, Bound by Bickers, Double Fore-Edge Painting of Winchester Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral) – Sold for $2,530 (2004, Neal Auction Company)
- Collection of Seven Volumes (Three Double & Four Single Fore-Edge Paintings, Various Works & Bindings) – Sold for $2,000 (2015, Doyle New York)
- James Welsh [Double Fore-Edge Painting] Military Reminiscences Extracted From a Journal of Nearly Forty Years Active Service in the East Indies (1830, 2 Vols, Finely Bound) – Sold for $1,968 (2021, Britannic Auctions)
- The Works of William Shakespeare (c.1870, Split Double Fore-Edge Painting, Oliver S. Felt, New York) – Sold for $2,214 (2024, Britannic Auctions)
- Thomas Campbell’s Poetical Works (Antique Edition, Double Fore-Edge Painting) – Sold for $168 (2018)
These auction results show a wide price range for books with double fore-edge paintings. Fine bindings with historical or literary significance, like Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales or Shakespeare’s works, often sell for thousands. Skilled artists and well-executed paintings increase value.
Books with simpler bindings or common literary works sell for less. Less detailed paintings usually bring $75 to a few hundred dollars instead of thousands.
Buy or Sell a Double Fore-Edge Painted Book
Collectors actively seek rare books with hidden fore-edge artwork, particularly those featuring double fore-edge paintings. If you’re looking to buy or sell a book with this unique artistic feature, sign up for auction alerts to stay updated on upcoming online auctions.
If you own a fore-edge painted book, Britannic Auctions offers a free consignment estimate to help determine its value. Contact us today to get started.
