The Merchant of Venice / A velencei kalmár by William Shakespeare Illustrator: James D. Linton Athenaeum, Budapest, 1911 Format: Folio Binding: Publisher’s gilt and painted Art Nouveau full-cloth binding. Illustrations: 35 colour plates with 35 numbered tissue guards. A splendid large Art Nouveau bibliofile deluxe edition of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, published in Budapest in 1911. The large folio format and the richly gilt, painted, secessionist-style binding make this one of the most decorative Hungarian Art Nouveau books of the period. James D. Linton’s 36 full-page tipped-in colour plates—each protected by a numbered tissue guard—reflect the refined, theatrical style of early 20th-century illustration, with vivid Venetian scenes rendered in a distinctly secessionist aesthetic. Binding: Richly decorated Art Nouveau binding, with colourful ornamental motifs, gilt elements, and a finely executed embossed design. Condition: Very good, collectable copy. The decorated Art Nouveau binding is in excellent condition. Gilt decoration and lettering are still vivid. Foxing throughout. Plates otherwise clean and complete. A strong, collectible example of an elegant Art Nouveau edition.