wrote:

I would appreciate any comments regarding this book
"The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley", edited by Mrs. Shelley,
published by Porter & Coates. There is no publication date, but the
dedication reads "To Percy Florence Shelley, The Poetical Works of His
Illustrious Father are dedicated, by his affectionate mother, Mary
Wollstonecraft Shelley. London 20th January, 1839. There are 391 pages,
and
it is described on the spine as a "New and Complete Edition, Illustrated".
There is also a postscript by Mrs. Shelley on the revision of this new
edition, dated November 6th, 1839.

You probably have this:

http://www.copac.ac.uk/copac/wzgw?id...n=F&rsn=1&rn=3

As you can see, the probable date of publication is 1884. Mary Shelley's
original edition of her husband's works was first published in four volumes
in 1839. As a later edition, your copy is of little market value, but if you
want to build up a collection of Romantic poetry for your own use, volumes
like this are inexpensive and much more handsome than modern paperback
editions (which, bought new, would cost about as much or, sometimes, even
more).

The same would apply to 19th century reprint editions generally; unless they
are in fine leather bindings (which fetch rather higher prices) they aren't
terribly pricey, they're (generally) quite attractive, both on the shelf and
when taken down and opened, and there's something nice about having the
literature you love in tomes a hundred years old or more.

The main proviso would be condition. It's not hard to come by copies of
Victorian reprint editions which are still firm in their binding, the pages
fresh-looking (and -smelling!), and generally well-preserved. I would hold
out for copies in that kind of condition, and generally avoid copies with
loose leaves, foxing, faded spines, etc.. The former might cost a little
more, but the results will be vastly more satisfying.

--
John
http://rarebooksinjapan.com