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Mr. William Shakespear's comedies, histories, and tragedies : published according to the true original copies : unto which is added, seven plays, never before printed in folio ...

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616, author.; Heath, Douglas Denon, 1811-1897, former owner.; FitzGerald, Edward, 1809-1883, former owner.; Keene, Charles, active 18th century, associated name.; Herringman, Henry, -1704, bookseller, publisher.; Bentley, Richard, -1697, bookseller, publisher.; Brewster, Edward, active 1654-1699, bookseller, publisher.
1685
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Title
Mr. William Shakespear's comedies, histories, and tragedies : published according to the true original copies : unto which is added, seven plays, never before printed in folio ...
Uniform title
Plays
Edition
The fourth edition.
Created/published
London : Printed for H. Herringman, E. Brewster, and R. Bentley, at the Anchor in the New Exchange, the Crane in St. Pauls Church-yard, and in Russel-Street Covent Garden, 1685.
Description
[12], 96, 99-160, 163-254, 243 [i.e. 253]-272, [2], 328, 303, [1] p. : 1 port. (engraving) ; 36 cm (fol.)
Associated name
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616, author.
Heath, Douglas Denon, 1811-1897, former owner.
FitzGerald, Edward, 1809-1883, former owner.
Keene, Charles, active 18th century, associated name.
Herringman, Henry, -1704, bookseller, publisher.
Bentley, Richard, -1697, bookseller, publisher.
Brewster, Edward, active 1654-1699, bookseller, publisher.
Note
Signatures: [pi]² [superscript pi]A⁴ A-Y⁶ Z⁴ 2B-2Z⁶ *3A-*3D⁶ *3E⁸ 3A-4B⁶ 4C².

The prelim. gathering [superscript pi]A (and probably the prelim. gathering [pi]) and the first section of the book, A-Z, were printed by Robert Roberts. Cf. Fredson Bowers, "Robert Roberts, a printer of Shakespeare's Fourth Folio," Shakespeare quarterly, v. 2 (1951), 241-46.

The additional plays, as listed on the title page are: Pericles Prince of Tyre. The London prodigal. The history of Thomas Lord Cromwel. Sir John Oldcastle Lord Cobham. The puritan widow. A Yorkshire tragedy. The tragedy of Locrine.
Cited/described in
Wing, D.G. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and British America, and of English books printed in other countries, 1641-1700 (2nd ed.), S2915
Greg, W.W. Bibliography of the English printed drama to the Restoration, p. 1119-21*
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England -- London.

Call number
S2915 Fo.4 no.02
Folger-specific note
In Folger copy 2, the "verses" leaf with port. ([pi]1) and the title leaf ([pi]2) are both watermarked (redundantly), so either leaf is, or both are, supplied from another copy.

This copy, extensively restored by the binder, Riviere, may be made-up. Red staining is visible under the gilding on the edges of many leaves, and a few narrow leaves are present, but otherwise no evidence in the book suggests that any leaves other than the first two were supplied from another copy or copies. However, a "very imperfect" copy of Shakespeare's Plays (1685) was sold (Sotheby s, March 18-19, 1898, #689) with books from the library of a person, Douglas Denon Heath, with whom this copy is associated.

Port. (on [pi]1 verso) in state 4.

Leaf [pi]1, "verses" leaf with port., is mended and inlaid.

Leaf A3 is patched in the outer and lower margins, affecting the direction line and text at the lower outer corner, which text is supplied in manuscript facsim.

Leaf C6 is mended at the lower outer corner, affecting text slightly.

Other imperfections affect text very slightly on D3, 2L3, 2M1, *3A2, and *3D5.

Leaf 4C2 has the upper outer corner mended and is mounted.

Front flyleaf (of undocumented origin) inscribed "D[ouglas Denon]. Heath from E[dward]. F[itz]. G[erald]. 1835--".

Bookplate (armorial with motto "Semper Fidelis") said by bookseller (Quaritch, catalogue 252 [1906], #356) of Charles Keene, inscribed (18th-cent.) "Charles [surname effaced]".