Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares comedies, histories, and tragedies. : Published according to the true originall copies.

RESTRICTED. Available by special permission only.

Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares comedies, histories, and tragedies. : Published according to the true originall copies.

Plays

The second impression.

London : Printed by Tho. Cotes, for Iohn Smethwick, and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstans Church-yard, 1632.

[20], 303, [1], 46, 49-100, [2], 69-232, 168, 269-419, [1] p. : 1 port. (engraving) ; 35 cm (fol.)

Colophon: Printed at London by Thomas Cotes, for John Smethwick, William Aspley, Richard Hawkins, Richard Meighen, and Robert Allot, 1632.

First issue, variant Ic1, with [superscript pi]A5 recto ("Effigies" page) in state Ib--as formulated by William B. Todd, "Issues and states of the Second Folio and Milton's epitaph on Shakespeare," Studies in bibliography, v. 5 (1952-53), p. 81-108.

Signatures: [superscript pi]A⁶ *⁴ A-2B⁶ 2C² a-3c⁶ 3d⁴.

Pollard, A.W. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, & Ireland and of English books printed abroad, 1475-1640 (2nd ed.) (STC), 22274e
Greg, W.W. Bibliography of the English printed drama to the Restoration, p. 1113-15[double dagger]
J. D. Fleeman, A preliminary handlist of copies of books associated with Dr. Samuel Johnson (1984), #245

Great Britain -- England -- London.

STC 22274 Fo.2 no.20

In Folger copy 20, [superscript pi]A1 is wanting; [superscript pi]A2 (title leaf) is assembled from three pieces cut down and mounted that bear: the title and edition statements (genuine, with the terminal S of SHAKESPEARES excised); the port. (in facsim.); and the imprint statement (genuine). The lower outer corner of 3d3 is mutilated and patched, affecting text on the verso slightly. Leaf 3d4 is cut down and mounted.

Leaf [superscript pi]A3, short and guarded, with a watermark that redounds that on [superscript pi]A4, is supplied from another copy.

Imperfections affect text slightly on q6 and very slightly on Y2.

Annotated in manuscript throughout, mostly (at least) in the hand of Lewis Theobald. Some of the annotations are signed "L.T."

Lewis Theobald--Thomas Osborne--Samuel Johnson--Samuel Ireland--Earls of Aylesford--Henry Irving copy, with the bookplate of Heneage Finch, 7th Earl of Aylesford and bookplate of Henry Irving. Inscribed (front flyleaf recto): "Bot. at Dr. Johnson's Sale Feb. 18. 1785. S[amuel]. I[reland]."; "This book at the death of Theobald the Editor of Shakspear, came into the hands of Osbourn ye. bookseller of Gray's Inn--who soon after presented it to the late Dr. Johnson. S[amuel]. I[reland].--Feb. 25. 1785."; "Henry Irving: 1888."

The binding, ticketed (front free endpaper, verso): "Bound by L. Staggemeier & Welcher, No. 11, Villiers St. York Builds. LONDON [1805-1808]", is tooled similarly to the binding illustrated in Howard M. Nixon and Mirjam M. Foot, History of Decorated Bookbinding in England (1992), plate 101.

Label (rear free endpaper, recto) of the Tudor Exhibition of 1889-1890; see the catalogue, Exhibition of the Royal House of Tudor (1890), #1365.