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1788 The Dramatick Writings of Will. Shakspere
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About the Item
A beautiful and scarce 'Bell's Edition of Shakespeare', the vanishingly scarce large paper variant, illustrated with engraved plates.
The very scarce complete twenty volume set. A large paper edition, uniformly bound in full morocco.
In 1785, John Bell began to issue the 36 separate plays of Shakespeare individually, collecting them here in twenty volumes in 1788 as the 'Dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere'. The set is scarcely found complete.
The first two volumes here are a remarkably comprehensive and broad 'Prolegomena' to Shakespeare's works, and offer interesting analysis of Shakespeare from an era where many of his plays were often interpreted differently, both in their production and in their critical reception.
The subsequent eighteen volumes consist of the plays themselves, along with notes from Samuel Johnson and George Stevens, a highlight of this particular edition.
Volumes I & II: Prolegomena To The Dramatick Writings of Will. Shakespeare. Nine plates to volume I, and eight to volume II.
Volume III: The Tempest and Two Gentlemen of Verona. Four plates.
Volume IV: The Merry Wives of Windsor and Much Ado About Nothing. Four plates.
Volume V: Measure for Measure and A Comedy of Errors. Four plates.
Volume VI: Love's Labour's Lost and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Four plates.
Volume VII: The Merchant of Venice and As You Like It. Four plates.
Volume VIII: The Taming of The Shrew and All's Well That End's Well. Four plates.
Volume IX: Twelfth Night and Winter's Tale. Four plates.
Volume X: Macbeth and King John. Four plates.
Volume XI: King Richard The Second and King Henry IV. Part I. Four plates.
Volume XII: King Henry IV. Part II and King Henry V. Four plates.
Volume XIII: King Henry VI and King Henry VI. Part II. Four plates.
Volume XIV: King Henry VI. Part III and King Richard III. Five plates.
Volume XV: King Henry VIII and Coriolanus. Four plates.
Volume XVI: Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra. Five plates.
Volume XVII: Timon of Athens and King Lear. Five plates.
Volume XVIII: Hamlet and Titus Andronicus. Four plates.
Volume XIX: Othello and Troilus and Cressida. Four plates.
Volume XX: Cymbeline and Othello. Four plates.
Collated, complete.
ESTC T65177. The plays are individually paginated, with separate signatures, and individual title pages for each play.
Half titles to vols II-XVI, XIX and XX.
With the bookplate of Benjafield, Bury St. Edmunds, to each front pastedown.
In full morocco bindings, with gilt detailing. Externally, excellent. Boards exceptionally bright, with a touch of fading to back strips. Ink marks to tails of volumes XI and XIV. Armorial bookplates to front pastedowns. Internally, firmly bound. Pages exceptionally clean and bright. Neat restoration to a closed tear to one plate of volume IV. The odd light spot to plate perimeters.
Overall: Fine
- Creator:William Shakespeare (Author)
- Dimensions:Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1780-1789
- Date of Manufacture:1788
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Bath, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 952F67D1stDibs: LU8925244426572
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor in The King’s Men theatrical company. Shakespeare was born in April 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon. Despite having one of the most recognizable names in history, not much is known about Shakespeare’s personal life. Little can be confirmed about his family, education and young adult life however there is much speculation. Many scholars believe Shakespeare was the son of a public official, educated at King’s New School in Stratford, married Anne Hathaway, and earned his living as an actor and playwright. Some believe that, due to his questionable education, Shakespeare may not have actually authored his works but it is impossible to prove either way. However, Shakespeare became the most prominent playwright of the time, using iambic pentameter, inventing words and is considered by many to be the world’s greatest dramatist. Overall, the impact of his writing remains widespread after nearly 500 years. Shakespeare died in Stratford-upon-Avon, on April 23, 1616.
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