SHAKESPEARE AND OTHER DRAMA

Transcription

1 SHAKESPEARE AND OTHER DRAMA It is June 2006, and this Shakespeare set is for sale, as are many other books from my library. Call me at or me at Jerry Morris Shakspeare, William. THE PLAYS AND POEMS OF. Philadelphia,1795,1796. Printed and sold by Bioren & Madan. Eight volumes. The stated First American edition of Shakspeare's Works. "Corrected from the latest and best London editions, with notes by Samuel Johnson..." This is a married set; vol. viii has a different binding. How rare is this set? Winterich, in his 1935 book, Early American Books And Printing (159,160,) had written: "...A dozen or so copies are known, of which at least a third are imperfect". Winterich meant that a third of the dozen copies were missing the frontispiece of Shakespeare because print collectors had removed them. My set has the frontispiece. It is the first likeness of Shakespeare that was made in America, and only one frontispiece was made for this set (See Update below). I queried the Folger Library for an update on the number of sets. Georgianna Ziegler, Head of Reference at Folger's, ed little old me that the NUC (National Union Catalog) lists 25 libraries holding copies of my set; I am in good company: Princeton University, Boston Public Library, Duke University, American Antiquarian Society, Henry E. Huntington Library, Rosenbach Museum and Library etc.. Volumes I-III were published in 1795 and volumes IV-VIII were published in I bought Volume VIII of this set on ebay in May,2000. The leather of this volume is quite worn and needs rebacking, but the book will stay in its original binding for now. I bought the other seven volumes in December,2000. Several of these volumes volumes need rebacking. I wonder how many other collectors have this set in their library? Update: May, Sandy Malcolm, London bibliophile and friend, recently discovered that Robert Field's engraving was not the first portrait of Shakespeare engraved in America. The first portrait appeared in an advertisement for the Boydell edition of Shakespeare in the August, 1787 issue of The Columbian Magazine. James Trenchard engraved the standing portrait of Shakespeare, which was based on the Kent and Schoemakers monument at Westminster Abbey, which was erected in Thinking about it, a portrait copied from this monument would have been perfect for an advertisement for a set of books: Shakespeare's right elbow is resting on a pile

2 of books while his left hand is pointing at an inscription from The Tempest. The pile of books being the Boydell's new Shakespeare edition, of course. The question does arise as to whether James Trenchard gets credit for engraving the first portrait. When it comes to book collecting, a work is considered to be a "first edition" when it is first published in book form. If that work was published in a magazine beforehand, the magazine article is known as the "first appearance in print," and not the "first edition." Does the same philosophy apply to engravings? I submitted this query, along with another one, to the Exlibris List. You can read the entire post at The second query pertained to the value of my set. John Windle, the noted San Francisco bookseller, ABAA,ILAB (JohnWindle.com), replied to my query and provided me with an estimate of the value of my set. Thank you, John! Shakspeare, William. Works Of. Volume II only no place, no publisher, This is Volume II of the second edition of Shakspeare's Works by Nicholas Rowe. Rowe's edition of 1709,1710 consisted of seven volumes, was the first small edition to be published after the folios, and the first with plates. Rowe's second edition consisted of nine volumes. Although the spine is in remarkable codition and the title label is still present, both covers are gone, and several pages are missing from the last play, All"s Well That Ends Well. This book, consists of the following plays: Love's Labours Lost, A Midsummer- Night's Dream, The Merchant Of Venice, As You Like It, The Taming Of The Shrew, and All's Well That Ends Well. This book would be a money maker for one who would dismantle the book to sell each play separately. Instead, I will make a solander case for it. The plays in this book have been together for 286 years, and I will not separate them. Shakspeare, William THE PLAYS OF WILLIAM SHAKSPERE VOL VII OF NINE VOLS

3 Boston, Printed by Munroe & Francis For Themselves; Ezra Sargeant, New-York; And Edward Earle, Philadelphia ( Different wording on bottom of front paper board "Printed and Published by Munroe & Francis At The Shakspeare Bookstore, No. 4 Cornhill"). Revised by Isaac Reed. Third Boston from the Fifth London edition. Contains Timons of Athens, Titus Andronicus, Troilus and Cressida, and Cymbaline. Original paper boards. Paper spine is half gone. Bartlett, Henrietta C. and Pollard, Alfred W. A CENSUS OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS IN QUARTO interesting. New Haven,1916. Yale University Press. Published March,1916. One of 500 copies printed. Bought for $50 at the 2001 St. Petersburg Antiquarian Bookfair. Photo shows a listing of some of the first editions of Shakespeare. This book provides a description of the different editions complete with title page info, number of leaves, size of pages, etc. Then it goes on to detail who possessed each copy, as well as its provenance and condition. Granted, this census was published in 1916, and ownership of some of these books surely has changed hands, but I do find it Shakspeare, William. DRAMATIC WORKS OF. COMPLETE IN TWO VOLUMES

4 London, William Miller. A beautiful leather set with marbled edges and marbled endpapers. Here's a Link to Terry Gray's All-In-One Shakespeare Reference Web Site: Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet Printed for C & J Rivington & the other Proprietors. London, May 24,1824. A nice little beauty to rebind; both boards detached and 90% of spine leather gone. BEAUTIES OF SHAKSPEARE Dodd, William LL.D. BEAUTIES OF SHAKESPEARE

5 Library Press, n.d. London. The accompanying photo of the endpaper opposite the title page contains information about the author. If the printing is too small, the author was hanged for forging Lord Chesterfield's signature for monetary gain. Staunton,Howard, editor. THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED SHAKESPEARE New York, Gallery Books. First published by George Routledge in three volumes in 1858,1859, and Nesbit, E. ROMEO AND JULIET AND OTHER STORIES London, n.d. Raphael Tuck & Sons. Cute little book illustrated by Frances Brundage and J.W. Grey.

6 Halliwell, J.O. COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKSPEARE (COMEDIES VOLUME ONLY) London, c.1890 London Printing And Publishing Company. $2.00 on ebay. One heavy book! Includes engravings of the actors and actresses in their costumes. Daniel. P.A. editor. ROMEO AND JULIET. REPRINT OF Q London,1874. N.Trubner & Co. A pamphlet published for te NewShakspere Society Shakespeare. William THE TRUE TRAGEDIE OF RICHARD DUKE OF YORK (Henry the Sixth, Part III) 1595

7 Oxford, 1958 (1595) Clarendon Press. Shakespeare Quarto Facsimile No. 11. Ex-lib from the Milwaukee Library previous page Powered by MSN TV next page

8 Chalmers, Alexander, editor. THE PLAYS OF SHAKSPEARE. VOLUME IV OF NINE. London, Printed for J. Nichols an Son: F.C. Rivington; etc. An odd volume of a set containing Comedy Of Errors, Macbeth, King John, King Richard II, and King Henry IV Part I. Armorial bookplate of Henry James Leigh on front endpaper. Davies, Thomas. DRAMATIC MISCELLANIES; CONSISTING OF CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS ON SEVERAL PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE: WITH A REVIEW OF HIS PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS, AND THOSE OF VARIOUS EMINENT WRITERS, AS REPRESENTED BY MR. GARRICK AND OTHER CELEBRATED COMEDIANS. VOL.III only London,1785. Printed for the author, and sold at his shop in Great Russell-Street, Covent-Garden. Garrick's thoughts on the plays, Hamlet, Alexander, and Rehearsal, and some of the other dramatists, Dryden, Otway, Cibber, and Congreve. Vol. III of three vols. Strunk, William, Jr. TOPICS AND QUESTIONS ON SHAKESPEARE

9 Ithaca, New York,1927. Cornell Co-Operative Society. One may recognize the author because of the book that E.B. White made famous, the Elements of Style. Besides English, Strunk taught Shakespeare as well at Cornell. London, University Press. Bookplate of William Allen on front endpaper. Robertson, John M. MONTAIGNE AND SHAKESPEARE Lee, Sidney. A LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE London, Smith, Elder & Co. Illustrated Library Edition. Beautiful covers but spine is badly faded. SHAKSPERE.

10 I had forgotten about this book! This was my second bookbinding attempt ever. The green leather is the leather you would see on a desk. The book itself doesn't even have a title page; moreover the last few pages are missing. But, this book is a permanent part of my Library! Yes, that is the way Shakspere is spelled in this book. You'll find a link to the Spelling and Pronunciation of William Shakespeare, and much more on te following webpage of Dave Kathman and Terry Ross: Spaulding, K.J. The Philosophy Of Shakespeare. Oxford,1953. George Ronald. Ex-lib Shakespeare, William. OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE This is the pamphlet on the top left. London,n.d. circa Thomas Hailes Lacy. An interesting pamphlet containing the play, stage directions, and a description of the costumes. It also lists the actors and actresses who played each character at Covent Garden on March 25,1833, at Sadler's Wells on June 3,1844, and at Olympic on Feb. 4,1850. (Lamb,Charles) TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE. London,n.d. circa George Routledge & Sons. Shakespeare, William. HAMLET. Oxford,1876. Clarendon Press Shakespeare,William. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. London,1894. J.M.Dent. Temple Shakespeare Shakspeare, Will. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. London,1785. John Bell, British Library. Bell's Edition. England, Winburn Martha GARRICK'S JUBILEE

11 n.p.1964, Ohio State University Press. A study of Garrick's three-day Shakespeare Festival at Stratfordupon-Avon in September, Derrick, Samuel (Mr.Wilkes) A GENERAL VIEW OF THE STAGE London,1759. Printed for J. Coote,in Pater-noster Row; and W. Whetstone, in Skinner Row, Dublin. Bought on ebay from satnrose, who duly noted all discrepancies. Front cover detached and leather needs replacing. Written by Derrick under the name of Mr. Wilkes. Derrick is best known for his Letters From Liverpool, Chester & Dublin & Of these letters, both Lowndes,2919, and Allibone,495, quote Samuel Johnson: "If they had been written by one of a more established name, they would have been thought very pretty letters". Signed by several people, most prominent of which is Edward T. Mason, author and critic, who gave this book to his daughter on March 2nd, This book is divided into four parts, consisting of twenty-six chapters. Oddly, there is no heading for Part I, which covers the stage, the different types of drama, and specifically certain works by Mallet, Shakespeare, Otway, Addison, Congreve and more. Part II covers the Art of Acting. Part III provides a Short Historical Account of the Stage, Ancient and Modern, to the Restoration. Part IV provides a Critical Examination of the Merits and Demerits of the Principal Performers in England and Ireland. This book will sit on the shelf alongside Fitzgerald's Art of Acting of Fitzgerald, Percy. THE ART OF ACTING.

12 London, Swan Sonneschein & Co. Percy Fitzgerald also wrote The Book-Fancier, Or The Romance Of Book-Collecting, a very collectible book. I figure his book on Acting is a collectible book as well. Fitzgerald gave a series of lectures on Acting at the Royal Institution, the Royal Institute, and the Society of Arts. His book covers facial expressions and hand gestures of actors, as well as scenic effects of the stage, and provides a history of the stage in the late 1800s. Dryden, John. TYRANNICK LOVE, OR THE ROYAL MARTYR London,1762. Printed for J. and R. Tonson. DRAMATIC WORKS OF WYCHERLEY, CONGREVE, VANBRUGH, AND FARQUHAR, WITH BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL NOTES BY LEIGH HUNT. London,1851 (1840) Edward Moxon.. Full leather,raised bands, and marbled endpapers and edges. I actually bought this book to add to my Leigh Hunt collection.

13 Connerly, Willard. BRAWNY WYCHERLEY. First Master in English Comedy New York,1930. Charles Scribner's Sons. Shaw, Bernard. DRAMATIC OPINIONS AND ESSAYS WITH AN APOLOGY BY BERNARD SHAW. Two Volumes. New York,1922. Brentano's. previous page Powered by MSN TV next page