The plays of William Shakspeare
Print Book, English, 1803-1805
Printed by T. Bensley, for Wynne and Scholey, 45, and J. Wallis, 46, Paternoster-Row, London, 1803-1805
10 volumes : illustrations, 1 portrait (engravings, woodcuts) ; 21 cm (8vo)
36713486
v. 1. Life of Shakspeare. Observations on each play. Tempest ; Two gentlemen of Verona ; Merry wives of Windsor ; Twelfth-night ; Measure for measure
v. 2. Much ado about nothing ; Midsummer-night's dream ; Love's labour's lost ; Merchant of Venice ; As you like it
v. 3. All's well that ends well ; Taming of the shrew ; Winter's tale ; Comedy of errors ; Macbeth
v. 4. King John ; King Richard II ; King Henry IV ; King Henry V
v. 5. King Henry VI ; King Richard III
v. 6. King Henry VIII ; Troilus and Cressida ; Timon of Athens ; Coriolanus
v. 7. Julius Caesar ; Antony and Cleopatra ; Cymbeline ; Titus Andronicus ; Pericles
v. 8. King Lear ; Romeo and Juliet ; Hamlet ; Othello
Originally offered by subscription in 8 volumes, supplemented by volumes 9-10, per advertisement in v. 9
Some sets were issued on large paper in 10 volumes, per Jaggard. The two issues are of the same setting of type. This record is for the regular paper issue measuring approximately 21 cm with a 1 cm gutter margin. The large paper issue measures approximately 24 cm with a 2 cm gutter margin
Printed by T. Davison, White-friars (v. 9 advertisement)
Plays were accurately printed from the text of Mr. Steeven's last edition
Each volume with vol. title page and half-title; each play with a divisional title page and woodcut vignette. Volume title pages 1-4 dated 1803; v.5-8 dated 1804; v.9-10 dated 1805
Plays are signed and paginated separately
Engraved frontispiece in v.1 lettered: Jno. Thurston del., Chas. Warren sculp., 1805
Glossary in v. 8. Prefaces and annotations from various commentators in vols. 9-10