Shakespeare--Ireland, William Henry.

autograph manuscript addressed to Wallis ("...As it was you that I entrusted every fact relating to my fabrication of the Shaksperian MSS at a period when I could no longer conceal the business I have deemed it requisite as a further conviction of my being the Author and writer of the papers to present you with duplicates of some of the documents which were presented by me to Mr Samuel Ireland..."), discussing the origins of the forgeries, explaining and commenting on his own work as a forger, and with transcriptions of the various documents, 32 pages including a lock of hair affixed with red wax, together with 10 samples of forgeries by Ireland: Shakespeare's signature (three examples), signatures of Shakespeare and Michael Fraser, Shakespeare's spurious Protestant Confession of Faith, his letter to Crowley, signature of John Heminges, Shakespeare's letter to Anne Hathaway, his verses to Anne Hathaway, signature of Queen Elizabeth, and signature of the Earl of Southampton, all produced after 1796, together with [Samuel Daniel] A Defence of Ryme. London: Edward Blount, 1603, (incomplete, lacking all after F8), all items edge mounted into a half brown morocco album, with some additional material relating to Ireland loosely inserted

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"...It was when of the age of 17 years & an half that I first made the essay of producing the spurious documents being incited thereto from the following reasons: First I was desirous of giving pleasure to Mr S. Ireland who was an enthusiast on the score of our Immortal Bard of Avon & very frequently said that he would barter his valuable library to become possessed of the smallest portion of MSS from his pen..."

A remarkable series of forgeries by the audacious William Henry Ireland, with fascinating provenance. After the spurious nature of Ireland's "finds" of Shakespearean manuscripts was exposed, he produced further copies of his forgeries to present to friends and, it seems, for sale. This set was given to Albany Wallis, a neighbour, lawyer, and collector of Shakespeareana, and the man to whom Ireland first confessed his forgeries in April 1796.