- 510
Shakespeare, William
Description
- Shakespeare, WIlliam
- Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Published according to the true originall copies. The Second Impression. Thomas Cotes for John Smethwick, William Aspley, Richard Hawkins, Richard Meighen, and Robert Allot, 1632
- paper
The second folio edition of the most important work in English Literature, also containing the first appearance in print of John Milton (an epitaph in 16 verses printed on A5r), in an early eighteenth-century binding and with a distinguished provenance.
The second folio edition of Shakespeare's plays, which in principle was a page-for-page reprint of the First Folio of 1623, was printed in 1632 by Thomas Cotes, who had taken over the Jaggard shop following Isaac’s death in 1627. Like the First Folio it was printed for a syndicate of publishers, which again included John Smethwick and William Aspley. Although many obvious corrections were made the printing introduced hundreds of minor changes to the text.
This copy was bought by McLeish at the Clumber sale for £20. The Sotheby’s catalogue records that the copy had the ownership signature of the early eighteenth-century owner Edward Filmer on the title page, the fly-leaf and the front endpaper, but was lacking the “To the Reader” leaf. It seems clear that Mcleish (or another subsequent owner) supplied the missing leaf (or a portion thereof) from another copy, and had it inlaid within the original fly-leaf (thus preserving Filmer’s signature at the top), whilst at the same time effecting neat repairs to the other faults then present in the text and binding (as detailed above). The title page may have been lightly washed, since Filmer’s signature, whilst still just about discernible, is now faint.
An expert paper analysis of this lot is available for consultation from the Book Department
Provenance
The politician Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, the 9th earl of Lincoln and second Duke of Newcastle under Lyme (1720-1794), took his seat in the House of Lords on 1 December 1741, the same year he was called "the handsomest man in England" by George II (Walpole, Correspondence, 30.31, quoted by Farrell, Oxford DNB). He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1752, and became the 2nd Duke of Newcastle under Lyme in 1768 upon the death of his uncle Henry Pelham, whose daughter Catherine he had married in October 1744. His uncle had been Prime Minister between 1757 and 1762. The 2nd Duke actually had little regard for politics, although he used his considerable influence to promote the career of his cousin Sir Henry Clinton, a career army officer, who was appointed commander-in-chief of the British forces in America during the American Revolution, and he was asked by George III in December 1783 to support the new ministry of William Pitt the Younger. He is perhaps best known today as the creator of Clumber Park, his country seat in Nottinghamshire, where work began in 1768 to create one of the most beautiful private parks in the country. Following the death of the 7th duke of Newcastle in 1937, and the sale of the contents of the house at Sotheby's and Christie's (see below) the mansion was demolished in 1938, although the grounds remain in the hands of the National Trust. The papers of the 2nd Duke are now held by the department of Manuscripts and Special Collections at the University of Nottingham.
The first portion of the distinguished Clumber library was sold at Sotheby's on 21st June 1937, with the second portion commencing on 22nd November the same year. The library included sensational treasures, such as the Lamoignon Hours (which made £13,500), Audubon's Birds of America (£2,400, a record at that time), two outstanding Caxtons, and a Shakespeare First Folio (£5,600), probably originally acquired by the 1st Duke of Newcastle when prime minister.
Literature
Condition
"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."