- 130
Shakespeare, William
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- ink and paper
Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Published according to the true Original Copies. Unto which is added, SEVEN Plays, Never before Printed in Folio ... The Fourth Edition. London: Printed for H. Herringman, E. Brewster, and R. Bentley, 1685
Folio (14 x 8 5/8 in.; 355 x 220 mm). collation: ()2, A4, A-Y6, Z4, BB-ZZ6, *AAA-DDD6, EEE8, AAA-ZZZ6, AAAA-BBBB6, CCCC2=458 leaves, engraved frontispiece portrait by Martin Droeshout with verses below, title with printer's device (Greg 263beta), woodcut initials, text in 2 columns, roman and italic type, leaf L1 set in smaller type as usual; portrait inlaid with verses in flawless facsimile, upper and inner margins and small portion of fore-margin of title leaf renewed with outer rule in excellent pen facsimile, upper outer corner of "To the Great Variety of Readers" leaf mended and some thin red scoring in text, preliminaries washed with typical light discoloration, occasional small stains in 9 leaves, two leaf signatures supplied in pen (e.g. Ee3), lower portion of last leaf renewed not affecting the text but "Finis" and rules supplied in facsimile. Red crushed morocco, triple-fillet border, spine gilt, dentelles, edges gilt, by Riviere & Son. Bill of sale and dealer letter enclosed.
Folio (14 x 8 5/8 in.; 355 x 220 mm). collation: ()2, A4, A-Y6, Z4, BB-ZZ6, *AAA-DDD6, EEE8, AAA-ZZZ6, AAAA-BBBB6, CCCC2=458 leaves, engraved frontispiece portrait by Martin Droeshout with verses below, title with printer's device (Greg 263beta), woodcut initials, text in 2 columns, roman and italic type, leaf L1 set in smaller type as usual; portrait inlaid with verses in flawless facsimile, upper and inner margins and small portion of fore-margin of title leaf renewed with outer rule in excellent pen facsimile, upper outer corner of "To the Great Variety of Readers" leaf mended and some thin red scoring in text, preliminaries washed with typical light discoloration, occasional small stains in 9 leaves, two leaf signatures supplied in pen (e.g. Ee3), lower portion of last leaf renewed not affecting the text but "Finis" and rules supplied in facsimile. Red crushed morocco, triple-fillet border, spine gilt, dentelles, edges gilt, by Riviere & Son. Bill of sale and dealer letter enclosed.
Provenance
Purchased from Thomas Thorp (London) in April 1971
Literature
Greg III, pp. 1119-1121; Pforzheimer 910, Wing S-2915
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Fourth folio edition, first issue which omits the name of Chiswell in the imprint. Perhaps the stateliest of all four editions of the plays, as it is printed on taller paper stock. This edition includes, at the end, Pericles and the six spurious plays The London Prodigall, The History of Thomas Lord Cromwell, Sir John Oldcaste, The Puritan Widow, A Yorkshire Tragedy, and The Tragedy of Locrine. These appeared previously in the 1663-1664 third folio, and in quarto editions of the early part of the century attributed to Shakespeare or "W.S."