Shakespeare, William

Folio (368 x 235mm.), ^{[PI]2  [PI]}A⁴, A-Y⁶ Z⁴ , 2B-2Z⁶, *3A-*3D⁶, *3E⁸, 3A-4B⁶ 4C², 458 leaves, THE FOURTH COLLECTED EDITION OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS, first issue with Greg's (*) title, engraved portrait by Droeshout, woodcut initials, text in double column, roman and italic type, printer's device on title-page, headlines and catchwords, two pages of L1 set in smaller type as usual, contemporary mottled calf, red morocco label on spine, red sprinkled edges, rebacked preserving most of the original spine, minor occasional light browning, a few tiny burn-holes, small tear with loss to margins of Gg3, Rr6, Uu3, *Ddd6, 3E4 and 3Y2 (not affecting text), slight staining to 3B5 with short tear at lower margin (not affecting text), a few other tiny oil and other stains

The lawyer and politician Simon Harcourt, first Viscount Harcourt (1661?--1727), his bookplate affixed to verso of title, thence by descent (armorial bookplate of Edward William Vernon Harcourt (1825-91) on upper paste-down)

Harcourt was the only son of Sir Philip Harcourt (d. 1688), the landowner and politician of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, and his first wife, Anne (d. 1664), the daughter of Sir William Waller of Osterley Park, Middlesex. In a distinguished political career he became Queen Anne's solicitor-general on 30 May 1702, subsequently promoted to attorney-general in 1707 after his close involvement in the negotiations for the Union with Scotland. He became lord chancellor in April 1713.

 

Wing S2915; Greg III, pp. 1119-1121; Bartlett 123a; Pforzheimer 910

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when 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."

A LOVELY COPY OF THE FOURTH FOLIO IN A CONTEMPORARY CALF BINDING.

The fourth folio edition of Shakespeare's plays, like the third folio of 1663-4, includes at the end Pericles and the six spurious plays The London Prodigall, The History of Thomas Lord Cromwell, Sir John Oldcastle, The Puritan Widow, A Yorkshire Tragedy, and The Tragedy of Locrine. These had been previously published as late Elizabethan or early Jacobean quartos with attributions to Shakespeare or "W.S".

The fourth folio may be regarded as the stateliest of all the four editions, being printed on a Royal Paper stock, distinctly larger than the sheets of the first, second or third folios. Printing was shared between three shops. Robert Roberts is known to have printed the Comedies and the preliminary leaves (see F. Bowers, Shakespeare Quarterly, July 1951, iii. 241-6).