Shakespeare, William

Folio (360 x 227mm.), π² 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, EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY RED MOROCCO GILT BY THE CLUB BINDERY OF NEW YORK (dated 1901), covers with outer and inner gilt fillets with fleur-de-lys cornerpieces, enclosing border of formal interlocking design using circular and other tools, spine in six compartments (ornately tooled), turn-ins, marbled endpapers, new free endpapers, all edges gilt, previous neat repair to short tear on portrait leaf, occasional slight damp or oil-staining at margins (particularly lower and outer margins of first few gatherings including portrait and title), short tear to F4 near upper margin, small burn holes to H5 (affecting a few letters), P6 (lower outer margin, not affecting text) and 2L5 (affecting a few letters), small loss to upper margin of 4B5 not affecting text, some slight browning, a few other small or minor marginal tears, minor printing flaw to leaf 2F

Edwin B. Holden, ex-President of the Grolier Club in New York, bookplate, sale of his library at the American Art Association, 28 April 1928, lot 1396, $830; John Whipple Frothingham, bookplate (both bookplates on front endpapers)

The main library of the bibliophile Edwin B. Holden was sold at Anderson Galleries on 26-28 April 1928, realising $85,577.50 in total.

Wing S2915; Greg III, pp. 1119-1121; Bartlett 123a; Pforzheimer 910
Arthur C. Holden, "Edwin Babcock Holden", in Grolier 75. A Bibliographical Retrospective to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Grolier Club in New York

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 HANDSOME COPY OF THE FOURTH FOLIO FROM THE LIBRARY OF THE DISTINGUISHED BIBLIOPHILE EDWIN B. HOLDEN. Holden was briefly the President of the Grolier Club in New York and, together with other wealthy members (such as Robert Hoe and Beverly Chew) founded "The Club Bindery" in 1898 to import the art of European bookbinding to North America. Frank Mansell became the first finisher employed by the Club but the biggest coup was in securing the services of the legendary Léon Maillard.

The fourth folio edition of Shakespeare's plays, like the third folio of 1663-4, includes 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).

Loosely inserted in this copy is A Concise Account of Garrick's Jubilee, held at Stratford-Upon-Avon, in Honour of Shakspeare, In 1769. And of the Commemorative Festivals in 1827 and 1830...(8vo, Stratford-upon-Avon: J. Ward, 1830, with folding ephemera at the end), original blue printed wrappers