Shakespeare, William | The Fourth Folio edition of Shakespeare's Plays

Shakespeare, William

Mr. William Shakespear's Comedies, Histories and Tragedies. London: Printed for H. Herringman, E. Brewster, and R. Bentley, 1685

Folio (336 x 222 mm). First six leaves wanting, text begins with The Tempest and lacks the six plays now not attributed to Shakespeare and also Pericles, this copy ending with Cymbeline, marked and annotated by an 18th century owner (likely one Joseph Bell, who has added his signature in various places), loss to lower corner of pages 63 and 65 of Measure for Measure but no loss to text, some loss of text to following two pages of some dozen words, other chips and tears, most significant being a long tear of the last page of Macbeth that has been amateurly repaired, last leaf with loss to upper corner, general staining and foxing. Contemporary brown calf; rubbed, worn, upper board detached. A well-read copy.

The largest of the first four folio editions, and the last 17th century edition of Shakespeare's collected plays. 

Three issues have been identified, differing only in the title-page (not present in this copy). The extra plays added for this edition are now generally considered not to be by Shakespeare, with the exception of Pericles. 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. The present edition was the basis for most 18th century editions and grander presentation than the folio editions that preceded—larger, of better stock and the lines more generously spaced. 

REFERENCES:

Wing S2915; Jaggard 497; Pforzheimer 910

PROVENANCE:

Joseph Bell (early annotations and ownership signatures throughout)