THE WORKS OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR IN SIX VOLUMES: ADORN’D WITH CUTS published in 1709 is the first edition of Shakespeare’s plays published after the four folios. THE WORKS OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR. VOLUME THE SEVENTH. CONTAINING VENUS & ADONIS, TARQUIN & LUCRECE AND HIS MISCELLANY POEMS published in 1710 by Edmund Curll was intended to accompany the six volumes of his plays.

Shakespeare 7-volume set publisned 1709

THE WORKS OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR IN SIX VOLUMES: ADORN’D WITH CUTS is the first edition of Shakespeare’s plays published after the four folios. They were edited by Nicholas Rowe, and were published by Jacob Tonson in 1709. This is the first illustrated edition of Shakespeare’s plays, first to indicate acts, scenes & dramatis personae, first to provide stage directions, and first to include a formal biography of Shakespeare. THE WORKS OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR. VOLUME THE SEVENTH. CONTAINING VENUS & ADONIS, TARQUIN & LUCRECE AND HIS MISCELLANY POEMS was published in 1710 by Edmund Curll. “The significance of the volume the seventh, as has been generally understood, is in the fact that the book was intended as a supplementary volume to be sold to purchasers of the set of Rowe’s Works of Shakespeare” (Alden, 1916). This octavo set is bound in full calf, with gilt & blind tooled covers, gilt tooled spines with five raised bands, & gilt titles to spines. Frontispiece & plates present all volumes. The text block (19 cm) is on laid paper. An owner’s inscription on volume 5 title page reads “ex libris Georgii Trenthas(?) Talbot”. The 14th Earl of Shrewsbury, (George Talbot 1719-1787) lived about the same time these volumes were bound: the endpapers are wove, indicating the set was bound after 1759. The father of the Earl (George Talbot 1675-1733) died prior to the invention of wove paper. It thus seems likely that this set was owned by the 14th Earl. There are no missing pages; no page tears; corners not bumped; hinges are sound; binding is tight across all 7 volumes. Calf on all boards in fine condition. Top & bottom edges of spines rubbed. Light toning throughout. VOL 1–old bookseller’s price in pencil on front pastedown & ink gift inscription on free front endpapers. VOL 2–occasional foxing. VOL 3–small scuff to spine, small stain pg. 1087, some foxing. VOL 4–3/8″ worming bottom of front hinge, ¼” spots pp. 1561-1562, some foxing. VOL 5–title page has ink “ex libris Georgii Trenthas(?) Talbot”. Plate facing Hamlet Play Title page has been hand-colored. Small scuff to spine, ¼” stain pp. 2182 & 2183, small ink stain on fore-edge of pp. 2383-2391 doesn’t affect text, areas of foxing pg 2573 & 2641-2647. VOL 6–foxing on pp. 2661, 3771, 3185. VOL 7–worming like Vol 4, stain in dedication pages, some foxing. No markings at all except as noted in Vol 1 & 5. Overall a gorgeous set in very good condition. Volumes 1-5 are first editions and conform to ESTC T138294 regarding signatures, pagination & plates, and to Ford’s “Shakespeare, 1700-1740” first issue criteria. Volume 6 conforms to ESTC T138297 and to Ford’s second issue criteria. However, the UCLA Clark Rare Book Library states “H.L. Ford in ‘Shakespeare 1700-1740’ claims that there were 2 printings of Tonson’s 1709 ed. However, a comparison of sets of this ed. with Ford’s distinguishing points of the 2 printings reveals that each set is composed of sheets from both printings, and that in many cases individual vols. are also composed of sheets from both printings. Possibly the printings were not discrete.” VOLUME THE SEVENTH (poems) is described as “Intended to accompany the 6v. Rowe edition of 1709.” It conforms to ESTC T138298, which states that the “Editor’s dedication signed: S.N. The ‘critical remarks’ and ‘An essay’ are by Charles Gildon.” This volume contains the same Dedication by Charles Gildon. According to Alden, “There has been considerable uncertainty as to the editor of the volume, some authorities referring it to Charles Gildon, known to be the author of the essays it contains, others to a mysterious S. N., because in some copies those initials are attached to the Dedication.”

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