Bell's edition of Shakespeare's plays : as they are now performed at the Theatres Royal in London : regulated from the prompt books of each house, by permission, with notes critical and illustrative / by the authors of the Dramatic censor.
Bell's edition of Shakespeare's plays : as they are now performed at the Theatres Royal in London : regulated from the prompt books of each house, by permission, with notes critical and illustrative / by the authors of the Dramatic censor.
Uniform title
Works. 1774. John Bell
Created/published
London : Printed for John Bell, near Exeter Exchange in the Strand, and C. Etherington, at York, MDCCLXXIIII [1774]
Vol. 1-5 of this 9-v. set exist in three separate settings of type; v. 6-9 of all three are the same setting of type. In this edition, v. 1-5 are gathered in 6's and the individual play title pages are dated 1773. Vol. 6-8, and the unnumbered ninth volume containing the poems, are in 12's. All v. title pages (v.1-8), the individual play titles (v.6-8), and the engraved title page for v. [9] are dated 1774.
Plays are paginated and signed continuously except in v. 3-4, which are signed but not paginated continuously. Plays in v.1-5 were printed in a different order than how they are listed on the volume title-pages.
Engraved illustrations variously lettered by engravers: J. Hall, W. Byrne, M. Liart, Isaac Taylor, P. Mazell, W. Walker, C. Grignion, Js. Basire, I.K. Sherwin, and T. Cook; and artists: N. Dance, E. Edwards, Isaac Taylor, and I.K. Sherwin. Illustrations are dated between 1773-1774.
Cast lists in v.1-5; most plays (notably in v. 1-5), as well as the poems, have final leaves of bookseller's advertisements.
List of subscribers and an Introduction to Shakespeare's plays, dated 1773, in v. 1. Life of Shakespeare in v. 9.
Contents
v. 1. Macbeth ; As you like it ; Othello ; All's well that ends well v. 2. King Lear ; Romeo and Juliet ; Merchant of Venice ; Cymbeline ; Much ado about nothing v. 3. King Richard III ; Merry wives of Windsor ; Hamlet ; Tempest ; Measure for measure v. 4. King John ; King Henry IV ; Henry V ; King Henry VIII v. 5. Julius Caesar ; Timon of Athens ; Winter's tale ; Coriolanus ; Twelfth-night v. 6. Two gentlemen of Verona ; Taming of the shrew ; Troilus and Cressida ; Antony and Cleopatra v. 7. King Richard II ; King Henry VI v. 8. Titus Andronicus ; Comedy of errors ; Midsummer-night's dream ; Love's labour's lost [v. 9.] Poems written by Shakespear.
Cited/described in
Burnim & Highfill. John Bell, p. 10-13 English short title catalogue (ESTC), T62806 Jaggard, W. Shakespeare bibliography, p. 504
Armorial bookplate (motto: I renew my age), with name effaced. Bound in mottled calf with gold filleting and leather spine labels reading "Bell's Shakespear"; v.6-9 with marbled endpapers. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs406
Call number
PR2752 1774a copy 2 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Autograph: Thomas Beale Browne (back endpaper v.3). Full calf binding with leather spine labels reading "Bell's Shakespear." Gift of Henry N. Paul.
Folger accession
7-8-50
Call number
PR2810 1774 item 2 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: King Henry IV, part 2 only. With three final leaves of Bell's advertisments. Autograph: William Moore, 1785. Bound second with other Bell's editions of Henry IV, pt. 1, Henry V, Henry VI, and Henry VIII. Speckled calf binding with red leather spine label.
Folger accession
No case or acc. number present
Call number
PR2810 1774 item 3 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: King Henry V only. With two final leaves of Bell's advertisments. Autograph: William Moore, 1785. Bound third with other Bell's editions of Henry IV, Henry VI, and Henry VIII. Bound in speckled calf with red leather spine label.
Folger accession
No case or acc. number present
Call number
PR2810 1774 item 7 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: King Henry VIII only. Autograph: William Moore, 1785. Bound seventh with other Bell's editions of Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI. Bound in speckled calf with red leather spine label.
