The dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere : with the notes of all the various commentators; printed complete from the best editions of Sam. Johnson and Geo. Steevens.
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. author.; Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.; Steevens, George, 1736-1800.; Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744.; Hanmer, Thomas, Sir, 1677-1746.; Warburton, William, 1698-1779.; Theobald, Mr. (Lewis), 1688-1744.; Rowe, Nicholas, 1674-1718.; Malone, Edmond, 1741-1812.; Tollet, George, approximately 1725-1779.; Bell, John, 1745-1831, bookseller.; Bell, John, 1745-1831, publisher.; Cook, Thomas, approximately 1744-1818, printmaker.; Dance, Nathaniel, Sir, 1735-1811, illustrator.; Burney, Edward Francis, 1760-1848, illustrator.; Delattre, Jean Marie, 1745-1840?, printmaker.; Cosway, Richard, 1740-1821, printmaker.; Ramberg, Johann Heinrich, 1763-1840, illustrator.; Sanders, illustrator.; Sherwin, Charles, 1764-1794, printmaker.; Bartolozzi, Francesco, 1727-1815, printmaker.; Sharp, William, 1749-1824, printmaker.; Grignion, Charles, 1721-1810, printmaker.; Thornthwaite, J., 1740?- printmaker.; Brown, Mather, 1761-1831, printmaker.; Steevens, George, 1736-1800, former owner.; Bell, John, 1745-1831, signer.; Kalthoeber, Christian Samuel, active 1780-1817, binder.; Burnham Abbey (Buckinghamshire, England), former owner.; Wm. White and Son, (fl. 1789), signer.
1788
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Linked e-resources
Details
Title
The dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere : with the notes of all the various commentators; printed complete from the best editions of Sam. Johnson and Geo. Steevens.
Uniform title
Plays. 1788. John Bell
Created/published
London : Printed for, and under the direction of, John Bell, British Library, Strand, bookseller to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, MDCCLXXXVIII [1788]
Description
20 v. : ill., ports. (copper-plate engravings) ; 21 cm (8vo)
Associated name
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. author.
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.
Steevens, George, 1736-1800.
Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744.
Hanmer, Thomas, Sir, 1677-1746.
Warburton, William, 1698-1779.
Theobald, Mr. (Lewis), 1688-1744.
Rowe, Nicholas, 1674-1718.
Malone, Edmond, 1741-1812.
Tollet, George, approximately 1725-1779.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, bookseller.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, publisher.
Cook, Thomas, approximately 1744-1818, printmaker.
Dance, Nathaniel, Sir, 1735-1811, illustrator.
Burney, Edward Francis, 1760-1848, illustrator.
Delattre, Jean Marie, 1745-1840?, printmaker.
Cosway, Richard, 1740-1821, printmaker.
Ramberg, Johann Heinrich, 1763-1840, illustrator.
Sanders, illustrator.
Sherwin, Charles, 1764-1794, printmaker.
Bartolozzi, Francesco, 1727-1815, printmaker.
Sharp, William, 1749-1824, printmaker.
Grignion, Charles, 1721-1810, printmaker.
Thornthwaite, J., 1740?- printmaker.
Brown, Mather, 1761-1831, printmaker.
Steevens, George, 1736-1800, former owner.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, signer.
Kalthoeber, Christian Samuel, active 1780-1817, binder.
Burnham Abbey (Buckinghamshire, England), former owner.
Wm. White and Son, (fl. 1789), signer.
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784.
Steevens, George, 1736-1800.
Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744.
Hanmer, Thomas, Sir, 1677-1746.
Warburton, William, 1698-1779.
Theobald, Mr. (Lewis), 1688-1744.
Rowe, Nicholas, 1674-1718.
Malone, Edmond, 1741-1812.
Tollet, George, approximately 1725-1779.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, bookseller.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, publisher.
Cook, Thomas, approximately 1744-1818, printmaker.
Dance, Nathaniel, Sir, 1735-1811, illustrator.
Burney, Edward Francis, 1760-1848, illustrator.
Delattre, Jean Marie, 1745-1840?, printmaker.
Cosway, Richard, 1740-1821, printmaker.
Ramberg, Johann Heinrich, 1763-1840, illustrator.
Sanders, illustrator.
Sherwin, Charles, 1764-1794, printmaker.
Bartolozzi, Francesco, 1727-1815, printmaker.
Sharp, William, 1749-1824, printmaker.
Grignion, Charles, 1721-1810, printmaker.
Thornthwaite, J., 1740?- printmaker.
Brown, Mather, 1761-1831, printmaker.
Steevens, George, 1736-1800, former owner.
Bell, John, 1745-1831, signer.
Kalthoeber, Christian Samuel, active 1780-1817, binder.
Burnham Abbey (Buckinghamshire, England), former owner.
Wm. White and Son, (fl. 1789), signer.
Note
In 1785, Bell began to issue separate plays, seriatim, collecting them in twenty quarto volumes in 1788 as Dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere (Burnhim and Highfill, p. 16-17). Individual plays are of two or more editions of different date, usually mixed sets; plays of the first edition were printed in two formats, 8vo and 12mo (Folger card catalog).
Title transcription and imprint from v. 3 title page.
Volumes 1 and 2 with title pages: Prolegomena to the dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere. Volumes 3-20 with two plays followed by their "Annotations by Sam. Johnson & Geo. Steevens, and the various commentators, upon [play title], written by Will. Shakspere."
Each vol. with a half-title and a vol. title page; each play with an individual title page bearing the heading "Bell's edition"; each annotation with an individual title page. Plays and annotations dated between 1785-1787.
Plays and annotations with separate pagination and signatures; presumably also issued separately.
Engraved illustrations, dated between 1784-1788, variously lettered by engravers: Cook, R. Cosway, Burk, Delattre, C. Sherwin, Bartolozzi, Sharpe, Grignion, Newnham, M. Brown, Thornthwaite; and by artists: Dance, Rhamberg, Burney, Sanders.
The prefaces of Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson; and a list of subscribers in v. 1. Malone's Attempt to ascertain the chronological order in which the plays of Shakspere were written, and Some account of the life, &c. of Mr. William Shakespear by Rowe in v. 2.
Annotations upon King Henry IV, part 1 with "Mr. Tollet's opinion concerning the Morris Dancers upon his window" accompanied by folded engraving lettered: Grignion sculpt., in v. 11.
Title transcription and imprint from v. 3 title page.
Volumes 1 and 2 with title pages: Prolegomena to the dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere. Volumes 3-20 with two plays followed by their "Annotations by Sam. Johnson & Geo. Steevens, and the various commentators, upon [play title], written by Will. Shakspere."
Each vol. with a half-title and a vol. title page; each play with an individual title page bearing the heading "Bell's edition"; each annotation with an individual title page. Plays and annotations dated between 1785-1787.
Plays and annotations with separate pagination and signatures; presumably also issued separately.
Engraved illustrations, dated between 1784-1788, variously lettered by engravers: Cook, R. Cosway, Burk, Delattre, C. Sherwin, Bartolozzi, Sharpe, Grignion, Newnham, M. Brown, Thornthwaite; and by artists: Dance, Rhamberg, Burney, Sanders.
The prefaces of Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson; and a list of subscribers in v. 1. Malone's Attempt to ascertain the chronological order in which the plays of Shakspere were written, and Some account of the life, &c. of Mr. William Shakespear by Rowe in v. 2.
Annotations upon King Henry IV, part 1 with "Mr. Tollet's opinion concerning the Morris Dancers upon his window" accompanied by folded engraving lettered: Grignion sculpt., in v. 11.
Contents
v. 1-2. Prolegomena
v. 3. Tempest ; Two gentlemen of Verona
v. 4. Merry wives of Windsor ; Much ado about nothing
v. 5. Measure for measure ; Comedy of errors
v. 6. Love's labour's lost ; Midsummer-night's dream
v. 7. Merchant of Venice ; As you like it
v. 8. Taming of the shrew ; All's well that ends well
v. 9. Twelfth-night ; Winter's tale
v. 10. Macbeth ; King John
v. 11. King Richard II ; King Henry IV, part 1
v. 12. King Henry IV, part 2 ; Henry V
v. 13. King Henry VI, part 1-2
v. 14. King Henry VI, part 3 ; King Richard III
v. 15. King Henry VIII ; Coriolanus
v. 16. Julius Caesar ; Antony and Cleopatra
v. 17. Timon of Athens ; King Lear
v. 18. Hamlet ; Titus Andronicus
v. 19. Troilus and Cressida ; Othello
v. 20. Cymbeline ; Romeo and Juliet.
v. 3. Tempest ; Two gentlemen of Verona
v. 4. Merry wives of Windsor ; Much ado about nothing
v. 5. Measure for measure ; Comedy of errors
v. 6. Love's labour's lost ; Midsummer-night's dream
v. 7. Merchant of Venice ; As you like it
v. 8. Taming of the shrew ; All's well that ends well
v. 9. Twelfth-night ; Winter's tale
v. 10. Macbeth ; King John
v. 11. King Richard II ; King Henry IV, part 1
v. 12. King Henry IV, part 2 ; Henry V
v. 13. King Henry VI, part 1-2
v. 14. King Henry VI, part 3 ; King Richard III
v. 15. King Henry VIII ; Coriolanus
v. 16. Julius Caesar ; Antony and Cleopatra
v. 17. Timon of Athens ; King Lear
v. 18. Hamlet ; Titus Andronicus
v. 19. Troilus and Cressida ; Othello
v. 20. Cymbeline ; Romeo and Juliet.
Exhibited
Pr 2752 1788a copy 1 v.17 Sh.Col. Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2018. Form and Function. Opening: Closed.
Cited/described in
Burnim & Highfill. John Bell, p. 16-17
English short title catalogue (ESTC), T65177
Jaggard, W. Shakespeare bibliography, p. 505
English short title catalogue (ESTC), T65177
Jaggard, W. Shakespeare bibliography, p. 505
Linked resources
Selected image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library PR2752 1788a copy 1 Sh.Col.
Selected image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library PR2752 1788a copy 2 Sh.Col. PR2752 1788a copy 2 Sh.Col.
Selected image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library PR2752 1788a copy 2 Sh.Col. PR2752 1788a copy 2 Sh.Col.
Genre/form
Subscription lists.
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England -- London.
Item Details
Call number
PR2752 1788a copy 1 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Vol. 10 with Harding's edition of Macbeth, London, E. Harding, 1798 bound first (in place of Bell's). Armorial bookplate of "T.L." Red leather binding with filleting, leather spine labels, green endpapers, and edges gilt. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs44
Call number
PR2752 1788a copy 2 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
With play illustrations bound preceding play t.p. Leather bookplate: Burnham Abbey Bucks. Autograph: R. Forster. George Steevens copy; two signed letters regarding edition (royal paper) and binding pasted into v.1, signed John Bell, Jan. 17, 1789; signed Wm. White and Son, Aprill 11, 1789. Green leather binding with filleting, marbled endpapers, and edges gilt; binder's ticket "bound by C. Kalthoeber, London". Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs1520
Call number
PR2752 1788a copy 3 Sh.Col.
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: 3 volumes consisting primarily of annotations upon plays: v.1 with contents, list of subcribers, annotations upon King Richard II and King John, and Rowe's Life; v.2 with annotations upon Kimg Lear, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Titus, Coriolanus, and Cymbeline; v. 3 with annotations upon Tempest, All's well, Merry wives, King Henry V, King Henry VI, part 1, and Much ado. Anonymous armorial bookplate (motto: Semper fidelis). Half leather armorial binding with paper boards. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Folger.
Folger accession
cs1854