The works of Mr. William Shakespear : in six volumes : adorn'd with cuts
William Shakespeare, Edwin Durning-Lawrence (Former owner), Nicholas Rowe, Jacob Tonson (Bookseller), Edmund Curll (Bookseller), Egbert Sanger (Bookseller), Benjamin Arlaud (Illustrator), Antoine Paillet (Engraver), Gaspard Duchange (Engraver), Michael van der Gucht (Engraver)
Print Book, English, 1709-1710
Revis'd and corrected, with an account of the life and writings of the author. View all formats and editions
Printed for Jacob Tonson ..., London, 1709-1710
7 volumes : illustrations, portrait ; 22 cm (8vo)
1001128419
The first edition after the four folios; text based upon the fourth folio
Herbert L. Ford, in Shakespeare 1700-1740: a collation of the editions and separate plays. Oxford, 1935, p. 2-3 claims that there were two printings of Tonson's 1709 edition. A comparison of HRC'S three complete (and two partial) sets of this edition with Ford's distinguishing points of the two printings reveals that each set is composed of sheets from both printings, and that in many cases individual volumes are composed of sheets from both printings. Possibly the printings were not discrete
Vol. 7 t.p. transcription: "The works of Mr. William Shakespear. Volume the seventh. Containing, Venus & Adonis. Tarquin & Lucrece [with inserted dedication] and his miscellany poems. With critical remarks on his plays, &c. to which is prefix'd an Essay on the art, rise and progress of the stage in Greece, Rome and England [by Charles Gildon]. London: Printed for E. Curll at the Dial and Bible against St. Dunstan's Church, and E. Sanger at the Post-House at the Middle-Temple Gate. MDCCX." Dedication signed: S.N. Engraved frontispiece for Venus and Adonis (only). "Venus & Adonis" and "Tarquin & Lucrece" have special t.p.s with imprint: "Printed in the year 1709". Possibly issued in 1709. Cf. Straus, R. The unspeakable Curll. London, 1927. p. 33, 210
Illustrations: 46 full-page engravings, comprising an allegorical frontispiece including a small portrait medallion of the author, a full-page portrait of the author by G. Duchange after B. Arlaud, Shakespeare's monument, and one scene from each of the 37 genuine and 6 apocryphal plays. The frontispiece (repeated in each volume), although signed by Michiel van der Gucht, is merely an adaptation of A. Paillet's engraved frontispiece to 1660 and 1664 French editions of Corneille. The other engravings of this first illustrated edition of Shakespeare may have been executed by Van der Gucht or his pupils
Paged continuously; each volume has separate register; many errors in paging and signatures
General t.p. in v. 1 only; added t.p. in v. 1 and v. 2-6 special t.p.s have title and imprint: "The works of Mr. William Shakespear. Volume the first [second, etc.] London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, at Grays-Inn Gate. MDCCIX."
Engraved head- and tail-pieces; initials