Simmes for Andrew Wife. 2. Richard II. William Shakspeare, 1598, Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wife. 3. Do. W. Shakspeare, 1608, W. W. for Matthew Law † 4. Do, William Shakspeare, 1615, for Matthew Law. 5. Do. William Shakspeare, 1634, John Norton. 1. Henry IV. First Part, 1598, P. S. for Andrew Wife. 2. D°. W. Shakfpeare, 1599, S. S. for D°. 3. D°. 1604. 4. D°. 1608, for Matthew Law. † 5. Do. W. Shakspeare, 1613, W. W. for Do. 6. Do. William Shakspeare, 1622, T. P. fold by Do. 7. Do. William Shakspeare, 1632, John Norton, fold by William Sheares. 8. Do. William Shakspeare, 1639, John Norton, fold by Hugh Perry. ++ King Richard II. and King Henry IV. 1608.] Of each of thefe only one copy has been met with. They both belonged to the late Reverend John Bowle, and are now in my poffeffion. STEEVENS. XI. XII. * XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. 1. Henry IV. Second Part, William Shakspeare, 1600, V. S. for Andrew Wife and William Afpley. 2. D°. 1600. D°. 3. D°. 1600. Do. 1. Henry V. 1600. Tho. Creede, for T. Millington, and John Busby. 2. Do. 1602, Thomas Creede, for Thomas Pavier. 3. Do. 1608, for T. P. 1. Henry VI. William Shakspeare, 1600, Val. Simmes, for Tho. Millington. 2. Do. William Shakspeare, W. W. for T. Millington, 1600. 3. D. William Shakspeare, T. P. 2. Do. William Shakspeare, 1598, 4. William Shakspeare, 1612, Tho. Titus Andronicus, 1611, for Edward XVII. * XVIII. * XIX. * XX. 3. Do. William Shakspeare, 1605, 1. R. for N. L. Do. William Shakspeare, 1611, for 4. D°. William Shakspeare, no date, 5. Do. William Shakspeare, 1637, R. Young, for Do. 6. Do. R. Bentley, 1695. 1. Othello, William Shakspeare, no date 2. Do. William Shakspeare, 1622, Of all the remaining plays the most authentick edition is the folio 1623; yet that of 1632 is not without value; for though it be in fome places more incorrectly printed than the preceding one, it has likewife the advantage of various readings, which are not merely fuch as reiteration of copies will naturally produce. The curious examiner of Shakspeare's text, who poffeffes the first of these, ought not to be unfurnished with the fecond. As to the third and fourth impresfions (which include the feven rejected plays ) they are little better than waste paper, for they differ only from the preceding ones by a larger I had inadvertently given accumulation of errors. FOLIO EDITIONS. I. Mr. William Shakspeare's Comedies, Hiftories, and Tragedies. Published according to the true original Copies, 1623. Fol. Printed at the Charges of W. Jaggard, Ed. Blount, J. Smethweeke, and W. Afpley. It seems, from fuch a partnership, that no fingle publisher was at that time willing to rifque his money on a complete collection of our author's plays. 6 Every poffible adulteration has of late years been prac tifed in fitting up copies of this book for fale. When leaves have been wanting, they have been reprint ed with battered types, and foifted into vacancies, with II. D. 1632. Fol. Tho. Cotes, for Rob. Allot. out notice of fuch defects and the remedies applied to them. When the title has been loft, a fpurious one has been fabricated, with a blank space left for the head of Shakfpeare, afterwards added from the fecond, third, or fourth impreffion. To conceal thefe frauds, thick vermillion lines have been ufually drawn over the edges of the engravings, which would otherwise have betrayed themselves when let into a fupplemental page, however craftily it was lined at the back, and difcoloured with tobacco-water till it had affumed the true jaune antique. Sometimes leaves have been inferted from the fecond folio, and, in a known inftance, the entire play of Cymbeiine; the genuine date at the end of it (1632) having been altered into 1623. Since it was thought advantageous to adopt fuch contrivances while the book was only valued at fix or seven guineas, now it has reached its prefent enormous price, may not artifice be ftill more on the ftretch to vamp up copies for the benefit of future catalogues and auctions?— Shakspeare might fay of those who profit by him, what Antony has obferved of Enobarbus 66 my fortunes have Corrupted honeft men." Mr. Garrick, about forty years ago, paid only 11. 16s. to Mr. Payne at the Meufe Gate for a fine copy of this folio. After the death of our Rofcius, it fhould have accompanied his collection of old plays to the British Museum; but had been taken out of his library, and has not been heard of fince. Here I might particularize above twenty other copies; but as their defcription would not always meet the wishes or interefts of their owners, it may be as well omitted. Perhaps the original impreffion of the book did not amount to more than 250; and we may fuppofe that different fires in London had their fhare of them. Before the year 1649 they were fo fcarce, that (as Mr. Malone has obferved) King Charles I. was obliged to content himself with a folio 1632, at prefent in my poffeffion. |