Creator
Date
Location
Great Britain
Media format
Extent
Language
Size
Genre
Reference IDs
Folger bibliographic ID: 265290
ESTC number: T2914
Folger call number: PR2752 1798-1800 copy 2 Sh.Col
Folger holdings ID: 350915
Accession Number: cs1795,cs1815,cs122
Notes
Bibliographic format
octavo
General notes
Title and imprint taken from volume title pages found in part 38 There exist three incarnations of this edition: 12 volumes with 37 illustrated plays; 12 volumes with 37 unillustrated plays; and 38 numbered parts of the 37 illustrated plays in wrappers, sold individually between 1798-1799, intended to be bound into 12 volumes. This record comprises the edition in 38 numbered parts "This edition of Shakspeare's plays is not only published in 38 numbers ... with elegant engravings, but also in 12 volumes, without the plates, forming a complete and uniform collection of the dramatic works of our immortal poet" -- p. cxl, pt. 38 In 1798 and 1799, Harding issued Shakespeare's plays "to the public" in 38 numbered parts intended to be bound in 12 volumes. Each part in printed wrappers contains a play "ornamented with ... engravings", while part 38 contains the volume title pages and half-titles for v. 1-12, as well as directions to the binder. Wrappers are lettered: Harding's edition of Shakspeare's plays ... accurately printed from the text of Mr. Steevens' last edition, and bear the imprint: Printed by T. Bensley ... Published by E. Harding, no. 98, Pall-Mall; J. Wright, Piccadilly; G. Sael, Strand; and Vernor and Hood, Poultry. Wrappers of parts 1-2 are undated [i.e. 1798], parts 3-10 are dated 1798, and parts 12-38 are dated 1799 Play title pages bear the heading "Harding's edition". Plays are dated between 1798-1800 Engraved illustrations alternately lettered by artists: W.N. Gardiner, R.K. Porter, Stothard, W. Hopwood, Satchill, Thurston, Singleton, Rivers, Shee, Corbould, Satchwell, R.A. Stothard; and by engravers: Birrell, Hopwood, W. Platt, W.N. Gardiner, J.J. van den Berghe, Chapman, Ridley, W. Grainger, Canston, J. White, E. Bocquet; dated between 1797-1800, and published by either E. Harding or by Vernor & Hood. Note: Macbeth plate issued with Romeo and Juliet due to "an accident with the plate", per note by the Proprietors (parts 5 and 7) Bookseller's advertisements for the set variously on wrappers or preliminary leaves of the 38 parts. Inserted half-leaf from the Proprietors announcing that plays past Othello are to have 3 engravings, rather than the intended 5 engravings originally advertised for each play
Contents
pt. 1. Hamlet -- pt. 2. Merry wives of Windsor -- pt. 3. King Lear -- pt. 4. Tempest -- pt. 5. Macbeth -- pt. 6. Much ado about nothing -- pt. 7. Romeo and Juliet -- pt. 8. Merchant of Venice -- pt. 9. Othello -- pt. 10. As you like it -- pt. 11. Cymbeline -- pt. 12. All's well that ends well -- pt. 13. King John -- pt. 14. Twelfth-night -- pt. 15. King Henry VIII -- pt. 16. Comedy of errors -- pt. 17. King Henry IV, part 1 -- pt. 18. King Henry IV, part 2 -- pt. 19. Midsummer-night's dream -- pt. 20. King Richard III -- pt. 21. Two gentlemen of Verona -- pt. 22. Coriolanus -- pt. 23. King Richard II -- pt. 24. Taming of the shrew -- pt. 25. Julius Caesar -- pt. 26. Winter's tale -- pt. 27. Timon of Athens -- pt. 28. Love's labour's lost -- pt. 29. Henry V -- pt. 30. King Henry VI, part 1 -- pt. 31. King Henry VI, part 2 -- pt. 32. King Henry VI, part 3 -- pt. 33. Measure for measure -- pt. 34. Antony and Cleopatra -- pt. 35. Titus Andronicus -- pt. 36 Troilus and Cressida -- pt. 37. Pericles -- pt. 38. Some account of the life. Dr. Johnson's preface. Farmer's essay. Glossary. Half-titles and volume title pages
Item information about Folger PR2752 1798-1800 copy 2 Sh.Col
Imperfect: lacking parts 9,11,15-37; with 2 copies of pt. 2. Macbeth with half-leaf advert. regarding illustration issued later. Autographs: manuscript autograph cut off top front wrapper (pt.2 (2)); some wrappers with illegible manuscript autograph; Wm. Elston, Lord [?]; Rev. W.C. effaced (pt. 38). Housed in 3 boxes; leaves untrimmed; some parts lacking wrappers
Also known as
Alternate titles: Plays of William Shakespeare
Related names
associated with: Steevens, George, 1736-1800
associated with: Rowe, Nicholas, 1674-1718
associated with: Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784
associated with: Farmer, Richard, 1735-1797
associated with: Harding, E. (Edward), 1755-1840
printer: Bensley, Thomas, approximately 1760-1835
bookseller: Harding, E. (Edward), 1755-1840
bookseller: Wright, J. (John), 1770?-1844
bookseller: Sael, George, 1760 or 1761-1799
illustrator: Gardiner, W. N. (William Nelson), 1766-1814
illustrator: Porter, Robert Ker, Sir, 1777-1842
illustrator: Stothard, Thomas, 1755-1834
illustrator: Hopwood, William, 1784-1853
illustrator: Thurston, John, 1774-1822
illustrator: Singleton, Henry, 1766-1839
illustrator: Shee, Martin Archer, 1769-1850
illustrator: Corbould, Richard, 1757-1831
illustrator: Satchwell, R. William, 1732-1811
printmaker: Birrell, A., active 1770-1820
printmaker: Platt, William, active 18th-19th century
printmaker: Gardiner, W. N. (William Nelson), 1766-1814
printmaker: Berghe, Ignatius Joseph van den, 1752-1824
printmaker: Ridley, William, 1764-1838
printmaker: Bocquet, E., active 19th century
former owner: Elston, Wm. (William), d. not before 1799
bookseller: Vernor and Hood