Bibliographic format
folio
General notes
This is a set of proof sheets of the 1791-1802 Boydell edition, with corrections in autograph of George Steevens, the editor, and Isaac Reed, his successor, originally belonging to Bulmer, the set is described on p. 912 of the Dictionary of printers and printing, C.H. Timperley, 1839
The edition is based upon the 1790 Malone and 1793 Steevens editions
Volume 1 volume title page is dated 1791; v. 2-6 imprints with expanded name "George and W. Nicol", and are dated 1802
Each volume with a volume title page. "Vol. I." pasted onto v. 1 title page. Each play with a divisional title; that of Romeo and Juliet hand-lettered
Plays are paginated separately, have no signatures, and are bound in no designated order
With a dedication leaf "To the King's most excellent majesty" dated June 4th, 1803, signed John Boydell, Josiah Boydell, and George Nicol; and Advertisement signed "G.N." in v. 1
Each play has a colophon reading: From the Shakspeare Press, by W. Bulmer & Co
Not in ESTC
Portions of v.1 also available as a digital reproduction
Exhibited
Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2007. Marketing Shakespeare
Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2014. Shakespeare's the Thing. Opening: pp. 38-39 correspondence (v.1)
Item information about Folger PR2752 1791-1802a Sh.Col
Imperfect: lacking v. 6; volume and Hamlet title pages wanting in v. 7. Manuscript pen and pencil editorial notes and corrections between Steevens, Isaac, and Bulmer (note: first leaf of Twelfth-night, v. 3, with signed notes of Bulmer and Steevens, to distinguish handwriting); with manuscript annotations pasted into text; sketches of spectacles in v. 3. Vol. 2 t.p. with off-set ink markings. Red seals and stamps of Bulmer's address dated between 1793-1795 on proof leaves in plays of v. 2-5. Ink manuscript sketch of "the bust of Mr. Bacon, designed to be placed over the Shakspeare Printing Office, in Cleveland Row, Pall-mall", as well as manuscript poem by E. Jerningham 'To Bulmerus,' beginning 'Fye, Mr. Bulmer, fye for shame!' listed in the Union First Line Index of English Verse, on Merry wives, p. 33; editorial note dated Dec. 7th, 1793 on Merry wives, p. 37 (v. 3). Note on first page of Henry 6 pt. 3: "Begun Feby 6, 1796". "Mr. Reed's proof" noted in v. 9. Obtained from Wilmarth S. Lewis. Half leather binding with marbled boards and leather spine labels; spines dated per that volume's title page imprint; leaves untrimmed
OPEN IN MIRADOR