THE WORKS OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR IN SIX VOLUMES: ADORN'D WITH CUTS

London: Jacob Tonson & Edmund Curl, 1709. Hardcover. Very Good+/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. THE WORKS OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR IN SIX VOLUMES: ADORN'D WITH CUTS was published in 1709 by Jacob Tonson & edited by Nicholas Rowe. They are the 1st edition of Shakespeare's plays published after the four folios. These are the first illustrated edition of Shakespeare's plays, 1st edition to indicate acts, scenes & dramatis personae, 1st to provide stage directions, 1st to include a formal biography of Shakespeare. Also includes THE WORKS OF MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR. VOLUME THE SEVENTH. CONTAINING VENUS & ADONIS, TARQUIN & LUCRECE AND HIS MISCELLANY POEMS published in 1710 by Edmund Curll. "The significance of the 'volume the seventh' as has been generally understood, is in the fact that the book was intended as a supplementary volume to be sold to purchasers of the set of Rowe's Works of Shakespeare" (Alden, 1916). This octavo set is bound in full calf, with gilt & blind tooled covers, gilt tooled spines with five raised bands, gilt titles to spines. Frontispiece & plates present all volumes. The text block (19 cm) is laid paper. Endpapers are wove, indicating the set was bound after 1759. An owner's inscription on volume 5's title page reads "ex libris Georgii Trenthas(?) Talbot". The 14th Earl of Shrewsbury (George Talbot 1719-1787), lived about the same time these volumes were bound. The father of the Earl (George Talbot 1675-1733) died before these volumes were bound, given the use of wove paper. It seems likely that this set was owned by the 14th Earl. CONDITION - In all seven volumes there are no missing pages, no page tears, corners not bumped, hinges are sound, binding is tight. Calf on all boards in fine condition. Top & bottom edges of spines rubbed. Light toning throughout. No markings at all except as noted below in Vol 1 & 5. Vol 1: old bookseller's price in pencil on front pastedown & ink gift inscription on free front endpaper. Vol 2: occasional foxing. Vol 3: small scuff to spine, small stain pg. 1087, some foxing. Vol 4: 3/8" worming bottom of front hinge, ¼" spots pp. 1561-1562, some foxing. Vol 5: title page has ink in old hand "ex libris Georgii Trenthas(?) Talbot" . Plate facing Hamlet Play Title page has been hand-colored. Small scuff to spine, ¼" stain pp. 2182 & 2183, small ink stain on fore-edge of pp. 2383-2391 doesn't affect text, areas of foxing pg 2573 & 2641-2647. Vol 6: foxing on pp. 2661, 3771, 3185. Vol 7: worming like Vol 4, stain in dedication pages, some foxing. Overall a gorgeous set in very good condition. DISTINGUISHING POINTS: Vol.1-5 are first editions, conforming to ESTC T138294 for signatures, pagination & plates, and to Ford's "Shakespeare, 1700-1740" first issue criteria regarding collation & pagination errors. Vol. 6 conforms to ESTC T138297 & to Ford's Second Issue criteria. ESTC T138297 refers to this edition as a 'lineatim reprint (possibly surreptitious) of the ESTC T138294 edition of the same year'. However, UCLA Clark rare book library states "H.L. Ford in 'Shakespeare 1700-1740', Oxford, 1935, claims that there were 2 printings of Tonson's 1709 ed. However, a comparison of sets of this ed. with Ford's distinguishing points of the 2 printings reveals that each set is composed of sheets from both printings, and that in many cases individual vols. are also composed of sheets from both printings. Possibly the printings were not discrete." Vol. 7 (Poems) is described in ESTC T138298 as "Intended to accompany the 6v. Rowe edition of 1709." It conforms to ESTC T138298, which states: "Editor's dedication signed: S.N. The 'critical remarks' and 'An essay' are by Charles Gildon." Vol. 7 contains the same Dedication by Charles Gildon. According to Alden, "There has been considerable uncertainty as to the editor of the volume, some authorities referring it to Charles Gildon, known to be the author of the essays it contains, others to a mysterious 'S. N.,' because in some copies those initials are attached to the Dedication.".