SHAKESPEARE, William (1564-1616). K. Henry IV. With humours of Sir John Falstaff. A Tragi-comedy. London: [i.e. The Hague:] s.n. [T. Johnson], 1710. [Bound into:] A Collection of the Best English Plays. Vol. II. Containing IV. Plays of Mr. Wm. Shakespear. The Hague: T. Johnson, 1712.

4 works bound in one, 8vo (152 x 89 mm). Wood-engraved printer's device on titles, head- and tail-pieces. (Few marginal stains to first work, small corner repair to A5 margin, general title-page laid down and reinserted on stub.) Contemporary sheep (scattered surface wear to covers, few small stains to lower cover, gilt rubbed off on spine). Provenance: penciled name on second title-page.

"THE FIRST PIECE OF SHAKESPEARE IN ENGLISH PRINTED OUTSIDE OF BRITANNIA" (Jaggard).

In 1710, a series of Dutch plays titled A Collection of the Best English Plays was issued, comprising forty-eight plays in 12 volumes. The first issue, seen here, has a similar imprint to the general title, and each play title has a printer's device. The plays were issued individually but were also found bound up in this series, likely as remainders, with a general title-page inserted, dated two years later. Bound also with the individual publications of Merry Wives of Windsor (Folger second state, as usual), The Tempest, and The Jew of Venice, all dated 1710. ESTC T62213; Ford 82; Jaggard, p.328.

This lot is located in Chicago.

SHAKESPEARE, William (1564-1616). K. Henry IV. With humours of Sir John Falstaff. A Tragi-comedy. London: [i.e. The Hague:] s.n. [T. Johnson], 1710. [Bound into:] A Collection of the Best English Plays. Vol. II. Containing IV. Plays of Mr. Wm. Shakespear. The Hague: T. Johnson, 1712.