The fourth folio. Presumed first state, without Chiswell's name on title page, and with the Saunders/Knight imprint, also considered to be the earliest of the three variant fourth folio imprint. [pi], A4, A-Y6, Z4, Bb-Zz6, *Aaa-*Ddd6, *Eee8, Aaa-Zzz6, Aaaa-Bbbb6, Cccc2. Folio (356x231mm). Eighteenth century calf, with later morocco title label to spine. Bound without portrait frontispiece, Tt3-Tt4 supplied from another copy of the same edition. Otherwise, a fine, tall, unsophisticated copy, with trivial pin holes to leaves H2, Hh1, Uu2, Zz1, Nnn1, but exceptionally clean pages free from tears or repairs. Bookplate of Rugby School to front endpaper, early manuscript note and stamp to title. Spine ends and corners worn, upper joint with splits at ends, but firm. A most attractive copy.

Shakespeare's fourth folio. The last of the 17th-century editions of Shakespeare's works, all of which rank among the highest points in English literature, and without which the world would have virtually no record of some of the greatest and most influential works of western literature.
"So absolute is Shakespeare's achievement that he as himself come to seem like great creating nature: the common bond of humankind, the principle of hope, the symbol of the imagination's power to transcend time-bound beliefs and assumptions, peculiar historical circumstances, and specific artistic conventions" - Stephen Greenblatt (The Norton Shakespeare).
The current public availability of Shakespeare's folios is discussed at length by Harold Otness in his 1990 census,
"The number of copies of each edition printed is lost, but speculation puts the press runs at several hundred copies each... American institutions hold at least 561 copies of the four editions combined, which may constitute as many as half of the extant copies worldwide... Most copies of the Shakespeare Folios show considerable wear and have replacement pages. This is particularly true of the title and portrait pages and other introductory leaves... The Folios have been subjected to considerable wear over the years, and 'perfect' copies are rare today"

PROVENANCE: Boughton of Lawford library (inserted note from later owner), likely sold with the Boughton estate in 1793;
Matthew Holbeche Bloxam (1805-1888, Rugby historian);
Rugby School (donated by Bloxam in 1884, bookplate to front pastedown).

Stock ID: 27752