Beschreibung:

Shakespeare, William Two seventeenth-century imprints of Shakespeare's tragedies in quarto format, comprising: Titus Andronicus, or the Rape of Lavinia. Acted at the Theatre Royall, a tragedy, alter'd from Mr. Shakespear's works, by Mr. Edw. Ravenscroft. London: printed by J.B. for J. Hindmarsh, 1687. 4to (8 1/8 x 5 3/4 in.; 206 x 145 mm); somewhat browned, the title more so, mended tears in gutter margin of first two leaves touching one letter and in some leaves near the end, fore-edge trimmed affecting a few letters of the imprint, top edge trimmed touching a few page numbers. Half leather. First Ravenscroft edition. The editor characterizes the play as "the most incorrect and indigested piece in all is works," and "a heap of rubbish." He subsequently made many changes, adding scenes and expanding the plot so that it is even more violent than the original. Bartlett 178; Wing S-2949. — Othello, the Moor of Venice. A Tragedy. As it hath been divers times Acted at the Globe, and at the Black-Friars: and now at the Theatre Royal, by His Majesties Servants. London: Richard Bentley 1695. 4to (8 5/8 x 6 1/4 in.; 220 x 158 mm); mended tear in leaf H4 entering but not obscuring text, small tear in lower margin of leaf C4, some light browning, spotting in the last few leaves. Three quarter red morocco gilt-ruled, edges gilt, in a slipcase, by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. 6th edition. Bartlett 108; Wing S-2942. The Jerome Kern copy.