1444800 1734 Shakespeare. Two Gentlemen. First Separate Edition. 12mo.

 

Two Gentlemem of Verona.  For J. Tonson, London, 1734. FIRST SEPARATE EDITION. 12mo. Engraved frontispiece, 71pp., bound in 19th century 3/4 brown calf over brown cloth, spine gilt.This work first appeared in print in the first folio, never having been performed even though it was one of Shakespeare's very earliest plays, written about 1592. Many of Shakespeare's plays were written in quarto prior to the publication of his First Folio. Eight separate editions were later published in 12mo. The same year, Tonson began publishing his series of these plays; R. Walker, another London publisher began doing the same. Walker claimed his text was based on original prompt-books. The angry Tonson began running an "advertisement" (present here) with a statement from the "Prompter to His Majesty's Company of Comedians at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane" denouncing Walker's claim. Walker in turn ran a notice in his editions denouncing Tonson. Tonson's editions preceded Walker's editions. A handsome copy. [Not in Pforzheimer].