18th-19th Century Editions

The works of Shakespear... Carefully rev. and cor. by the former editions, and adorned with sculptures designed and executed by the best hands

William Shakespeare, The Works Of Shakespear... [sic].
Oxford: Printed at the Theatre, 1743-1744.

A six volume edition (volume six is displayed) edited by Sir Thomas Hanmer with almost forty copper plate engravings by Hubert François Gravelot and Francis Hayman. The edition is not held in high esteem due to some untidy editorial practices by Hanmer.

William Shakespeare. The Works of Shakespeare... Collated with the Oldest Copies and Corrected: With Notes, Explanatory, and Critical.
London: Printed for C. Hitch, L. Hawes…, 1757.

This eight volume set (volume 5 is displayed) was edited by the important Shakespeare scholar/editor Lewis Theobald (1688-1744).

Copper plate engravings by Hubert François Gravelot after Gerard Van der Gucht.

William Shakespeare. The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare.
Philadelphia: Thomas Davis, 1848.

This two volume work is richly illustrated with wood engravings. The first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays published in America was in 1795, also in Philadelphia.

William Shakespeare. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1874.
Illustrated by Alfred Fredericks.