Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-18
EARLY StiAkEsPEARES.
Something About the First Editions o
the Great Poets Works.

Something About tho First Editions OF
the Great Poets Works.
Adolph Sutro has endeavored for q
long time to complete his unfinished
"first four folio" editions of Shakespeare.
With him this has been labor Of quiet
bat uninterrupted, research. OF the
first folio edition QGl0) there are only
Ave complete copies known to exist.
One is in the British museum, another
in the French National library, another
in the National library at Munich, one in
tho possession Of Lord Ellesmere, and
the remaining one is now owned by the
Baroness Burdett Coutts.
These books are now worth kings
ransom in gold; in fact, it is not to be
supposed that money could purchase
them from their opulent possessors. In
the Sutro library this first edition was
rendered almost complete yesterday by
the receipt of seven plays heretofore
lacking. What is now sought after to
render it entire is the last leaf in the
play of "Locrino," q play which is an
apocrvphal one. so far as Shakespeare
authorship thereof is concerned, but
which is always found in the first -four
editions of his works. Besides, there
still remains another defect.
The original steel engraving, copied
from an oil portrait Of Shakespeare now
in tie possession of the Duke of Devon
shire, and found only as the frontispiece
in the first edition of his works, is want
ing. This is known as the "Droeschut
engraving" To procure this Mr.. Sutro
relies upon his ingenuity and money to
purchase it from some one who has a
broken set of this edition, and who will
not be so likely to hoard it in the pres
ence of 4 tempting price. Of these there
are supposed to be quite number among
the private families in England and per-
haps in the musty alcoves of second hand
dealers on the contiSent.
The second edition 1889 was rendered
complete by yesterdays contribution,
save that it too is minus the last leaf of
"Locrinc." The same should be said Of
the third edition. $500, while the fourth
edition 1GS5, so remarkable for its
width of margin, as compared with its
predecessors, is exempt from any de-
ficiency.
All these editions are alike in the table
of contents, containing besides the now
commonly accepted plays of Shakespeare.
such dramas rs The London Prodigal,"
History Of Thomas, Lord Cromwell" "
etc.. while the dedication is quantity adj
dressed to 1.-the most noble and incom-
parable pair of brethren, the Earls of
Pembroke and Montgomery.
The rent roll OF Shottery Meadow is a
queer little piece of bound vellum, six
teen pages, bearing date 1G20-91, and
which began its accounts and statement
of rents about the period when the Pill
grim fathers We're storm tossed on the
ocean on their way to their new home.
Shottery Meadow is located three miles
from Standardization, the birthplace
of Shakespeare, and the little book of
parchment, parts OF it we'll preserved,
with its chirosraphy quite distinct, but
in some places faded and obscure, showed
how accounts werek kept with small farm
ers in those days, when land WAS leased
by the acre, dole or swath, the latter de-
irving its name and being measured in
width by the sweep OF a scythe.
The book possesses intrinsic interest fol
the admirers of Shakespeare, because
among the tenants therein recorded, to-
gether with their allotmcnts Of land, are
the names of Thomas Combc, to whom
Shakespeare left his sword By will; Bar
tholomew Hathaway. the poets brother.
in-law. and John Will the older and
John Will the younger, also relatives OF
Shakspeare.-San Francisco Chronicle.