The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-18
EARLY SfiAKESPEARES.
Something About the First Editions q
tie Great Poets Works.

Adolph Sutro has endeavored for a
long time to complete his unfinished
''frst four folio" editions of Shakespeare.
With him this has been labor of quiet,
but uninterrupted, research. Of the
first folio edition (1613) there are only
five 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
the possession of Lord Ellesmere, and
the remaining one is now owned by the
Baroness Burdett Coutts.
These books are now worth a 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 "Locrine," play which is an
apocryphal one, SO far as Shakespeare's
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 the 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 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 continent.
The second edition (1G32} was rendered
complete by yesterdays contribution
save that it too is minus the last leaf Of
"Locrine." The same should be said of
the third edition 1854, while the fourth
edition 1855, 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 as "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
pap, brOl-o op1 MONTGOMERY ~
The rent roll of Shottery Meadow is
queer little piece of bound vellum, six
teen pages, bearing date 1620-21, and
which began its accounts and statement
of rents about the period when the Pill
grim fathers were 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 well preserved,
with its chirography quite distinct, but
in some places faded and obscure, showed
how accounts were 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 for
the admirers Of Shakespeare, because
among the tenants therein recorded, to-
gether with their allotments of land, are
the names of Thomas Combe, to whom
Shakespeare left his sword by will; Bar
tholomew Hathaway, the poets brother
in-law, and John VIII the older and
John Will the younger" also relatives of
Shakspeare.-San Francisco Chronicle.