Ireland's Shaksperiana
By: Wm. Hy. Ireland,
Contributors: Astle, Edward, former owner; Barton, Thomas Pennant, 1803-1869, former owner; Sotheby & Co. (London, England)
Published: 1796
Language: eng
Format: [manuscript] /
Number of pages: 33
Subjects: Literary forgeries and mystifications; Forgeries
Other titles: Ireland's Shakespeariana; Collection of the papers put forth as Shakespeare's, original forgeries
Notes: Holograph, signed.

Title from cover page.

A bound collection of forged signatures and documents, purported to be in the hand of William Shakespeare, along with one letter, also forged, purporting to be from Queen Elizabeth I. The forgeries, in this case, were executed by William Henry Ireland who, at age 17, produced what he claimed to be a series of original Shakespeare autographs and documents, as well as an entire "lost" play called Vortigern and Rowena. The forgeries in this volume are Ireland's own copies of the ones he originally produced, and were executed after his fraud was exposed. All are signed by Ireland on the leaves to which they are mounted. A letter from Ireland addressed to a "Mr. Herring" is tipped in at the front of this volume.

Bound in full, black, straight-grained morocco panelled in gilt. The armorial bookplate of Edward Astle is present on the front pastedown, and that of the Barton Library on the back. A dealer's description is tipped in at front.

Boston Public Library.  Barton collection catalogue, p. 135