Memoirs, commendations, portraits, poems, essays, &c. &c. &c. of, and relating to, Mr. William Shakespeare
Subtitle: with corrections, annotations, and illustrations
By: by John Britton, F.S.A.
Contributors: Barton, Thomas Pennant, 1803-1869, former owner; E. and J. Wright; Vernor and Hood
Publisher: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Bount.; Reprinted by E. and J. Wright, for Vernor and Hood
Published: 1808
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Other titles: Thomas Pennant Barton Collection of Shakespeare and Shakespeariana (Boston Public Library); Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies published according to the true originall copies
Notes: Title, imprint, and date from added title pages.

This is John Britton's interleaved copy of Vernor and Hood's 1807 facsimile of the first folio. It contains added title pages, dated 1808, that were printed specifically for these volumes. The interleaving papers are countermarked with the date of 1813 and the text of the facsimile is annotated throughout in manuscript. These annotations contain corrections, additions, stage directions, and many notes from Sherwen's manuscripts relating to Shakespeare. Bound into vol. 1 are various prospectuses, title-pages, and notes in Britton's hand relating to an edition of Shakespeare's works that he intended to publish.

Mounted to the interleaved pages are numerous illustrations, including: 35 different portraits of Shakespeare, engravings of his monuments, portraits of his commentators, scenes in the dramas, costume figures of the actors, etc. The illustrations of the plays are mostly taken from the editions of Bell, Cawthorn, and Boydell. Vol. I contains two manuscript indexes to these illustrations. The first index is the earlier of the two and may be in Britton's own hand. The second, on blue paper, is in the hand of Thomas Pennant Barton.

One oversized, folded portrait apparently based on Droeshout was removed from the volume and is housed separately. It was previously mounted and bound-in before leaf 76 of the first volume.

Boston Public Library.  Barton collection catalogue, Shakespeare, p. 1

Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy quarterbound in brown morocco and papier tourniquet.