The plays of William Shakespeare
Subtitle: in eight volumes : with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators
By: to which are added notes by Sam. Johnson
Contributors: Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784, editor; Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744, author of introduction; Hanmer, Thomas, Sir, 1677-1746, author of introduction; Theobald, Mr. (Lewis), 1688-1744, author of introduction; Warburton, William, 1698-1779, author of introduction; Rowe, Nicholas, 1674-1718, author of introduction; Woodfall, H. (Henry), -1767, bookseller; Rivington, John, 1720-1792, bookseller; Baldwin, Richard, 1724-1770, bookseller; Longman, Thomas, 1731-1797, bookseller; Johnston, W. (William), -1804, bookseller; Caslon, Thomas, -1783, bookseller; Corbet, Charles, Sir, 1734-1808, bookseller; Lowndes, Thomas, 1719-1784, bookseller; Strahan, William, 1715-1785, printer; Reeves, John, -1767, printer; Vertue, George, 1684-1756, engraver; Barton, Thomas Pennant, 1803-1869, former owner; J. and R. Tonson; Hawes, Clarke and Collins; Executors of B. Dodd (London, England); W. Bowyer and J. Nichols (London, England)
Publisher: Printed for J. and R. Tonson; H. Woodfall; J. Rivington; R. Baldwin; L. Hawes, Clark and Collins; T. Longman; W. Johnston; T. Caslon; C. Corbet; T. Lownds; and the Executors of B. Dodd
Published: 1765
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Other titles: Thomas Pennant Barton Collection of Shakespeare and Shakespeariana (Boston Public Library)
Work titles: Plays
Notes: The second of two 1765 editions with different settings of type; in this edition Woodfall is listed as the second bookseller in the imprints of volumes 1-2, and Johnson's preface is paged continuously with other prefatory matter, [i]-clv [i.e. clxxv].

Contains the plays only.

Vol. 1 with a general title page. Volumes 1-8 with dated volume title pages. Volumes 2-8 with volume divisional-titles reading: "the plays of William Shakespeare". All plays with a half-title.

Engraved frontispiece lettered: G. Vertue sculpsit.

Vol. 1 with the prefaces of Johnson, Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, and Warburton, and Some account of the life, &c. of Mr. William Shakespear by Rowe. Vol. 8 with an appendix.

Part of v. 2-4 printed by William Bowyer; his records show 750 copies printed; William Strahan printed v. 7-8, and [John?] Reeves printed part of v. 4.

Boston Public Library.  Barton collection catalogue, Shakespeare p. 3

ESTC N12071

Jaggard, W.  Shakespeare bibliography, p. 501

Maslen & Lancaster. Bowyer ledgers, 4559

Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy quarterbound in brown morocco and papier tourniquet (as described by Wolfe in Marbled papers). Vol. 2 has been rebacked in the same manner as all other volumes, but retains earlier sprinkled calf boards, as bound, by James Mackenzie. All top edges are gilt. The armorial bookplate of the Barton Library is present on the front pastedowns.
Table of contents: title: v. 1. Tempest ; Midsummer night's dream ; Two gentlemen of Verona ; Measure for measure ; Merchant of Venice; title: v. 2. As you like it ; Love's labour's lost ; Winter's tale ; Twelfth-night ; Merry wives of Windsor; title: v. 3. Taming of the shrew ; Comedy of errors ; Much ado about nothing ; All's well that ends well ; King John; title: v. 4. King Richard II ; King Henry IV, part 1 ; King Henry IV, part 2 ; Henry V ; King Henry VI, part 1; title: v. 5. King Henry VI, part 2 ; King Henry VI, part 3 ; King Richard III ; King Henry VIII; title: v. 6. King Lear ; Timon of Athens ; Titus Andronicus ; Macbeth ; Coriolanus; title: v. 7. Julius Caesar ; Antony and Cleopatra ; Cymbeline ; Troilus and Cressida; title: v. 8. Romeo and Juliet ; Hamlet ; Othello.