Book, Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies, London: printed by Isaac Jaggard and Edward Blount, 1623.

Includes engraved portrait of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout.
The prefatory address ("To the Reader") is a hand-lettered ink facsimile signed 'JH/MS[?]' (possibly John Harris). Although the title-page was described as having been 'reproduced in fac-simile by Harris' when it was acquired (see List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington, Acquired during the Year 1882 (London: printed by George E. B. Eyre and William Spottiswoode, 1882), p. 132), it seems to be printed, upon closer examination.
Numerous handwritten annotations made by an owner in the late 17th or early 18th century who recorded plays that they had read or seen (see Object History). Annotations in a different hand recording lists of characters for some of the plays.
Binding: 19th-century red goatskin binding with gold tooling; marbled endpapers, sewn endbands and gilded edges. In red slipcase.

Bequeathed by John Jones.

Numerous handwritten annotations made by an owner in the late 17th or early 18th century who recorded plays that they had read or seen, including works by John Dryden, Thomas Southerne, Nathaniel Lee, Nahum Tate, Elkanah Settle, Thomas Otway, works by Shakespeare not in the First Folio, John Crowne, Beaumont, Fletcher and Margaret Cavendish. Though the identity of this early owner is not known, the annotations date from after the publication of the Beaumont and Fletcher Second Folio in 1679.
Annnotations in another hand in black ink: adding lists of characters for various plays throughout the volume.
Bookplate (early 19th century?) inside the front cover with a coat of arms that includes a circled belt with 'Animo et Fide' motto and monogram 'EBW' or 'EWB'.
Acquired by collector John Jones, of Piccadilly, c. 1850 (binding probably commissioned by him): bequeathed by John Jones in 1881.

1392-1882