The Works (Plays) of Shakespeare, Bell's Edition, 13 volumes, 1785-1787. Wth 36 plays in 9 volumes, three volumes of 'Annotations' by Steevens and Johnson, and a Prolegomena volume publishing much on Shakespeare's life and the development of drama from classical times to Shakespeare's era by Shakespeare, William; edited by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens - 1787

London: Printed for John Bell, 1787. Hardcover. Very Good. 13 volumes, published 1785-1787, very good with light rubbing to bindings. each volume containing a number of works, each with its own separate title page. Bell's edition, edited by Johnson and Steevens, was originally issued in 38 volumes. This set includes the 36 plays Shakespeare was known to have written at the time, plus three volumes that are strictly commentary by Johnson and others on the plays, and a 'Prolegomena' volume that includes biographical details and general commentary on the history of theatre and the influence of classical drama. Appears to be complete, although we have not located another set with a similar number of volumes. 12mo, leather-backed marbled boards with leather corners, each volume with a number of engraved plates. This edition consists of: (1) Annotations by Johnson and Steevens on Rchard II, King John, Cymbeline, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, Henry VIII, Troilus and Cressida, The Merchant of Venice; (2) All's Well that Ends Well, Henry VI, Part I, Henry VI, Part II, Henry VI, Part III; (3) The Tempest, Measure for Measure, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing; (4) Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, Merry Wives of Windsor; (5) Julius Caesar, Midsummer Night's Dream, Titus Andronicus, Twelfth-Night; (6) Othello, Comedy of Errors, Henry V, King Lear; (7) Richard III, King John, Henry VIII, Richard II; (8) Annotations to: Anthony and Cleopatra, Taming of the Shrew, The Winter's Tale, Love's Labours Lost, Measure for Measure, Midsummer Night's Dream; (9) Annotations to: As You Like It, Othello, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors; (10) Henry IV, Part I, Part II, Taming of the Shrew, Cymbeline; (11) Love's Labours Lost, Timon of Athens, Troilus and Cressida, As You Like It; (12) The Winter's Tale, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Coriolanus, Anthony and Cleopatra; (13) Prolegomena to the Dramatick Writings of Will. Shakespeare (Pope, Johnson, Steevens, Malone, etc.).