Workes of Benjamin Jonson
by JONSON, Ben
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Richard Bishop for Andrew Crooke & for Richard Meighen, 1640. Full Description:
JONSON, Ben. The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. London: Richard Bishop for Andrew Crooke & for Richard Meighen, 1640, 1631.
First edition of the second volume (containing the first appearance of the first three plays; Bartholomew Fayre, The Staple of Newes, The Divell is an Asse) and second edition of the first volume. Part I of the second volume was originally printed in 1631 as a continuation of the 1616 Workes. With Pforzheimer's issue "f" of the second volume in which all parts are without the general title, the first three plays are dated 1631 and Divell is an Asse with the 1641 imprint. The final page of Mortimer reads: "Left unfinished".
It is also of note that William Shakespeare is listed as an actor in two plays of Volume I, Everyman in his humor and Seianus His Fall.
Three folio volumes in two (10 7/8 x 7 1/8 inches; 277 x 181 mm. Second volume slightly larger). Volume I with engraved title-page by William Hole, and engraved portrait. Both volumes with woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces. First volume lacking A1 (a blank), and second volume is lacking A1 (general title).
Uniformly bound in contemporary dark brown acid-treated calf, rebacked with original spines laid down. Spines elaborately stamped in gilt in compartments. Red morocco spine labels, lettered in gilt. Some mild toning and occasional light spotting throughout both volumes. Volume II with a closed lateral tear to leaves Cc-Cc3 which has been neatly repaired with no loss. Overall a very good copy.
Pforzheimer credits the failure of The New Inn as the reason work on the second volume ceased until after Jonson's death. The first leaf in the first signature in this part was left blank in anticipation of a general title, but since the plans were cancelled, the plays were sold as printed, with only their individual titles, all dated 1631. A general title-page was created for the 1640 first edition of the Workes and the unsold 1631 printings were included as the first of four parts.
"The three plays of Volume Il were all that Jonson saw through the press of a projected continuation of his 1616 volume. His failure to complete the collection was probably due to the damning by the town of The New Inn which was published 1631, the same year as this volume. Because of Jonson's supervision of this part, the text here given may be considered authoritative. As first printed Sig [A] was a blank, there being no general-title. In 1640, a number of these 1631 plays still remaining unsold, sheet [AI and 6] was again passed the press, this time of Bernard Alsop and Thomas Fawcett, and the general-title... printed on recto (A). This title refers only to the three plays printed in 1631 and describes them as 'The fecond Volume'. However, bound with these three 1631 plays are normally found the three parts containing the masques, plays and miscellany dated 1640 (or 1641) which have no general-title nor any other preliminary matter. The fact that over a period of years the 1631 plays may have been sold as a supplementary volume to the 1616 Workes... would easily account for their being described as the second volume quite aside from the explicit statement of the 1640 general-title. (Pforzheimer 560)
Greg, III, p. 1073-1076. Pforzheimer 560 (the second volume). STC 14753 and 14754.
HBS 69113.
$15,000.
JONSON, Ben. The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. London: Richard Bishop for Andrew Crooke & for Richard Meighen, 1640, 1631.
First edition of the second volume (containing the first appearance of the first three plays; Bartholomew Fayre, The Staple of Newes, The Divell is an Asse) and second edition of the first volume. Part I of the second volume was originally printed in 1631 as a continuation of the 1616 Workes. With Pforzheimer's issue "f" of the second volume in which all parts are without the general title, the first three plays are dated 1631 and Divell is an Asse with the 1641 imprint. The final page of Mortimer reads: "Left unfinished".
It is also of note that William Shakespeare is listed as an actor in two plays of Volume I, Everyman in his humor and Seianus His Fall.
Three folio volumes in two (10 7/8 x 7 1/8 inches; 277 x 181 mm. Second volume slightly larger). Volume I with engraved title-page by William Hole, and engraved portrait. Both volumes with woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces. First volume lacking A1 (a blank), and second volume is lacking A1 (general title).
Uniformly bound in contemporary dark brown acid-treated calf, rebacked with original spines laid down. Spines elaborately stamped in gilt in compartments. Red morocco spine labels, lettered in gilt. Some mild toning and occasional light spotting throughout both volumes. Volume II with a closed lateral tear to leaves Cc-Cc3 which has been neatly repaired with no loss. Overall a very good copy.
Pforzheimer credits the failure of The New Inn as the reason work on the second volume ceased until after Jonson's death. The first leaf in the first signature in this part was left blank in anticipation of a general title, but since the plans were cancelled, the plays were sold as printed, with only their individual titles, all dated 1631. A general title-page was created for the 1640 first edition of the Workes and the unsold 1631 printings were included as the first of four parts.
"The three plays of Volume Il were all that Jonson saw through the press of a projected continuation of his 1616 volume. His failure to complete the collection was probably due to the damning by the town of The New Inn which was published 1631, the same year as this volume. Because of Jonson's supervision of this part, the text here given may be considered authoritative. As first printed Sig [A] was a blank, there being no general-title. In 1640, a number of these 1631 plays still remaining unsold, sheet [AI and 6] was again passed the press, this time of Bernard Alsop and Thomas Fawcett, and the general-title... printed on recto (A). This title refers only to the three plays printed in 1631 and describes them as 'The fecond Volume'. However, bound with these three 1631 plays are normally found the three parts containing the masques, plays and miscellany dated 1640 (or 1641) which have no general-title nor any other preliminary matter. The fact that over a period of years the 1631 plays may have been sold as a supplementary volume to the 1616 Workes... would easily account for their being described as the second volume quite aside from the explicit statement of the 1640 general-title. (Pforzheimer 560)
Greg, III, p. 1073-1076. Pforzheimer 560 (the second volume). STC 14753 and 14754.
HBS 69113.
$15,000.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Heritage Book Shop, LLC (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 69113
- Title
- Workes of Benjamin Jonson
- Author
- JONSON, Ben
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Richard Bishop for Andrew Crooke & for Richard Meighen
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1640
- Keywords
- English Literature|Plays|Early Books
Terms of Sale
Heritage Book Shop, LLC
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Heritage Book Shop, LLC
Biblio member since 2006
Beverly Hills, California
About Heritage Book Shop, LLC
Owned and operated by Ben Weinstein, who has been in the business of antiquarian books for over fifty years, Heritage Book Shop\'s inventory consists of some of the finest items in the areas of first editions, early printed books, bindings, illustrated books, literature, and manuscripts. Heritage Book Shop serves a clientele base consisting of private collectors as well as esteemed public institutions. We take great pride in the dedication we offer our clients. Whether you are building a first-rate collection of a favorite author or an extensive library, we look forward to offering the experience of our knowledgeable and helpful staff.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Rebacked
- having had the material covering the spine replaced. ...
- Recto
- The page on the right side of a book, with the term Verso used to describe the page on the left side.
- Leaves
- Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...