Annotations by Sam. Johnson & Geo. Steevens, and the Various Commentators Upon Macbeth, and Annotations By Sam. Johnson and Geo. Streevens and the Various Commentators Upon King Henry, Written By Will. Shakepere
London: Printed for, and Under the Direction of John Bell, British Library, 1787. First Edition. 12mo. Item #031514
Two works in one volume, 146 and 110 pages Samuel Johnson announced his intention to edit Shakespeare's plays with his associate George Steevens. He considered no first rate work had understood Macbeth so he began by letting the scholarly world know he intended to write specifically on that work in what would be his careful observations on Macbeth and King Henry. Steevens provided most of the textual work, with Johnson contributing an additional eighty notes. This major work was published posthumously in 1787. It is one of the early studies of Macbeth by the scholar whom Harold Bloom wrote: "Samuel Johnson still seems to me first among all Western literary critics." The publisher John Bell whom the Folger Library said was a bibliographic nightmare. He is credited with having discontinued the long 's'. A good working copy bound in half leather over marbled boards rear joint fragile but holding well, and an non-professional attempt of rebacking, boards and corners rubbed, internally clean and bright save for a small damp stain to gutter of preliminary leaves.
Price: $225.00