Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories & tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies.

Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories & tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies.

Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories & tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies.

Printed by Isaac Iaggard and Ed. Blount, London, 1623

SAFE/RB/Y1/1

Presented by Sir Richard Tangye of Birmingham , 1885


First Folio

… This Figure, that thou here seest put,

It was for gentle Shakespeare cut …

The title page of the first edition of Shakespeare’s collected plays published in 1623 including the engraved portrait by Martin Droueshout. Presumably, the engraving was produced from an earlier portrait as Droueshout was 15 years old when Shakespeare died.


First Folio (facing etched portrait of Shakespeare):

To the Reader

This Figure, that thou here seest put,

It was for gentle Shakespeare cut;

Wherein the Grauer had a strife

With Nature, to our-doo the life:

O, could he but have drawne his wit

As well in brasse, as he hath hit

His face; the Print would then surpasse

All, that was ever writ in brasse.

But, since he cannot, Reader, looke

Not on his Picture, but his Booke.

B. I.