Miscellaneous Papers and Legal Instruments under the hand and seal of William Shakspeare: including the tragedy of King Lear, and a small fragment of Hamlet, from the original mss. in the possession of Samuel Ireland of Norfolk Street. 8vo (signed in 4s).

IRELAND, William Henry. (SHAKESPEARE, William)

Published by Printed by Cooper & Graham, Bow Street, Covent Garden. Published by Mr. Egerton, Whitehall; Messrs. White, &c. 1796, 1796

About this Item

Half title, folding engr. plate after Sam. Ireland. Uncut & largely unopened in orig. blue boards, drab spine; spine chipped at head & sl. darkened, hinges rubbed but holding. A decent copy of a scarce item. ESTC T125752. William Ireland catapulted himself into the limelight in the 1790s when he produced a series of previously unknown letters and legal documents written by or relating to Shakespeare, which he claimed belonged to an acquaintance who wished to remain anonymous. The works were initially accepted as authentic by leading scholars of the day (and by Ireland's all-too-ready-to-believe father) but scepticism grew when Ireland 'discovered' two new plays - Henry II and Vortigern and Rowena - the latter was performed only once at the Drury Lane Theatre on April 2nd, 1796. The unsuccessful production intensified doubt that the play and other documents were authentic, and Ireland was soon identified as the forger.

Seller Inventory # 93876

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Miscellaneous Papers and Legal Instruments under the hand and seal of William Shakspeare: including the tragedy of King Lear, and a small fragment of Hamlet, from the original mss. in the possession of Samuel Ireland of Norfolk Street. 8vo (signed in 4s).
• Publisher: Printed by Cooper & Graham, Bow Street, Covent Garden. Published by Mr. Egerton, Whitehall; Messrs. White, &c. 1796
• Publication Date: 1796
• Binding: Hardcover