Workes of Benjamin Jonson

London: Printed by William Stansby, 1616. [Together with:] The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. The second Volume...London: Printed for Richard Meighen, [1631]-1640[-1641].

First folio edition and first collected edition. Small-paper copy (which precedes the large paper). Three folio volumes, bound in two (Volume II divided into four parts, originally issued in two volumes). (10 3/4 x 7 inches; 272 x 177 mm.; [10], 1015, [1, blank]; [12], 88, [2], 93-170, 75, [1], 79, 70-122, 133-155, [1, blank], 292, 132 pp. Volume I with engraved allegorical title by William Hole (Pforzheimer state A). Volume I without the rare initial blank, same as Pforzheimer. Decorative woodcut head-and-tail pieces and initials. This set is complete with the exception to it being bound without the extremely rare initial blank in volume I. Volume I collates according to Pforzheimer, and while Volume II differs in parts order than Pforzheimer , all leaves are present.

Volume I- In this copy, the section title to Every Man out of His Humour (p. [73]) is within a woodcut border (McKerrow and Ferguson 224) and has the imprint "Printed by W. Stansby for I. Smithwicke;" the section title to Cynthias Revels (p. [177]) is within the same woodcut border and has the imprint: "Printed by W. Stansby;" the section title to Poëtaster (p. [271]) is without the border and has the imprint: "Printed by William Stansby." With dedication leaf (G2) in first state, signed, with "By your true honorer, Ben Jonson." line 6 on G2 verso reads "PUNTERVOLO"; the catchword on G5 recto is "Naked,"; on G5 verso "Where"; G6 recto begins "Where I want arte,"; and the eighth line from the bottom on G6 verso reads: "But why enforce I this? as fainting? no."

Volume II- Issue D, with the 1640 general title-page, the first three plays with the imprint dated 1631 (same a Pforzheimer). The end of Mortimer reads: "Hee dy'd, and left it unfinished".

Both volumes uniformly bound by Riviere in full brown levant morocco. Boards triple-ruled in gilt. Spines elaborately stamped and lettered in gilt. Gilt dentelles. Board edges double-ruled in gilt. All edges gilt. Occasional light toning to pages. Marbled endpapers. Title-page and first few pages toned. Previous owner's light signature on title-page. Occasional toning throughout both volumes. Some browning to pages 273-280 in Volume I. Minor repair to upper margin of leaf B in Volume II, not affecting text. Overall a beautiful copy of this set. Housed together in a cloth slipcase.

"This book... is a handsome specimen of typography. It reflects great credit upon its printer, Stansby, who was an apprentice and then successor to John Windet, and himself a master printer. Such work entitles him to a front rank among the printers of the reign of James I. Jonson is said to have prepared the plays for the press, himself, and one or two matters of editing... certainly appear to show the author's hand. At the end of each play, for instance, is a statement telling when it was first acted, and by whom, whether the king's or the queen's servants. The names of the actors are also given... All of the works not included in the first were intended for a second volume, which, however, did not appear until after Jonson's death, in 1640" (Grolier, 100 English).

Grolier, 100 English, 17. Pforzheimer 559. Pforzheimer 560. STC 14751.

HBS 68586.

$19,500.