London: Printed for Jacob Tonson (Vols. I-VI/Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth et al. (Vol. VII), 1723-25. In seven volumes. First quarto edition (one of 750 sets). 4to. Edited by Alexander Pope. Title-page in Vol. I printed in red and in black. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait and engraved portrait plate of Shakespeare in Vol. I, by George Vertue, as well as engraved initials and head- and tail-pieces. Full contemporary mottled brown calf, sometime rebacked, red morocco spine labels, boards and spines stamped in blind and in gilt; front board with front free endpaper of Vols. I, IV, and VII detached, front board of Vol. VI starting; extremities and boards rubbed and worn; corners worn; spine ends chipped and worn; top edges stained dark, other edges speckled red; marbled endpapers; front and rear hinges in each volume reinforced; top edge O4 in Vol. II repaired; A-L4 and 3O-3N4 in Vol. II toned, other quires throughout set variously toned; closed tear in bottom edge Rr4 in Vol. IV; edges of 3K2-3 toned and worn in Vol. IV; small closed tear in bottom edge Z4 in Vol. VI; scattered light to moderate spotting and soiling to text throughout set. Jaggard, p. 498; Lowndes 2259

"If ever any author deserved the name of an Original, it was Shakespear...The Poetry of Shakespear was Inspiration indeed: he is not so much an Imitator, as an Instrument, of Nature; and 'tis not so just to say that he speaks from her, as that she speaks thro' him" (Pope's preface).

The first quarto edition of William Shakespeare's collected works, edited by Alexander Pope. Including the rare supplementary seventh volume, comprising Shakespeare's poetry, miscellaneous plays, and commentary on his works. "It embraces Pope's preface, the life by Rowe, an index of characters, sentiments, speeches, and descriptions, and a list of subscribers, in addition to the matter set forth on title. Of the two portraits engraved by G. Vertue, one is said by Boaden to represent King James in a large ruff, and the other, supposed to be the Stratford bust, is unlike it, inasmuch as it gives the poet a profusion of hair" (Jaggard).