Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies 1623

The very first edition of William Shakespeare's (1564–1616) plays was published by John Heminges (1556–1630) and Henry Condell (died 1627) in 1623, seven years after the playwright's death. The "Preface" was written by the poet and playwright Ben Jonson (c. 1573–1637).

John Heminges (1556–1630) and Henry Condell (died 1627), Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, folio print, London 1623, cover illustration: Martin Droeshout (*1601); source: with kind permission by Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.