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- # THE EDITION OF 1609(I). No. II. British Museum copy.
## Overview
This section provides a detailed description of the British Museum copy of the 1609 edition of *Pericles*, as part of a larger discussion on various copies of the play. It is a section within the chapter "[PERICLES](arke:01KG6S4D9MD59KJ70ZSS7J97J8)" and is extracted from the file "[pdf-01KG6Q7Q25RHMFT3SJXPV18VFF.txt](arke:01KG6S2X2EBB305ENM00G16GWA)." The section focuses on the physical characteristics and provenance of the British Museum copy, as well as other notable copies.
## Context
This section is part of a larger work examining various editions and copies of Shakespeare's *Pericles*. It is included in the "[PDF Workflow Main Test 2026-01-30T00:26:53](arke:01KG6NWQ2H2K4PGG7H4ZHYCZ3Y)" collection. The section follows "[Copies with ‘Enser’ opening, called FIRST QUARTO I.](arke:01KG6S5J9VQBKW4DA7EPRC339J)" and precedes "[**THE EDITION OF 1609 (I).**](arke:01KG6S5JXQ5SV42ZSKXZRKSXQP)" in the chapter.
## Contents
The section describes the physical attributes of the British Museum copy, including its dimensions ($6\\frac{2}{3}'' \\times 4''$), the fact that it has been cut down and inlaid in paper, and its thirty-five leaves. It also notes damage to headlines and initial letters, a torn title page, and its leather-backed binding with marbled cardboard sides. The pressmark is identified as C.12. h.5, and it mentions that the copy was reproduced in Shakspere-Quarto Facsimiles (No. 21), with a preface by Mr. P. Z. Round in 1886. The section further details the dimensions and condition of copies in the Capell collection at Trinity College, Cambridge, Mr. A. H. Huth’s copy, Earl Howe’s copy, Mr. John Murray’s copy, and the Barton collection in the Boston Public Library.
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- THE EDITION OF 1609(I). No. II. British Museum copy.
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- THE EDITION OF 1609(I). No. II. British Museum copy.
The British Museum copy, which measures $6\frac{2}{3}'' \times 4''$, has been roughly cut down and inlaid in paper measuring $8\frac{1}{2}'' \times 6\frac{2}{3}''$. The leaves number thirty-five. Some head-lines and initial letters have been injured. The title-page has been torn. It is leather-backed with marbled cardboard sides. The pressmark is C.12. h.5. This copy has been reproduced in Shakspere-Quarto Facsimiles (No. 21), with a preface by Mr. P. Z. Round, 1886.
The copy in the Capell collection at Trinity College, Cambridge, measures $7\frac{1}{2}'' \times 5\frac{1}{2}''$, and wants the last blank leaf; it consists of thirty-five leaves instead of thirty-six.
Mr. A. H. Huth’s copy in perfect condition, consisting of thirty-six leaves, was acquired by Henry Huth, father of the present owner, at the sale of George Daniel’s library in July, 1864, through the bookseller Lilly, for £84. It seems to have been acquired by Daniel, at Heber’s sale, in 1834 for £18. It is bound in olive morocco by Charles Lewis, and has the blank leaf at the end, and on the title-page the autograph in contemporary hand of ‘Scipio Squyer 5. Maij 160[9]’.
The copy belonging to Earl Howe, at Gopsall, Leicestershire, was acquired about 1750 by Charles Jennens (the virtuoso and friend of Handel), who in 1773 bequeathed it with his property at Gopsall to William Penn Assheton Curzon, ancestor of the present owner. It measures $5\frac{1}{2}'' \times 7\frac{1}{2}''$. Leaf F4 is supplied in manuscript. The leaves number thirty-four only.
The copy belonging to Mr. John Murray, of Albemarle Street, London, which measures $7\frac{5}{2}'' \times 5\frac{1}{2}''$, was acquired about 1821 by John Murray, the grandfather of the present owner.
The interesting copy in the Barton collection in the Boston Public Library belonged to George Steevens, whose autograph it bears. At Steevens’ sale in 1800 it was bought for the Duke of Roxburghe’s collection for £1 2s. od. At the Duke’s sale in 1812 it fetched £1 15s. od., and was acquired by Thomas Jolley, F.S.A., whose autograph and book-plate are both inserted in it. At Jolley’s sale in 1844 it passed No. III. Capell copy.
No. IV. Huth copy.
No. V. Gopsall copy.
No. VI. Murraycopy.
No. VII. Barton copy, Boston Public Library, U.S.A.
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PERICLES
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- THE EDITION OF 1609(I). No. II. British Museum copy.