A Comparative Review of the Opinions of Mr. James Boaden, (Editor of the Oracle) in February, March, and April, 1795; and of James Boaden, Esq. (Author of Fontainville Forest, and of a Letter to George Steevens, Esq.) in February, 1796, Relative to The Shakespeare MSS. By a Friend to Consistency [BOUND WITH 7 SCARCE PAMPHLETS & EPHEMERA]

London: Printed for G. Sael, 1796. Hardcover. Poor to very good condition. Octavo bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards, containing eight pamphlets and ephemera. Binding with front cover and spine detached but present, wear along edges with leather at corners missing. Illustrated book plate of Joseph Swift Whistler on inside front cover. Signature of three free endpapers, title page and leaf with pages 1-2 loosely laid in. Short New York Times article on Shakespeare dispute from the 1940s laid in. Some sporadic offsetting and light foxing.

1. A Comparative Review of the Opinions of Mr. James Boaden, (Editor of the Oracle)... .[2] 59 [1]pp. Original cream wraps with black lettering on cover, authors and publishing date entered by hand. "It is not because the style or the matter of Mr. Boaden's Critical Examination of the Shakespeare MSS. appears to possess any intrinsic merit, that it is made the subject of consideration in the following pages. Much less is this slight attempt dictated by any apprehension that the authenticity of those MSS. will be materially affected, either by the arguments of such an examiner, or the detection of his sophistry. But when an individual pretends to direct the taste of the public, when relying on the fancied ingenuity and importance of his criticism, he attempts to depreciate real merit, it becomes, at least, necessary to examine the purity of his motives, and the consistency of his conduct. The authenticity of the MSS. in the hands of Mr. Ireland, must ultimately be refereed to a higher tribunal" (First paragraph). "The "Shakespeare MSS." are the Ireland forgeries. Sometimes ascribed to Matthew Wyatt." (Folger Shakespeare Library)

2. An Historical Account of the Monumental Bust of William Shakespeare in the Chancel of the Church at Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire. With critical remarks on the authors who have written on it by Abraham Wivell, Portrait Painter. London. Published by the author. 1827. iv, 28pp. Original tan wraps with black lettering and ruling on cover. Frontispiece engraving. With preface to the author's pamphlet of 1825. "The following remarks on the Monumental Bust of Shakespeare, in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, is printed from my Pamphlet, 1825, with additions..." (Page 5).

3. Traditionary Anecdotes of Shakespeare. Collected in Warwickshire, in the Year MDCXCIII. Now first published from the original manuscript. London. Thomas Rodd. 1838. 19 [1]pp. Original cream wraps with black lettering on cover. Contains four page advertisement and the letter addressed to Mr. Edward Southwell, signed "John at Stiles." The last page contains the printed text "10. April 1693 - From Mr. Dowdall Description of Severall places in Warwickshire" at top, and "These for Mr. Southwell p' Sent."

4. Observations on an Autograph of Shakespeare, and the Orthography of his Name. Communicated to the Society of Antiquaries by Sir Frederic Madden, in a letter to John Gage. London, Thomas Rodd. MDCCCXXXIII. 16 [2]pp. Light brown wraps with black lettering and triple framing on cover. Title page with facsimile of Shakespeare signature. Reprinted from the Archaeologia, vol. xxvii, pp. 113-123, with some corrections.

5. (For Private Circulation) Was Lord Bacon the Author of Shakespeare's Plays? A Letter to Lord Ellesmere by William Henry Smith. London: Printed for the Author, by Woodfall and Kinder. 1856. 15 pages.

6. Shakespeare No Deerstealer, or, A Short Account of Fulbroke Park, Near Stratford-On-Avon. By C. Holte Bracebridge, Sometime Hon. Sec. to the Shakespeare House Committee. London: Printed by Harrison and Sons. 1862. [4], original watercolor. 32pp. Extensive appendix notes A through F.

7. The Stratford Portrait of Shakespeare. Copies of communications to The Times, made subsequent to that which appeared April 5th. The recently discovered portrait of Shakespeare. To the Editor of The Times. Two 1861 letter by Charles Weight, with commentary. 4 pages.

8. The Stratford Portrait of Shakespeare, and The Athenaeum; Also Ben Jonson; and the Macaulay-Penn Controversy; in Connexion with That periodical–or its Editor. "Jones is immortal until he is found out; and then down comes the extinguisher, and the immortal is dead and burried." Roundabout Papers, NO XII. Text by Charles Weight. 307, Regent Street W., May 31st, 1861. 19 pages. "The "New Facts" of the Athenaeum, in reference to Ben Jonson, Examined. And some facts of real importance, in relation to the Macaulay and Penn Controversy, Displayed.