In this week’s Arts section, the CVille Weekly features an in-depth article on the Library exhibition “Shakespeare by the Book: Four Centuries of Printing, Editing, and Publishing,” now on display in the north gallery of the Harrison/Small Library. The CVille article, “UVA Special Collections features original Shakespeare printworks,” examines the gamut of items in the exhibition, from the oldest—a 1619 quarto edition of King Lear—to one of the newest: a 2006 text message version of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, and its cell-phone case.
The article also refers to one item of special interest to fans of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. Curator Molly Schwartzburg and her team of researchers uncovered a small gem in the stacks—an edition of The Merchant of Venice, printed in the 18th century by H. Witworth, who bibliographical detective work revealed to be Hannah Witworth, one of the unsung women working at the printer’s trade from the beginning. The exhibition display panel gives other interesting facts about when and where the play was produced, information about several of the players listed in the volume, and their significance. According to the online catalog WorldCat, UVA has the only surviving copy.
Come to the exhibition to learn more! “Shakespeare by the Book: Four Centuries of Printing, Editing, and Publishing” will remain on display through December 29, 2016.