A copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses printed at Venice in 1502

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A copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses printed at Venice in 1502, with a signature 'Wm Sh' on the titlepage, believed to be a genuine autograph of William Shakespeare. On the inner front cover is the following genuine note 'This little Booke of Ovid was given to me by W Hall who sayd it was once Will . Shaksperes. T N 1682.'

There are many 16th century Latin notes and glosses in the book.

Dates

Creation: 16th century

Extent

0.10 Linear metres (2 physical shelfmarks)

Language of Materials

English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Autogr. f. 1, fols. 1-2]

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Full range of shelfmarks:

MS. Autogr. f. 1

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 18683

Additional Description

Abstract

A copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses printed at Venice in 1502

Biographical / Historical

Ovid (43 B.C.–17/18 A.D.) was a poet.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was a playwright and poet.

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. V, no. 28902.

Custodial History

Summary Catalogue note: 'A later owner's name seems to be Michael Temple. E.W.B.N.'

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased at a sale of the stock of William Henry Elkin, a London bookseller, on Jan. 7, 1865 (lot 1338), for £9.

Bibliography

An account of the volume and a discussion of the signature with references to printed articles about it, will be found in W. D. Macray's Annals of the Bodleian Library, 2nd ed. (1890), p. 379.