Biblio-Sleuthing in Shakespeariana Land

For $60, for My Sentimental Library, I recently acquired a Shakespeare
book from the library of J.O. Halliwell-Phillipps (1820-1889),
Shakespeare scholar, and one of the founders of the Shakespeare Society
in England.

The book is an unsigned presentation copy of Annals of the Life and
Work of William Shakespeare, Collected From the Most Recent Authorities.
London, 1886.

"To J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps Esq.

from the Author with his best compliments."

Wallington
Nov. 1886

On the rear pastedown is the following book label:

"From the Libray of J.O. Halliwell-Phillipps, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A., &c.,
which was bequeathed to his Nephew and Executor, Ernest E. Baker,
f.S.A., January, 1889."

On the front pastedown is the bookplate of Charles Carpenter.

So much for the provenance. Now to start biblio sleuthing;

The name of the author is not printed in the book, nor is it listed in
any of the bookseller listings on the web. The preface, however, was
written by "J.C" -- No! Not the Man Upstairs!

In the preface, "J.C." acknowledges the assistance he received from
J.O. Halliwell-Phillipps's book, "Outlines of the Life of William
Shakespeare." I believe this is the reason why the author presented
Halliwell-Phillipps with a copy of the book.

A quick check at WorldCat using the terms, "Annals, Life, Shakespeare,
1886," did not turn up a single copy of the work; however the records
of books with similar titles were provided.

I had better luck with Copac! Listings at the National Library of
Scotland, the British Library, and Birmingham identifed Joseph Cundall
as the author of Annals of the Life and Work of Shakespeare.

Googling Joseph Cundall, as well as doing an author search of him at
abebooks, revealed that he was a publisher, author, editor, painter and
photographer. Although his Shakespeare book was relatively inexpensive,
several other books he either wrote, edited, or published, which readily
bore his name, cost a pretty penny. He wrote, edited, or published
books about wood engravings, bookbinding, Children's books, Christmas
Carols, photography books, and books about art and artitsts.

I found many listings of a biography on him, "Joseph Cundall, Victorian
Publisher," published in the 1970s, and I'll have to find me a copy; he
interests me!

Just to be sure--not that the folks across the pond could ever ever have
made such a mistake in identity-- I wanted to get another verifcation
that Joseph Cundall was the author of my book. I went to the Folger
Library website, and their Hamnet online catalog verified that Joseph
Cundall was indeed the author. Yay!

I even got verification from Worldcat! Don't ask my why, but when I
added the word, "work" to the terms, "annals, life, Shakespeare,1886,"
up popped the record of my book, listing Joseph Cundall as the author.
Go Figger!

Jerry Morris


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