Sotheby's (London)

(27 cm), 183 (21) pp., illustrations (some in colour). 404 lots. Price list loosely inserted. Publisher’s printed wrappers. - Contains property of the Earls of Warwick and Ernest Pereira (1930-1996), Professor of English at the University of South Africa. Lot 85 is the “Warwick Shakespeare Deed”, a document intended for Shakespeare’s signature relating to his purchase of land in 1602 near Stratford. Acquired by the 4th Earl of Warwick in the 19th century, the document was deposited at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust from the 1970s until withdrawn for sale in 1997. It was purchased (post-sale) by the Friends of the National Libraries (£135,862) and returned to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Saleroom report in The Book Collector, Spring 1998, p.89. ¶ Annotated, partly priced.