Földvári Books

First Czech Translations

Shakespeare, William

[Twelfth Night; The Two Gentlemen of Verona; King John; Richard II; Henry IV, Part 2; ] Dramatick dila Williama Shakespeara. Dil IV. Vecer trikralovy, aneb Cokoli chcete. Prelozil Frantisek Doucha; Dve slechticu Veronskych. Prelozil Frantisek Doucha; Kral Jan. Prelozil Frantisek Doucha; Kral Richard II. Prelozil Fr. Doucha; Kral Jindrich IV. Dil II. Prelozil Ladislav Celakovsky.]

V Praze [Prague]: Nakladem Musea Kralovstvi Ceskeho, V kommissi u Fr. Rivnace, 1862. First edition in this format. In early 20th century half cloth. Marbled edges. [8], [1]–104, [4], [1]–100, [4], [1]–112, [4], [1]–120, [4], [1]–120 p. In fine condition.

Five first or early Shakespeare editions in Czech.

Despite the numbering of the volumes of this series, it seems that the copies vary in content, they were supposedly custom made for subscribers, thus the dates of the plays the volume contains do not always correspond to the date on the title page. I give the most probable dates of each title according to the NKC - Electronic Catalogue of the National Library of the Czech Republic, however, what we find in the book might be a later issue of the indicated edition.

1. Večer třikrálový, aneb Cokoli chcete (Twelfth Night, or What You Will): This is the first Czech translation of the play. Published first in this series in 1862.

2. Dvé šlechticů Veronských (The Two Gentlemen of Verona): This is the first Czech translation of the play. Appeared first in this series in 1869.

3. Král Jan (The Life and Death of King John): This is the first Czech translation of the play. Published first in this series in 1866.

4. Král Richard II (The Life and Death of King Richard the Second): This is the first Czech translation of the play. Published first in this series in 1862.

5. Král Jindřich IV. Díl II. (Henry IV, Part 2): This is the first Czech translation of the play. Published first in this series in 1870.

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Price: €1,600.00