Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, 1612 - title page.
A favourite book of William Shakespeare, printed by a fellow Stratfordian.
North’s translation of Plutarch’s Lives was first printed by Thomas Vautrollier in 1579. The book's success led ...
Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, London, Richard Field, 1612 - dedication, p. A3r.
Shakespeare’s queen has books of history dedicated to her.
Sir Thomas North, a lawyer, whose father had been an MP and privy councillor to Henry VIII and to Mary Tudor, dedicated his translation ...
Poem by E.H.
Poem written by E.H. in black ink by hand onto a piece of cream coloured paper. The poem is about Leamington's proud visitors and inhabitants. The poem was written on 4 November 1859.
Postcard Envelope
An envelope to contain twelve postcards printed by Valentines, c.1920.
150mm x 95mm
Pounce Pot
A turned wooden pounce pot. The top is perforated and the base unscrews so that it can be filled. This was used at Newbold Farm. It contained fine powder which was sprinkled onto paper, after writing, ...
Practical Dissertation on the Waters of Leamington Spa
This is a third edition paper back book from 1831 contained within a box. The book includes a history of the springs at Leamington Spa.
Prisoner of War Postcard
Printed postcard with a hand written message from prisoner-of-war, Mr. John Gill to M. W H Whapples thanking him for the cigarettes. The postcard is printed in German script with ink stamps in German ...
Publius Ovidius Naso [Ovid], The XV bookes Metamorphosis, translated... by Arthur Golding..., 1603, title-page.
A School text studied by Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare knew this series of stories about miraculous transformations, written by the Roman poet Ovid well as they formed an important part of regular ...
Quill Cutter
An ebony and brass cutter used for cutting quill pens. Moving a lever on the quill cutter reveals a sharp blade and pencil lead.
Quill Cutter
A quill pen cutter made from bone and brass. It has a long rectangular shape, with a slot along the top which produces a sharp knife. The cutter is 102mm in length.
Railway Poster - Clanland
London Midland and Scottish Railway Company A poster advertising Clanland , a book of the Scottish Highlands and Highlanders. The poster depicts a man in traditional Scottish dress bowing and holding ...
Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles , London for George Bishop, 1577, - Elizabethan men at a meeting, woodcut, page 119, detail.
John Shakespeare, an alderman of Stratford.
When William Shakespeare's father, John, a glove-maker by trade, attended aldermen's meetings in Stratford-upon-Avon in the 1560s and 1570s, the council ...
Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles, 1577 - 'History of England', p.46.
Shakespeare's source for England's mythical history.
The woodcut illustrations of the first edition of Holinshed’s work depicting scenes of battle and warfare are in contemporary dress, with ...
Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles, 1577 - 'History of Scotland', title page.
Shakespeare’s ‘Scottish’ play is founded in history.
Holinshed’s first edition of The Chronicles, in 1577 included 'The Historie of Scotland' in which Shakespeare found the ...
Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles, 1577 - harvest woodcut, 'History of Scotland', p. 232.
A harvest scene, from a book known to Shakespeare.
Shakespeare’s parents both came from farming families so he knew well that everyone in country districts would help with cutting and sheaving ...
Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles, 1577 - Kings Cymbeline and Guiderius, 'History of England' p.47.
Shakespeare's source for Cymbeline.
Besides the story of Guiderius, which was based on myth and legend, Shakespeare found, in the 'Chronicles of Scotland', a tale of a nobleman and his two sons fighting ...
Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles, 1577 - Macbeth and Banquo, woodcut, 'History of Scotland', p.243, detail.
Shakespeare's source for Macbeth's meeting with the weird sisters.
This woodcut, from Holinshed's first edition of 'The Chronicles of Scotland' shows the meeting of Macbeth and Banquo with the three ...
Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles, 1577 - Macbeth and the weird sisters, 'History of Scotland', p.244, detail.
Shakespeare's source for the killing of King Duncan.
Macbeth kills Duncan, and has himself crowned at Scone, as Ross and Macduff discuss: ‘the sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. He is already ...