On the Site of a Mulberry-Tree; Planted by Wm Shakspeare; felled by the Rev. F. Gastrell Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 By permission of the British Library On the Site of a Mulberry-Tree; Planted by Wm Shakspeare; felled by the Rev. F. Gastrell Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1869 This is an early proof page for the Second Trial Book. [i-ii], [1] DGR British Museum Library, Ashley Collection Ashley A1397 18.2 x 12 cm Commentary
Introduction

According to T. J. Wise, who bound this object and supplied its title page, the booklet originally held “the Original Holograph Manuscript”. Such a document is no part of the booklet now, which contains only what Wise calls “The Privately-Printed Leaflet”. The latter is a forgery, however. Its text is identical with that printed in the second trial book.

The booklet cover is red levant morrocco bound by Riviere with an embossed or stamped title. Paper is Whatman's hand-made, uncut in the original blue-grey paper boards, backed with white, with white paper back-label.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

Bookplate with standing female angel blowing trumpet and seated female angel. Between the two figures is a flowing banner on which is inscribed the owner's name. Below the figures and the ower's name is an inscribed poem.

THOMAS JAMES WISE HIS BOOK

BOOKS BRING ME FRIENDS WHERE'ER ON EARTH I BE. SOLACE OF SOLITUDE& BONDS OF SOCIETY! On the Site of Shakespeare's Mulberry Tree by Dante Gabriel Rossetti --- I The Original Holograph Manuscript Written in 1853 II The Privately-Printed Leaflet Issued in 1869 <hi rend="c">ON THE SITE OF A MULBERRY-TREE</hi>;<lb/> <hi rend="i">Planted by Wm. Shakspeare; felled by the Rev. F. Gastrell</hi>. This tree, here fall'n, no common birth or death Shared with its kind. The world's enfranchised son, Who found the trees of Life and Knowledge one, Here set it, frailer than his laurel-wreath. Shall not the wretch whose hand it fell beneath Rank also singly—the supreme unhung? Lo! Sheppard, Turpin, pleading with black tongue This viler thief's unsuffocated breath! We'll search thy glossary, Shakspeare! whence almost, And whence alone, some name shall be reveal'd For this deaf drudge, to whom no length of ears Sufficed to catch the music of the spheres; Whose soul is carrion now,—too mean to yield Some tailor's ninth allotment of a ghost.
Stratford-on-Avon.