Definition
when four leaves (eight pages) were printed on the same size sheet, which would later be folded twice, the format of the resultant volume was a "quarto" (four leaves)
see also "Book formats".
Etymology
f. Latin, ablative of "quartus" fourth
Related Information
Today, some booksellers are providing the height of a book in inches or centimeters rather than using early terms which do not relate directly to the sheet size or process used for printing today. Thus, in modern terms, quarto (4to) refers to a book approx. 10 to 13 inches tall, average 12 inches.
Historically, quartos were less-expensive books when compared to their larger cousin, the folio.
"Eighteen of Shakespeare’s plays were printed during Shakespeare's lifetime, in a small, inexpensive format called a “quarto.” A quarto is a book in which each printed sheet is folded twice—in half, and then in half again—to produce four double-sided leaves, or eight pages. Quartos were sold in flimsy bindings or sometimes no bindings at all, making them vulnerable to damage and loss over the years. The early Shakespeare quartos are now extraordinarily rare; some survive in only a single copy."
Featured item:
Julius Caesar A Tragedy. As It Is Now Acted at the Theatre Royal.
by SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM
London: Printed by H. H. Jun for Hen Herringman and R Bentley.., 1695. London: Printed by H. H. Jun for Hen Herringman and R Bentley..., [N.d.c.a. 1695].
The first of the undated editions according to Bartlett. Small quarto. [1]- 64 pp. Complete but mispaginated as follows, Pp. 1, 4-18, 91, 20-40, 33-48, 57, 50, 51, 60, 61, 54, 55, 64. There is some confusion as to the priority of the undated quartos. According to Bartlett's 'Census of Shakespeare's Plays in Quarto' (1916), this present copy conforms to what she called the "Second quarto edition" based on catch words and pagination. However, in her revised edition of the Census in 1939 Bartlett's view had changed stating: There were four undated editions of this play issued after the first edition, 1684, and the second, 1691. This would place the undated quartos after the second edition and make this the third quarto edition.
Bound by J. Kulesho in full red smooth morocco. Front board and spine lettered in gilt. Board edges gilt. Gilt dentelles. All edges gilt. One small spot on title-page. Light glue remnants on front pastedown from former bookplate. Overall about fine.
"This was the first play by Shakespeare founded on Sir Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Lives, which appeared in 1597 and was reprinted in 1595. Shakespeare used portions of the lives of Caesar, Antony and Brutus and followed Plutarch very closely" (Bartlett, Mr. William Shakespeare, 47).
ESTC R469134/R11165 Bartlett 115. Jaggard, p. 319. Wing S2923.
Offered by Heritage Book Shop.