Shakespeare’s Library - School Books
#4 Terence, Selected Plays (1560)
This edition of Terence’s works was prepared by the Dutch scholar Theodor Pulmannus (or Poelman). The volume includes a brief life of the playwright, marginal notes, and an index of “old and rare words.” The book was printed in the internationally renowned shop of Christopher Plantin in Antwerp, whose famous device (the golden compass) can be seen on the title-page. English readers like Shakespeare had to rely on imported books in order to gain access to many important classical works. Plantin, who had agents in London, was a leading figure in the thriving international book trade.