Works (Hamlet / King Henry IV. Part 1 / King Henry IV. Part 2 / King Henry V / King John / King Lear / King Richard II / King Richard III / Lover's Complaint / Love’s Labour’s Lost / Merchant of Venice / Merry Wives of Windsor / Midsummer Night’s Dream / Much Ado About Nothing / Othello / Romeo and Juliet / Sonnets / Taming of the Shrew / Titus Andronicus / Troilus and Cressida)

This 1766 edition was issued by the Tonson publishing house, which held a long-standing, though frequently challenged, dominance over the publication of Shakespeare's works in the eighteenth century. Emerging from a period where Shakespeare’s literary stature was being firmly cemented in the British canon, these volumes were intended for the educated reading public who sought clean, accessible editions of the plays following the rigorous editorial efforts of figures like Nicholas Rowe and Alexander Pope.

The Tonson imprint during this era is noted for its continuity and commitment to standardized text, reflecting the transition of Shakespeare from a popular playwright to a cornerstone of English literature. The design of these volumes typically followed the conventions of mid-century book production, favoring durability and legibility. While critics of the time occasionally disparaged the commercial nature of the Tonson monopoly, these books were instrumental in maintaining the circulation of the Bard's texts throughout the Enlightenment era.