Watch List notes:

William Shakespeare, poet and playwright. 1564-1616. AR Medal (48mm, 38.38 g, 12h). National Edition of Shakespeare's Works. By C.H. Küchler, obverse after T. Banks. Dated 1803. Presented to Humphrey Sumner, 1809. Sculpture group Shakespeare attended by Painting and Poetry by Thomas Banks: William Shakespeare seated facing slightly left on rock, attended by the Muse of Drama and the Genius of Painting; rock set on plinth inscribed HE WAS A MAN/ TAKE HIM FOR ALL IN ALL/ I SHALL NOT LOOK UPON HIS LIKE AGAIN (Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 2) / (lyre, olive branch, and scroll intertwined)/ THIS/ MEDAL/ REPRESENTING SHAKSPEARE BETWEEN/ THE DRAMATICK MUSE AND THE GENIUS OF PAINTING/ IS RESPECTFULLY PRESENTED TO/ THE PERSON/ WHOSE NAME IT BEARS/ IN GRATEFUL COMMEMORATION OF THE GENEROUS SUPPORT/ GIVEN BY THE SUBSCRIBERS/ TO THE GREAT NATIONAL EDITION OF THAT/ IMMORTAL POET/ BY II & JN BOYDELL/ AND/ G&W NICOL/ 1803. Engraved on edge: COLL REGAL HUMPHREDO SUMNER 1809. BHM 553; Eimer 950. EF, toned, scratches.

From the J. Eric Engstrom Collection. Ex Wayte Raymond Collection (Part II, NASCA, 4 May 1978), lot 2721.

This medal was presented to those who subscribed to Boydell's 8 volume edition of the works of the bard.