The first printing of the three-volume Shakespeare was published in fall 1943 in drab brownish jackets. The second printing in spring 1944 had brighter jackets in reddish orange, green, black and gold on white paper.

Postwar inflation made it impossible for the Modern Library to publish the Shakespeare profitably in three volumes so they decided to switch to two volumes (parts 1 and 2) for each original one.

The first printing of the six-volume Shakespeare was 16,600 sets.

See the notes on individual titles for details.