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William Shakespeare is universally recognised as perhaps the greatest voice in English literature, writing some of history’s best loved works. Across his 38 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems; Shakespeare redefined literature, earning himself the title of the world’s greatest ever dramatist. The likes of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Macbeth are recognised by almost everyone in the civilised world, thanks to the rich worlds, intricate plotlines and wonderful characterisations he created.

And whilst Shakespeare will have never used a modern printer, his works have been copied and distributed using a variety of printing techniques. From the original quartos (books in which each printed sheet is folded twice to create eight pages) which first appeared with Shakespeare’s works in 1594, right through to the PDF files which can be printed at home or in the office – billions of copies of the playwright’s works have been printed and sold.

Perhaps the most captivating fact about Shakespeare is that despite his popularity and undeniable skill with the quill, at times he was known to struggle for words and ways to finish iambic pentameters. So, naturally, he just made up a load of words to use throughout his plays, sonnets and poems. And unlike the nonsense words other people make up, many of William’s became dictionary-bothering, fully-fledged members of our lexicon. In fact, it is estimated that Shakespeare invented more than 1,700 words which became a part of our language. In fact, Shakespeare is tied with Agatha Christie as the world’s most sold author, with an estimated 2-4 billion copies distributed around the world.

We have compiled a list of some of our favourite words first penned by Shakespeare, and stated where they first appeared to mark the 400th anniversary of his death, and celebrate his 452nd birthday (both of which land on the same day) on 23 April this year.

So, whether you’re looking to print off the Shakespeare’s entire works, or just some documents for the office, Printerland can help you find the perfect printer for your needs. For the full selection of printers from top brands and manufacturers, visit the Printerland homepage or call our dedicated team on 0800 840 1992.

Image sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credit: tonynetone