Shakespeare's signet ring

Word of the discovery reached Wheler, and he managed to buy the ring from Mrs Martin on the very same day, March 16.

[1] Still later that same day, March 16, Wheler wrote a letter to The Gentlemen's Magazine, as part of his efforts to discover such a document.

[3] Six months later, in September 1810, and writing to the same magazine, Wheler explains the object of his previous request for Shakespearian letters: the hope of finding "an impression of my seal ring on one of them".

But he pointed out, Shakespeare, who had retired from the stage, lived "in the principal house here, which he had previously purchased [and] had accumulated considerable property".

Wheler quotes Malone’s response: I have not in my possession, nor have I ever seen any letter written by Shakspeare [sic]; nor have I an impression of any seal of his.

… I yet hope to meet with an impression of the ring in my possession, and in this I am more particularly encouraged by the fact, that should success attend the investigation, this seal-ring would be the only existing article proved to have originally belonged to our immortal poet.

[9] Wheler consulted Shakespearean scholar Edmond Malone, who mentioned as an alternative William Smith (c.1550–1618), another wealthy Stratfordian.

[14] Shakespearean scholar E. K. Chambers posits that W and S could be two different people, but this idea doesn't fit with the purpose of a signet ring.

[13] Scholars have suggested that Shakespeare could have lost the ring at his daughter Judith's wedding at the Holy Trinity Church in 1616.

[10][5][15] Another signet ring with the initials WS was kept by the English 18th century actor David Garrick in his Temple to Shakespeare.

The thief is Oscar Wilde, who wanted it because he believed it was a love token given to Shakespeare by Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton.