DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1655 Shirley, James The Politician

Reference Information

DEEP #: 1115
Greg #: 752a(ii)
STC/Wing #: S3482
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Adult Professional
Genre (Annals): Tragedy
 
Book Edition: 1
Play Edition: 1
Format: Quarto
Leaves: 42
Date of First Publication: 1655
Date of First Production: c.1639(?)
Company of First Production: Ogilby's Men; Queen Henrietta Maria's Men
Company Attribution: Queen Henrietta Maria's Men
 
Total Editions: 1 edition issued in both quarto and octavo (bibliographically independent and in collection)
 
Variants: There are three issues of this edition. Greg 752a(i) was printed in octavo and most likely intended to be included in a reissue of the 1653 Shirley collection (Wing S3486) and was perhaps also issued as a single-play playbook; Greg 752a(ii) was printed from the same setting of type but reimposed in quarto, with altered signatures; it was only issued as a single-play playbook. See also Greg 752a(i)

Title-Page Features

Title: THE POLITITIAN, A TRAGEDY,
Author: WRITTEN By JAMES SHIRLEY.
Performance: Presented at Salisbury Court BY HER MAJESTIES SERVANTS;
Imprint: LONDON, Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his Shop at the Princes Armes in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1655.

Paratextual Material

Dedication: "The Epistle Dedicatory" to: Walter Moyle (Esquire); from: James Shirley [A2r]
Character List: "The names and small Characters of the Persons" [A3r]

Stationer Information

Printer: Wilson, William
Publisher: Moseley, Humphrey
Imprint Location: A.2 (Paul's Churchyard - Great North Door)
Entries in Stationers' Register: Sep 9, 1653: Entered to Humphrey Moseley: "several Playes following. ... The Polititian, by Iames Shirley."