DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1612 Jonson, Ben The Alchemist

Reference Information

DEEP #: 579
Greg #: 303a
STC/Wing #: 14755
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Adult Professional
Genre (Annals): Comedy
 
Book Edition: 1
Play Edition: 1
Format: Quarto
Leaves: 48
Date of First Publication: 1612
Date of First Production: 1610
Company of First Production: King's Men
Company Attribution: n/a
 
Total Editions: 1 quarto, 2 folios in collection

Title-Page Features

Title: THE ALCHEMIST.
Author: Written by BEN. IONSON.
Performance:
Latin Motto: [in single column] —— Neque, me vt miretur turba, laboro: | Contentus paucis lectoribus.
Imprint: LONDON, Printed by Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, at the West-end of Paules. 1612.

Paratextual Material

Dedication: Epistle to: Lady Mary (Sidney) Wroth ; from: Ben Jonson [A2r]
Commendatory Verses: 1: by "George Lucy" [A3v]
To the Reader: "To the Reader" [A3r]
Argument: "The Argument" (verses) [A4r]
Character List: "The Persons of the Comœdie" [A4r]

Stationer Information

Printer: Snodham, Thomas
Publisher: Burre, Walter
Bookseller: Stepneth, John
Imprint Location: A.10 (Paul's Churchyard - West)
Entries in Stationers' Register: Oct 3, 1610: Entered to Walter Burre: "a Comœdy called, The Alchymist made by Ben: Iohnson".
Jul 3, 1630: Transferred from the widow of Walter Burre to John Spencer: "The Alchemist".
Jul 4, 1635: Transferred from Walter Burre decd. to William Stansby: "by vertue of a noate vnder the hand" of Walter Burre and Matthew Lownes, Warden, "bearing date the 10th of Iune 1621 ... The Alchimist".