DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1639 May, Thomas Julia Agrippina, Empress of Rome

Reference Information

DEEP #: 915
Greg #: 554a(i)
STC/Wing #: 17718
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Unknown; Professional (?); Nonprofessional (?)
Genre (Annals): Tragedy
 
Book Edition: 1
Play Edition: 1
Format: Duodecimo
Leaves: 54
Date of First Publication: 1639
Date of First Production: 1628
Company of First Production: Unknown
Company Attribution: n/a
 
Total Editions: 1 duodecimo (bibliographically independent and in collection)
 
Variants: There are three issues of this edition. Greg 554a(i) contains the original title leaf dated 1639; it exists in two states: STC 17718 contains the status attribution "Esq." while STC 17718a does not (the states do not have separate Greg numbers). Greg 554a(ii) contains a cancel title leaf dated 1654, which lists a different play title, author attribution, and stationers. Greg 554a(ii) was also issued as part of the 1654 May collection (Wing M1416). See also Greg 554a(i); 554a(ii)

Title-Page Features

Title: THE TRAGEDY OF JULIA AGRIPPINA; Empresse of Rome.
Author: By T. M. Esq.
Performance:
Imprint: LONDON, Printed by Ric. Hodgkinsonne for Thomas Walkly, and are to be sold at his shop at the Flying Horse neare Yorke house. 1639.

Paratextual Material

Character List: "The Speakers" and note "Acted 1628." [A3r]

Stationer Information

Printer: Hodgkinson, Richard
Publisher: Walkley, Thomas
Imprint Location: X.12 (Westminster - York House)
License: "Octob. 26. 1638. Imprimatur, Matth. Clay" [A3v]
Entries in Stationers' Register: Oct 26, 1638: Entered to Thomas Walkley: "Two Playes called ... Iulia Agripina empresse of Rome."
Nov 20, 1658: Transferred from Thomas Walkley to Humphrey Moseley: "Iulia Agripina Empresse of Rome. by Tho: May Esqr."
 
Additional Notes: Greg writes that separate editions of Cleopatra and Julia Agrippina "were printed in 1639, but since the epistle to Sir Kenelm Digby prefixed to Cleopatra is a joint dedication of the two plays, it is clear that these, though otherwise bibliographically distinct, were intended to be issued together as well as separately" (Bibliography, 3:1092). DEEP lists each of these plays only as a single-play playbook, not as part of a collection.