DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1600 [i.e., 1619] Shakespeare, William The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice)

Reference Information

DEEP #: 302
Greg #: 172b
STC/Wing #: 22297
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Adult Professional
Genre (Annals): Comedy
 
Book Edition: 2
Play Edition: 2
Format: Quarto
Leaves: 40
Date of First Publication: 1600
Date of First Production: 1596 [1596-1598]
Company of First Production: Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Company Attribution: n/a
 
Total Editions: 3 quartos, 2 folios in collection

Title-Page Features

Title: THE EXCELLENT Historie of the Merchant of Venice. With the extreme cruelty of Shylocke the Iew towards the saide Merchant, in cutting a iust pound of his flesh. And the obtaining of Portia, by the choyse of three Caskets.
Author: Written by W. SHAKESPEARE.
Performance:
Imprint: Printed by J. Roberts, 1600.

Paratextual Material

None

Stationer Information

Printer: Jaggard, William
Publisher: Pavier, Thomas
Entries in Stationers' Register: Jul 22, 1598: Entered to James Roberts: "a booke of the Marchaunt of Venyce or otherwise called the Iewe of Venyce./ Prouided that yt bee not prynted by the said Iames Robertes; or anye other whatsoeuer wthout lycence first had from the Right honorable the lord Chamberlen".
Oct 28, 1600: Transferred from James Roberts to Thomas Hayes: "A booke called the booke of the merchant of Venyce".
Jul 8, 1619: Transferred from Thomas Hayes decd. to Lawrence Hayes: "A play Called The Marchant of Venice".
Oct 17, 1657: Transferred from the widow of Lawrence Hayes and Jane Graisby to William Leake (2): "the Booke or Copie called The Merchant of Venice a Play written by William Shakespeare Gentleman".
 
Additional Notes: The imprint is false; the volume was actually printed in 1619 by William Jaggard for Thomas Pavier and apparently intended to form part of Pavier's Shakespeare collection of that year.