DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1637 Shakespeare, William The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice)

Reference Information

DEEP #: 303
Greg #: 172e(i)
STC/Wing #: 22298
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Adult Professional
Genre (Annals): Comedy
 
Book Edition: 3
Play Edition: 5
Format: Quarto
Leaves: 36
Date of First Publication: 1600
Date of First Production: 1596 [1596-1598]
Company of First Production: Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Company Attribution: Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
 
Total Editions: 3 quartos, 2 folios in collection
 
Variants: There are two issues of this edition: Greg 172e(i) contains the original title leaf dated 1637; Greg 172e(ii) contains a cancel title leaf dated 1652, and adds an advertisement for books "Printed and solde by William Leake" [A1v]. See also Greg 172e(ii)

Title-Page Features

Title: The most excellent Historie of the Merchant of VENICE. With the extreame crueltie of Shylocke the Iewe towards the said Merchant, in cutting a just pound of his flesh: and the obtaining of PORTIA by the choice of three Chests.
Author: Written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
Performance: As it hath beene divers times acted by the Lord Chamberlaine his Servants.
Imprint: LONDON, Printed by M. P. for Laurence Hayes, and are to be sold at his Shop on Fleetbridge. 1637.

Paratextual Material

Character List: "The Actors Names" [A1v]

Stationer Information

Printer: Parsons, Marmaduke
Publisher: Hayes, Lawrence
Imprint Location: W.3 (Fleet St. - Fleet Bridge)
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".