DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1619 Shakespeare, William The Merry Wives of Windsor

Reference Information

DEEP #: 329
Greg #: 187b
STC/Wing #: 22300
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Adult Professional
Genre (Annals): Comedy
 
Book Edition: 2
Play Edition: 2
Format: Quarto
Leaves: 28
Date of First Publication: 1602
Date of First Production: 1597 [1597-1598]
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: A Most pleasant and excellent conceited Comedy, of Sir Iohn Falstaffe, and the merry Wiues of Windsor. With the swaggering vaine of Ancient Pistoll, and Corporall Nym.
Author: Written by W. SHAKESPEARE.
Performance:
Imprint: Printed for Arthur Johnson, 1619.

Paratextual Material

None

Stationer Information

Printer: Jaggard, William
Publisher: Johnson, Arthur (?); Pavier, Thomas
Entries in Stationers' Register: Jan 18, 1602: Entered to John Busby (1): "A booke called. An excellent & pleasant conceited commedie of Sr Io ffaulstof and the merry wyves of windesor".
Jan 18, 1602: Transferred from John Busby (1) to Arthur Johnson: "A booke Called an excellent and pleasant conceyted Comedie of Sir Iohn ffaulstafe and the merye wyves of windsor".
Jan 29, 1630: Transferred from Arthur Johnson to Richard Meighen: "The merry Wives of Winsor".
Nov 7, 1646: Transferred from Mercy Meighen, the widow of Richard Meighen, to herself and George Bedell: "The Merry Wiues of Windsor a play."
 
Additional Notes: This volume was apparently intended to form part of Thomas Pavier's 1619 Shakespeare collection. Pavier may have worked out some financial arrangement with Arthur Johnson, who owned the copy, since his name appears in the imprint.