DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1608 Shakespeare, William King Lear

Reference Information

DEEP #: 517
Greg #: 265a
STC/Wing #: 22292
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Adult Professional
Genre (Annals): Tragedy
 
Book Edition: 1
Play Edition: 1
Format: Quarto
Leaves: 42
Date of First Publication: 1608
Date of First Production: 1605 [1605-1606]
Company of First Production: King's Men
Company Attribution: King's Men
 
Total Editions: 3 quartos, 2 folios in collection

Title-Page Features

Title: True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King LEAR and his three Daughters. With the vnfortunate life of Edgar, sonne and heire to the Earle of Gloster, and his sullen and assumed humor of Tom of Bedlam:
Author: M. William Shak-speare: HIS
Performance: As it was played before the Kings Maiestie at Whitehall vpon S. Stephans night in Christmas Hollidayes. By his Maiesties seruants playing vsually at the Gloabe on the Bancke-side.
Imprint: LONDON, Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Pide Bull neere St. Austins Gate. 1608.

Paratextual Material

None

Stationer Information

Printer: Okes, Nicholas
Publisher: Butter, Nathaniel
Imprint Location: A.7 (Paul's Churchyard - Southeast)
Entries in Stationers' Register: Nov 26, 1607: Entered to Nathaniel Butter and John Busby (1): "A booke called. Mr William Shakespeare his historye of Kynge Lear as yt was played before the kinges maiestie at Whitehall vppon St Stephans night at xpistmas Last by his maities servantes playinge vsually at the globe on the Banksyde".
May 21, 1639: Transferred from Nathaniel Butter to Miles Flesher: "saluo iure cuiuscunque ... The history of king Lear. by [William interlined above Iohn deleted] Shakspeare".