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Hamlet bibliographic descriptions

Hamlet, First Quarto, 1603

The tragicall historie of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke by William Shake-speare. As it hath been diuerse times acted by his Highnesse seruants in the cittie of London: as also in the two vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxford, and else-where
At London: printed [by Valentine Simmes] for N. L. [Nicholas Ling] and Iohn Trundell, 1603.
[66] p.; 4o.

Signatures: [A]2 B-I4 (first leaf blank?)
References: STC (2nd ed.) 22275; Greg, I, 197(a)

British Library Copy

Shelfmark: C.34.k.1
Copy notes: Signatures: B-I4. Wanting quire [A].
Provenance: Rooney of Trinity College, Dublin, sold 1856; J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps, sold 1858.
Binding: In a 19th-century English gold tooled red grained sheep binding. The flat spine is divided into three gold tooled decorative compartments. Author, title and date of publication are lettered in gold up the second spine compartment. The turn-ins are gold tooled with the date '1623' tooled in gold at the top on the turn-in of the lower cover. With plain paper endleaves with a crown tooled in gold on the pastedowns of both covers. MS. notes in unidentified hands on several leaves. Bound by the British Museum Bindery.

Hamlet, Second Quarto, 1604

The tragicall historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke. By William Shakespeare. Newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much againe as it was, according to the true and perfect coppie.
At London: printed by I. R. [James Roberts] for N. L. [Nicholas Ling] and are to be sold at his shoppe vnder Saint Dunstons Church in Fleetstreet, 1604.
[102] p.; 4o

There is also a version with a variant titlepage dated 1605 (STC (2nd ed.) 22276a).

Signatures: [A]2 (-A1) B-N4 O2
References: STC (2nd ed.) 22276; Greg, I, 197(b*)

There is no copy of this quarto in the British Library.

Hamlet, Second Quarto Variant, 1605

The tragicall historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke. By William Shakespeare. Newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much againe as it was, according to the true and perfect coppie.
At London: printed by I. R. [James Roberts] for N. L. [Nicholas Ling] and are to be sold at his shoppe vnder Saint Dunstons Church in Fleetstreet, 1605.
[102] p.; 4o

This version has a variant titlepage.

Signatures: [A]2 B-N4 O2 (first leaf blank?)
References: STC (2nd ed.) 22276a; Greg, I, 197(b)

British Library Copy

Shelfmark: C.34.k.2
Copy notes: Signatures: [A]2 (-[A]1, blank?) B-N4 O2. Provenance: David Garrick, bequeathed 1779.
Binding: In a 19th-century English gold tooled red grained sheep binding with the coat of arms of David Garrick tooled in gold in the centre of both covers. Author, title, place and date of publication are lettered in gold up the flat spine. The edges of the boards and the turn-ins are gold tooled. The edges of the leaves are gilt. With comb marbled paper endleaves. Signed at the top on the turn-in of the upper cover 'TUCKETT. BINDER. BRITISH MUSEUM'.

Hamlet, Third Quarto, 1611

The tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke. By William Shakespeare. Newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much againe as it was, according to the true and perfect coppy.
At London: printed [by George Eld] for Iohn Smethwicke, and are to be sold at his shoppe in Saint Dunstons Church yeard in Fleetstreet. Vnder the Diall, 1611.
[104] p.; 4o

Signatures: [A]2 B-N4 O2 (first leaf blank)
References: STC (2nd ed.) 22277; Greg, I, 197(c)

British Library Copy

Shelfmark: C.34.k.4
Copy notes: Signatures: [A]2 (-[A]1, blank) B-N4 O2. Cropped at head, affecting headlines.
Provenance: David Garrick, bequeathed 1779.
Binding: In a 19th-century English gold tooled red grained sheep binding with the coat of arms of David Garrick tooled in gold in the centre of both covers. Author, title, place and date of publication are lettered in gold up the flat spine. The edges of the boards and the turn-ins are gold tooled. The edges of the leaves are gilt. With comb marbled paper endleaves. Signed at the top on the turn-in of the upper cover 'TUCKETT. BINDER. BRITISH MUSEUM'.

Shelfmark: C.71.b.2
Copy notes: Signatures: B-N4 O2. Wanting quire A. Cropped at head, affecting headlines, cropped at foot, affecting signatures, catchwords and text, cropped at foredge, affecting text.
Provenance: Provenance unknown, purchased before 1840.
Binding: In a ?18th-century English brown half calf binding, the boards covered with marbled paper. The spine is damaged, showing traces of gold tooling up the flat spine. With plain paper endleaves. Repaired by the British Library Bindery.

Hamlet, Fourth Quarto, [1622]

The tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke. Newly imprinted and inlarged, according to the true and perfect copy lastly printed. By William Shakespeare.
London: printed by W. S. [William Stansby] for Iohn Smethwicke, and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet: vnder the Diall, [1622].
[104] p.; 4o

Signatures: A-N4 (last leaf blank)
References: STC (2nd ed.) 22278; Greg, I, 197(d)

British Library Copy

Shelfmark: C.34.k.3
Copy notes: Signatures: A-M4 N4 (-N4, blank).
Provenance: David Garrick, bequeathed 1779.
Binding: In a 19th-century English gold tooled red grained sheep binding with the coat of arms of David Garrick tooled in gold on the flat spine. Author, title and place of publication are lettered in gold up the spine. The edges of the boards and the turn-ins are gold tooled. With comb marbled paper endleaves. Bound by the British Museum Bindery.

Shelfmark: C.12.h.14
Copy notes: Signatures: A-M4 N4 (-N4, blank). Titlepage mounted, leaves A2 to N3 framed.
Provenance: King George III, presented 1823.
Binding: In a 19th-century English brown half calf binding, the boards covered with marbled paper. Five false raised bands divide the spine into six gold tooled compartments. The cypher of King George III is tooled in gold in the first spine compartment, the title is tooled in gold on a dark red lettering piece across the second spine compartment. The edges of the leaves are sprinkled red. With plain paper endleaves. Bound by the British Museum Bindery.

Hamlet, Fifth Quarto, 1637

The tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark. Newly imprinted and inlarged, according to the true and perfect copy last printed. By William Shakespeare.
London: printed by R. Young for Iohn Smethwicke, and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstans Church-yard in Fleet-stteet [sic], under the Diall, 1637.
[104] p.; 4o

Signatures: A-N4
References: STC (2nd ed.) 22279; Greg, I, 197(g)

British Library Copy

Shelfmark: C.34.k.5
Copy notes: Signatures: A-N4.
Provenance: David Garrick, bequeathed 1779.
Binding: In a 19th-century English gold tooled red grained sheep binding with the coat of arms of David Garrick tooled in gold on the flat spine. Author, title, place and date of publication are lettered in gold up the spine. The edges of the boards and the turn-ins are gold tooled. The edges of the leaves are gilt. With comb marbled paper endleaves. Bound by the British Museum Bindery.


 

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