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The excellent history of the merchant of Venice. : VVith 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. VVritten by VV. Shakespeare.

Merchant of Venice

Comicall history of the merchant of Venice

[London] : Printed by I. Roberts [i.e. by William Jaggard for Thomas Pavier], 1600 [i.e. 1619]

[80] p. ; (4to)

Mostly in verse.
The imprint is false. Actually one of the "Pavier quartos" printed in 1619 by William Jaggard for Thomas Pavier, intended to be issued as part of what Greg calls "The Collection of 1619. A collection of ten plays, without general title but with signatures continuous through the first three: begins with a joint title to the first two." In order of printing: 1. Henry VI, Part 2 (first part of STC 26101); 2. Henry VI, Part 3 (second part of STC 26101); 3. Pericles (third part of STC 26101); 4. A Yorkshire Tragedy (STC 22341); 5. The Merchant of Venice (STC 22297); 6. The Merry Wives of Windsor (STC 22300); 7. King Lear (STC 22293); 8. Henry V (STC 22291); 9. Sir John Oldcastle (STC 18796); 10. A Midsummer Night's Dream (STC 22303). (Greg, III, p. 1107-8).
Signatures: A-K⁴.

Pollard, A.W. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, & Ireland and of English books printed abroad, 1475-1640 (2nd ed.) (STC), 22297
English short title catalogue (ESTC), S111195

Digital image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library STC 22297 copy 1
Digital image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library STC 22297 copy 2
Digital image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library STC 22297 copy 4
Digital image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library STC 22297 Copy 3 Bd.w. STC 26101 copy 3

Great Britain -- England -- London.

STC 22297 copy 1

Warwick. Unidentified bookseller's catalogue entry for this copy pasted on front free endpaper. Red goatskin binding, signed by Frank Bedford. Provenance: Duke of Roxburghe copy, with the armorial stamp of John Ker, 3rd duke of Roxburghe on verso of t.p.; James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps copy, with a manuscript note in his hand: "I bought this charming volume of Lilly ..."; bookplate of Warwick Castle, Shakespeare Library

STC 22297 copy 2

cs0900. Manuscript editorial notes: collations of this edition with other editions. Half dark blue goatskin binding. Provenance: Charles Jennens copy; William P.A. Curzon copy; Howe family library copy

STC 22297 Copy 3 Bd.w. STC 26101 copy 3

cs0822.4. Manuscript table of contents. Bound with: Shakespeare, William. The whole contention betweene the two famouse houses. London, [1619] -- and six other 1619 Shakespeare quartos (shelf-marks: STC 22303 Copy 5, 18796 Copy 4, 22291 Copy 4, 22293 Copy 5, 22300 Copy 4, and 22341 Copy 4). This work, along with STC 22303, 18796, 22291, and 22293, is mis-bound after leaf Q4 of STC 26101. Contemporary calfskin binding, stamped in gilt with "Edward Gwynn" on front cover; stored in a case. Provenance: Edward Gwynn copy (cf. Jackson, W.A. Records of a bibliographer ... Cambridge, 1967. pp. 115-119); anonymous armorial bookplate (of Goetz Wrisberg?: cf. bookplate in Folger shelf-mark STC 4998; cf. Folger worksheet for STC 4998); Marsden J. Perry copy; inscribed on front free endpaper: ... "From the library of Marsden J. Perry ... Purchased July 22, 1919. A.S.W. Rosenbach"

STC 22297 copy 4

cs0361. Re-bound by the Folger Library; formerly in circa 1850 calfskin with: Shakespeare, William. The whole contention between the two famous houses, Lancaster and Yorke. London, [1619] (Folger smk STC 26101 Copy 2) -- and seven other Pavier quartos of 1619 (see type-written description at the end of STC 26101 Copy 2). Each of the leaves is silked; some are stained and with holes, affecting text. Provenance: Thomas Percy, Bishop of Dromore copy; in STC 26101 Copy 2, armorial bookplate of Du Pre Alexander, 2nd earl of Caledon (motto "per mare per terras"); for complete provenance, see record for Folger smk STC 26101 Copy 2