3 - Textual Studies

Summary

The place of honour in the field of bibliographical and textual studies must be given to the third volume of W. W. Greg’s Bibliography, which exceeds all expectations. Devoted primarily to the collections of plays, it gives a formal description of the Pavier-Jaggard nonce collection of 1619 and the four Shakespeare Folios (pp. 1107–21; see also pp. 1249–58), with a succinct account of significant irregularities and of variant issues and reprints. The Appendix reprints wholly or in part booksellers’ lists, early play catalogues (indexed), and prefaces to plays; it also describes early private collections and gives publication lists, actor lists, and author lists (the last three indexed). Then in eighteen sections there is a wealth of information about such subjects as authors, dedications and commendations, prologues and epilogues (first lines), adaptations and drolls, court performances, people connected with the theatres such as producers, musicians, and choreographers, title-page mottoes, “Quorum fit mentio”, and “Notabilia”. This is treasure trove indeed, and there are, besides, more than a score of reproductions of engraved portraits of the playwrights.