Tracks Shakespeare's emergence as a print author, noting that his first publications were a pair of narrative poems which, though intended primarily to secure aristocratic patronage, proved to be singularly successful commercially. The earliest publication history of Shakespeare's individual plays is mapped in detail, with particular attention being given to the career of Thomas Millington, who, in effect, provided 'proof of concept' that Shakespeare publishing was a worthwhile venture. Andrew Wise's subsequent success in publishing Shakespeare titles is also noted. The fact that the plays were, initially, published anonymously is registered, as is the fact that many of the earliest editions offered significantly attenuated texts. Some speculation is offered as to the derivation of these shortened texts. The chapter notes that, by the end of the first decade of the seventeenth century, Shakespeare was well established as a recognised print author as well as a successful playwright.

This chapter continues the narrative of challenges to the monopoly of Shakespeare publishing claimed by the Tonson cartel in the eighteenth century. Here, the focus shifts away from England, to the traditions of Shakespeare publishing in Scotland and in Ireland. The legal arguments concerning the rights of publishers in these territories to issue editions of Shakespeare (and other older texts) are detailed and the history of the publication of the playwright's works in these countries, across the century, is set out in detail. Particular attention is paid, in the Irish instance, to synergies between Irish publishers and the Dublin theatres – particularly Smock Alley. In turning to Scotland, the chapter logs the editions published by the Foulis brothers in Glasgow, before examining the career of Alexander Donaldson, culminating in his House of Lords case, which had the effect of confirming the existence of a 'public domain' of out-of-copyright texts, available for all British publishers to reproduce.