The most excellent historie of the merchant of Venice
Subtitle: with the extreame crueltie of Shylocke the Iewe towards the said Merchant, in cutting a just pound of his flesh and the obtaining of Portia by the choice of three chests : as it hath beene divers times acted by the Lord Chamberlaine His Servants
By: written by William Shakespeare
Contributors: Parsons, Marmaduke, -1639, printer; Hayes, Laurence, bookseller; Swaine, John,  former owner; Wolfreston, Frances, 1607-1677, former owner; Barton, Thomas Pennant, 1803-1869, former owner
Publisher: Printed by M[armaduke]. P[arsons]. for Laurence Hayes, and are to be sold at his shop on Fleetbridge
Published: 1637
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 72
Other titles: Shakespeare Collection (Collection of Distinction)
Work titles: Merchant of Venice
Notes: Printer's name Cf. ESTC.

Running title reads: The comicall historie of the merchant of Venice.

Signatures: A-Íþ.

Title page vignette; head- and tailpieces; initials.

Bartlett, H.C.  Shakespeare early editions, 71

Bartlett & Pollard.  Shakespeare's quartos (rev. ed.), 655

Boston Public Library.  Barton collection catalogue, Shakespeare, p. 24

STC (2nd ed.) 22298

Greg, I, 172(eI)

ESTC S111192

Cataloged 2015 jmoschella

Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy G.176.18 bound in 19th-century blue morocco panelled in gilt. The armorial bookplate of the Barton Library is present on the front pastedown. The autograph of Frances Wolfreston is present on A2 recto, along with an inscription in her hand that reads, "the rich jue would have a ℗Đ of flesh of his creditar".

Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy G.176.19 halfbound in early calfskin and brown paper over boards. The armorial bookplate of the Barton Library is present on the front pastedown and an early signature on I4 verso appears to read "Jn.[?] Swain[e?]." This copy has been trimmed closely, resulting partial losses to running titles.