Sleuthing Shakespeare's Papers
R Carter Hailey
Monday 9 November at 18.00
The British Library, Conference Centre, Meeting Room 2
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB
The early quartos and folios of Shakespeare's works - as well
as every other book and manuscript from the period - were
printed on handmade laid paper, each sheet of which bears in
its surface visible traces of the manufacturing process. Using
Hailey's 'mugshot-and-fingerprint method' to identify the
products of particular pairs of papermoulds, the book detective
can ferret out otherwise intractable details about the
production of early modern books and manuscripts.
One of the most valuable uses of the comparative study of
watermarks is in supplying dates for some of the many 16th
and 17th century books issued without titlepage dates. Dr
Hailey will explain his methodology, using as examples his
definitive datings of the 4th quartos of Romeo & Juliet and
Hamlet, and the first edition of Marlowe's Massacre at Paris.
He will also discuss what a forensic study of the paper
stocks of the First Folio might tell us about its production.
The talk will be followed by a drinks reception.
Attendance is free, but please register your name with
Teresa Harrington at the British Library
email: [log in to unmask]
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