Shakspere Chronology Quartos

1564-92 | 1593-96 | 1597-1600 | 1601-04 | 1605-08 | 1609-12 | 1613-16 | After 1616

A Complete Chronological List of Quartos

1593 Apr 18 (registered) Q1 Venus and Adonis. The only known copy is in the Bodleian Library. (Register at Stationer's Hall) From the dedication, the first literary appearance of the poet "William Shakespeare."

1594 Q2 Venus and Adonis. (printed from Q1 by Richard Field for John Harrison) (Poems, xii)

1594 May 9 (registered) Q1 Lucrece. (Register at Stationer's Hall) The second literary appearance of William Shakespeare.

1595 (?) Q3 Venus and Adonis. Actually octavo. Opening pages missing. (printed by Richard Field for John Harrison) (Poems, xii)

1596 Q4 Venus and Adonis (printed from Q3 by Richard Field for John Harrison) (Poems, xii)

1597 Q1 The Tragedy of King Richard the third. No author listed. (printed by Valentine Sims for Andrew Wise) (EKC I, 294)

1597 Q1 The Tragedie of King Richard the second. No author listed. (printed by Valentine Sims for Andrew Wise) (EKC I, 348)

1598 Q2 Lucrece (printed from Q1 by Peter Short for John Harrison) (Poems xiii)

1598 Q1 The History of Henrie the Fourth [Part One] No author listed. (printed by P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise) (EKC I, 376)

1598 Q2 Richard the Third. Title page:

The Tragedie of King Richard the third. Conteining his treacherous Plots against his brother Clarence : the pitiful murther of his innocent Nephewes: his tyrannicall vsurpation: with the whole course ofhis detested life, and most deserued death. As it hath beene lately Acted by the Right honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants. By William Shake-speare.

(printed by Thomas Creede for Andrew Wise) (EKC I, 294)

1598 Q1 Love's Labour's Lost. Title page:

A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues labors lost. As it was presented before her Highnes this last Christmas. Newly corrected and augmented By W. Shakespere.

(printed by William White for Cutbert Burby) (EKC I, 331-332)

1598 Q2 Richard the Second. Title page:

The Tragedie of King Richard the second. As it hath beene publikely acted by the Right honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants. By William Shake-speare.

(printed by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise) (EKC I, 348)

1598 Q3 Richard the Second (printed from Q2 by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise) (EKC I, 348)

1599 Q2 The Historie Henry the Fourth [Part One]. Title page:

The Historie Henry the Fourth ; With the battell at Shrewsburie, betweene the King and Lord Henry Percy, surnamed Henry Hotspur of the North. With the humorous conceits of Sir Iohn Falstaffe. Newly corrected by W. Shake-speare.

(printed by Simon Staffort for Andrew Wise) (EKC I, 376)

1599 Q5 Venus and Adonis (printed [by Peter Short] for William Leake) (Poems xii)

1599 Q6 Venus and Adonis (printed by Richard Bradocke for William Leake) (Poems xii)

1599 Q2 The Passionate Pilgrime. By W. Shakespeare.(Actually octavo. Q1 is composed of fragments without a title page.) (printed by Thomas Judson for William Jaggard) (EKC I, 547)

1600 Q1 A Midsummer Night's Dream William Shakespeare on title page. (printed for Thomas Fisher) (EKC I, 356)

1600 Q1 The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare on title page (printed by James Roberts for Thomas Hayes) (EKC I, 368)

1600 Aug 23 Stationer's Register entry for Henry the Fourth, Part Two and Much Ado About Nothing:

Two bookes, the one called Muche a Doo about nothinge. Thother the second parte of the history of King Henry iiijth with the humours of Sir John Falstaff : Wrytten by master Shakespere. xijd.

(handwritten) (EKC I, 377, 384)

1600 Q1The Second part of Henrie the fourth. William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley) (EKC I, 378)

1600 Q1Much Ado About Nothing. William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley) (EKC I, 384)

1600 Q3-Q4 Lucrece (printed by John Harrison II for John Harrison)(Poems xiii)

1602 Q3 of Richard the Third. William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by Thomas Creede for Andrew Wise) (EKC I, 294)

1602 Q1 of The Merry Wives of Windsor. William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by Thomas Creede for Arthur Johnson) (EKC I, 426)

1602(?) Q7 Venus and Adonis. (printed; title page missing) (Poems, 3, 5, 376)

1603 Q1 of Hamlet. Title Page William Shake-speare on title page. (printed by Valentine Simmes for Nicholas Ling and John Trundell) (EKC I, 408)

1604 Q3 of Henry the Fourth, Part One. W. Shake-speare on title page. (printed by Valentine Simmes for Matthew Law) (EKC I, 376)

1604 Q2 of Hamlet. William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by James Roberts for Nicholas Ling) (EKC I, 408)

1605 Q4 of Richard the Third William Shake-speare on title page. (printed by Thomas Creede for Matthew Law) (EKC I, 295)

1605 Q1of The London Prodigal William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by Thomas Creede for Nathaniel Butter) (EKC I, 534)

1607 Q5 Lucrece (printed by Nicholas Okes for John Harrison) (Poems, 111-3, 408)

1607-8 (?) Q8 Venus and Adonis; falsely dated 1602 (printed [by Robert Raworth] for William Leake) (Poems, 3, 5, 376)

1608 Q1 King Lear M. William Shak-speare (printed for Nathaniel Butter) (EKC I, 463)

1608 Q4 Richard the Second William Shake-speare on title page. (printed by William White for Matthew Law) (EKC I, 349)

1608 Q4 Henry the Fourth, Part One W. Shake-speare on title page. (printed for Matthew Law) (EKC I, 376)

1608 Q1 A Yorkshire Tragedy William Shakspeare on title page. (printed by R. Bradock for Thomas Pavier) (EKC I, 535)

1608-9 (?) Q9 Venus and Adonis; falsely dated 1602 (printed [by Humphrey Lownes] for William Leake) (Poems, 3, 5, 376)

1609 Q1Troilus and Cressida William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by G. Eld for R. Bonian and H. Walley) (EKC I, 438)

1609 Q1 Pericles William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by William White for Henry Gosson) (EKC I, 518)

1609 Q2 Pericles William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by William White for Henry Gosson) (EKC I, 518)

1609 Q1Shake-speares Sonnets Shake-speares (printed by G. Eld for Thomas Thorpe) (EKC I, 556)

1611 Q3 Hamlet William Shakespeare on title page. (printed for John Smethwick) (EKC I, 409)

1611 Q3 Pericles William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by Simon Stafford) (EKC I, 519)

1611-1637 Q4 Hamlet William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by William Stansby for John Smethwick) (EKC I, 409)

1612 Q5 Richard the Third William Shake-speare on title page. (printed by Thomas Creede for Matthew Law) (EKC I, 295)

1612 Q3 The Passionate Pilgrime (printed by W. Jaggard) (EKC I, 547)

1612-1637 (?) Q4 Romeo and Juliet William Shake-speare (printed for John Smethwick) (EKC I, 340)

1613 Q5 Henry the Fourth, Part One W. Shake-speare on title page. (printed by William White for Matthew Law) (EKC I, 377)

1615 Q5 Richard the Second William Shake-speare on title page. (printed for Matthew Law) (EKC I, 349)

1616 Q6 Lucrece (printed by Thomas Snodham for Roger Jackson) (Poems, 111-3, 409)

1617 Q10 Venus and Adonis (printed [by William Stansby] for William Barrett) (Poems, 3, 5, 377)

1619 Q2 A Midsummer Night's Dream, falsely dated 1600 William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by James Roberts) (EKC I, 357)

1619 Q2 The Merchant of Venice, falsely dated 1600 W. Shakespeare on title page. (printed by James Roberts for Thomas Hayes) (EKC I, 368)

1619 Q2 The Merry Wives of Windsor W. Shakespeare on title page. (printed by William Jaggard for Arthur Johnson) (EKC I, 426)

1619 Q2 King Lear, falsely dated 1608 M. William Shake-speare on title page. (printed by William Jaggard for Nathaniel Butter) (EKC I, 464)

1619 Head Title Q2 King Lear M. William Shake-speare (printed) (EKC I, 464)

1619 Q4 Pericles W. Shakespeare on title page. (printed for Thomas Pavier) (EKC I, 519)

1619 Q2 A Yorkshire Tragedy W. Shakespeare on title page. (printed for T. P.) (EKC I, 535)

1619 Q3 (Pavier quarto) Henry VI Parts 2 & 3 William Shakespeare, Gent. (printed) (EKC I, 279)

1619 Q2 Sir John Oldcastle, falsely dated 1600 William Shakespeare on title page. (printed for T. P.) (EKC I, 534)

1620 Q11 Venus and Adonis (printed [by Felix Kingston] for John Parker) (Poems, 3, 5, 377)

1622 Q6 Richard the Third William Shake-speare on title page. (printed by Thomas Purfoot for Matthew Law) (EKC I, 295)

1622 Q1The Troublesom Raigne of King John W. Shakespeare on title page. (printed by Aug. Mathewes for Thomas Dewe) (EKC I, 365)

1622 Q6 Henry the Fourth, Part One W. Shake-speare on title page. (printed by Thomas Purfoot for Mathew Law) (EKC I, 377)

1622 Q1 Othello William Shakespeare on title page. (printed by Nicholas Okes for Thomas Walkley) (EKC I, 457)

1623 First Folio. William Shakespeare in cast list. (printed) (EKC II, 77)

Quartos by Play and Poem

Venus and Adonis