Variant Versions
The next step is to examine other copies of the book to
ascertain whether a fuller form of the name occurs in press
variants, variant issues or special copies. As the following
instances demonstrate, this appears oftener than might be
suspected:
1640 |
3818 |
R. C. |
Rob. Chamberlain |
1620 |
26041 |
T.D. |
Thomas Dewe |
1618 |
13581 |
Hen: Far: |
Hen: Farley |
1640 |
18948 |
V. H. |
Villiers Harrington |
1621 |
3571 |
Sir T. H. |
Sir Thomas Huet |
Pforzheimer |
1638 |
22435 |
I. K. |
Io. Kirke |
1623 |
6015 |
Ladie P. |
Ladie Porditch |
Folger |
1613 |
18525 |
[anon] |
T. W. |
Harvard |
1621 |
3571 |
Lady P. W. |
Lady Philadelpha Wharton |
Pforzheimer |
In other instances a fuller form is found in later editions:
1640 |
10779 |
Edm. C. |
Edm. Calamy |
1604 |
6968 |
E. C. |
Ed. Ch. |
?Chetwynd? |
1638 |
4127 |
W. Gr. |
W. Greenhill |
1632 |
12967 |
St. Hu. |
Steph. Hurius, Art. Mag. |
1557 |
24168 |
Elisabeth P. |
Elisabeth Palmel, widow V. M. |
1578 |
1852 |
R. W. |
Richard Wroth |
Unhappily this procedure is a two-edged weapon, for instead of
the desired completion to the initials, a different copy or edition
may reveal a conflicting version. Some are recognizable as
corruptions incident to Renaissance reprints:
[1620] |
15688 |
A. R. |
In earlier editions: R. A[llot] |
1604 |
13980 |
T. W. |
In earlier editions: W. H[unnis] |
1628 |
5670 |
C. E. |
Other issues, E. C[ooke] |
When the alteration occurs within the sheets of a single edition,
the
authentic form can be determined, if at all, only by external
evidence or by bibliographical methods beyond the scope of this
study:
1616 |
18909 |
G. B. de med. Tem. (Folger) |
B.G. medij Temp. |
|
|
|
|
(normal and later editions) |
1585 |
19447 |
M. A. |
A. M. |
Variant issues; supposedly Munday |
1603 |
17151 |
T. M. |
C. S. |
Latter presumably a correction |
When an alteration is made in a later edition one hopes —and
sometimes can prove— that the change is a deliberate correction.
Since writers on Sir John Harington seem to have overlooked it,
this example may be instanced. Epistle v.9 in the third volume of
Joseph Hall's
Epistles (1611-12662) is addressed to S. H.
I., although the context suggests that the form should be S. I.
H[arington]. In fact, Harington's name is substituted in the next
printing (1614-12706). But usually when a change is made in a later
edition, one must weigh distasteful alternatives: an authorized
correction or a reprint corruption?
1602 |
1666 |
A. F. |
J. F. |
in STC 1665 |
1619 |
1547 |
H. P. |
P. H. |
in later editions |
1613 |
6611 |
B. R. |
R. R. |
in later editions |
1618 |
12747 |
P. T. |
P. S. |
in later editions |
1584 |
21483 |
D. S. |
R. C. |
unrecorded issue at Lambeth |
1608 |
19057 |
B. P. |
W. P. |
in STC 19081 (a reprint) |
Furthermore, some of the reversed initials discussed later may in
fact be simple typographical errors.
From time to time one encounters initials that have been
completed, altered or cancelled in manuscript —a sight
likely to impress beginners. Examples may be cited of all degrees
of authenticity or dubiety. Since each instance must be judged
individually with a discipline involving paleography, I am
reluctantly obliged to bypass this interesting field.