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Early Editions of The Tatler by William B. Todd
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121

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Early Editions of The Tatler
by
William B. Todd

The earliest printings of The Tatler, in folio, octavo, and duodecimo, all exhibit numerous undifferentiated editions and, in the course of issue, various textual alterations. Of the original 1709-1711 editions in folio, chance observation has already elicited some comment, one writer noting Steele's own reference to printing on different presses, another remarking two or more variant settings in at least 82 numbers, a third reporting variation after the 117th number.[1] Further examination, here extending to eighteen copies,[2] discloses a situation more remarkable than any yet envisaged, but still amenable to bibliographical analysis. Altogether, as we now may demonstrate, the 271 folio issues reveal three orders of presswork.

         
Numbers  Settings 
Range  Total  Each no.  Total  Printing 
(1)  1-32  32  2-4  76  Successive, in one shop 
(2)  33-117  85  85  Single, in one shop 
(3)  118-271  154  308  Simultaneous, in two shops 

The several variants of folio numbers 1-32 occur in definite patterns of a kind never encountered in simultaneous, but always appearing in successive issues.[3] Obviously with The Tatler, as with other literary periodicals, the demands of later subscribers required later settings, here represented, exclusively, in collections lately assembled. Certain of these subsequent editions may be identified by an advertisement


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entered intermittently from 14 to 114 and announcing "A New Set of CUTS for the Common Prayer." Though essentially of an identical setting throughout, this notice in issues of a single edition displays in the first line, from 33 to 54 a pointing hand and the reading "CUTS", from 59 to 114 triple stars and the reading "Cuts". Among earlier numbers 1-32 in variant settings the hand is exhibited in 14, 16, 20 of all printings, in 22, 27, 29, 32 only of one. Thus, we may conclude, numbers 22-32 with the starred variant must be of a second (or third) setting printed after 54, the last number of an invariant setting to display the hand. Collections of this later order are the ones identified in Table I as d, m, r, e, i, all with stars, the first two in 29 only, the third in 22 only, the last two in all four numbers. The three series r, e, i also share in numbers 6, 11, and 18 a common third setting with f, an uncut presentation copy collated and bound only after completion of issue, and in numbers 1-2 a common fourth setting not only with this same f but with various other copies. Hence all of these, in more or less degree, appear to have been collected at some time after original issue, and to contain, at least in five of these collections, the latest of several printings.

Once the latest settings are identified all others fall into an inalterable sequence, the earliest A with certain typographical features successively modified to the state represented by later editions B, C, D. Table II illustrates several peculiarities evident in the first four numbers, where in 1-3 a preliminary italic notice on recto occurs in three successive settings, all interrelated with 1-4 imprints on verso in seven different impositions or arrangements of type. The sequence there defined is confirmed and, on the evidence of heading rules, extended in this same Table beyond 32 to invariant settings. From the rules, all of one arrangement until superseded by another, it may be deduced that 1-3 of B edition are coeval with 2-18 of A, 1-3C with 19-29A, and 1-3D with 36-38 or later numbers of the single printing. How much later can be determined, for some editions, again by reference to the hand-star variants previously described, all of which are affiliated with certain others not bearing the advertisement. These affiliations, also noted in Table II, indicate that thirteen of the B editions 15-32, the five C editions 4-18, C edition 32, and D editions 2-3 were issued after number 54, dated 13 August 1709.

The chronology as established for 1-32 is specified in Table III along with a summary record of the points which most easily distinguish the editions. Of first priority, it will be noted, is an original number not in any sequence: an odd circumstance, but one not without


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precedent, and not unexpected here since the earlier papers were distributed gratis and—among these eighteen subscribers, at any rate—before anyone had decided to collect the issues.[4] Also to be noted, though not readily apparent in the Table, are unmistakable signs of revision, all again substantiating the order adduced from typographical evidence and waiting to bedevil any future editor of The Tatler. A few specimens from number 2 will suffice, at this time, to exemplify the complexities in these 76 settings—and in the book editions yet to be considered.

               
Col. line  2.12  4.19  4.45  4.75 
F° (A)  ungraceful  in the  as to make him hope  People of France  
(B)  ungrateful  " "  " " " "  " " " 
(C)  on the  " " " " "  " " " 
(D)  " "  as to hope  People 
12° (A)  in Behalf of the  or make any Hope  People of France  
8° (B)  " " " "  or conceive any Hope  " " " 
12° (C)  " " " "  " " " "  " " " 

From 33 to 117 the publisher, John Morphew, was able to provide in a single edition sufficient copies for all needs present and prospective. With an ever-increasing circulation, however, he finally realized that, even with a two-day interval between numbers, the press could no longer meet the demand. Thus from 118 to 271 two settings appear, both of simultaneous issue and therefore mixed indiscriminately in all collected series. Since there is no priority of issue (and, as we may determine, no certain order of impression) it will be convenient in Table IV to label as edition A the one typographically equivalent to those earlier printed for Morphew,[5] and as B the alternate setting composed at his direction in another office. Whatever the order of printing, there can be little doubt that the editions come from separate establishments, since all type-matter, even including advertisements at end of text, is invariably of two different settings and never interchanged


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between A and B. It is also evident that, despite the highly variable distribution, the editions were of equal size, for the 924 specimens cited in the Table are almost evenly divided, 466 being of the A type and 458 of the B. It further appears that one setting was composed from an early run (or proof-sheet) of the other, since the lineation in both is, normally, identical. In certain numbers, however, the shift of a word may displace subsequent lines; and by means of this variation we may ascertain that Steele examined setting A of numbers 120, 153, 157, 164, and 226, because the line references in the errata later supplied for these are occasionally inapplicable to setting B. Conversely, and to the despair of anyone speculating upon this circumstance, similar variation in other numbers indicates that Steele was reading edition B of 139, 148, 151, 227, 242, and 259, all with referents at times inapplicable to A. From this conflicting evidence the only deduction is that the author, like his readers, received some numbers of one setting, some of the other.

Of greater interest, and possibly of greater significance, are those numbers where Steele was allowed copy in time to amend in the later certain misprints occurring in the earlier setting. Twice in errata accounts the author notes that the errors then cited will be found only in the "faulty impression" (or first edition), a setting easily identified as B of 154 and A of 254. At another time, however, he fails to indicate that the correction pertains only to one setting, in this case to B of 166. And on numerous other occasions he neglects to supply errata notices of any kind, though alterations have again been entered only in one of the two settings. Instances of this silent correction appeared immediately in a random collation of two consecutive numbers, both of which, as it happens, also illustrate the variable order of editions.

             
No.  190  No.  191 
Col.  Editions  Col.  Editions 
line  B (corrected)  line  A (corrected) 
1.16  on  upon  2.51  Artifice  Artifices 
2.43  me I  me that I  3.11  Ornament  Ornaments 
3.58  Circumference  Circumstance  3.21  draw out of  draw of 
3.33  off the  of the 
However variable the order of impression—a matter determined, it seems, entirely by the convenience of the printers—and however erratic Steele's own editorial procedure, the author appears to have exercised the greatest care in selecting the better text as copy for the collected book editions then going through the press. Whether that copy is of

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the original impression A or B with the author's own MS corrections, or of the second setting B or A in amended form, is a question which a future editor must decide on the evidence of all the 154 numbers so affected. Any evasion of the problem will leave him with two alternatives, either to designate folio A as standard copy (since this preserves, at least in accidentals, the "house style" of the earlier single edition) or to adopt octavo or duodecimo as basic text.

The latter expedient, though always followed in times past, is particularly unwise because, as we now discover, both of these formats also exist in variable settings, all with different readings, and none with text in definitive state. The original book edition A doubtless is the 12° with errata lists in all four volumes and bearing a text, as the title declares, "Revised and Corrected by the Author." Most of the errata are corrected in later printings 8° and 12°, and the text further revised, with each edition set from copy of the same format yet incorporating, with some exceptions, amendments in a subsequent setting of another size. From the original printing A derives the octavo "subscription" edition of royal and medium paper issue B1,2: a text which in earliest numbers volumes I-II adopts or further improves 26 readings first introduced in 12° (Table V, order 1222, 1232, 1234), supplies 13 additional readings (1121, 1122, 1123), but fails to transmit 6 others revised in 12° (1211, 1212). These others, all rather insignificant, may represent entries in a 12° proof later than the one used as copy for subsequent editions, or readings entered in good time but deliberately rejected upon second printing and any copy dependent upon this. From the original printing also derives another 12° C, a supplementary issue presenting a text which, among the readings now under inspection, adopts or improves upon 30 entries in 12° A, including 6 not accumulated in 8° B (1222, 1121, 1123, 1212, 1232), incorporates 14 others first entered or reinserted in B (1122, 1211), and further amends a new reading first cited there (1234). Still another supplementary issue D, identical with C except for a resetting of volume I sheets B-F, occasionally in this resetting improves upon accidentals, e.g., at page 2, line 36, in the alteration of "dated from my own Apartment" to "dated, From my own Apartment". Supplementary to 8° B — and of all printings the only ones seemingly unattended by the author[6] —are two later issues each also of two impressions, one with an undifferentiated resetting of volume II and volume I dated 1713 (E1,2), the other with volume II reissued under title also dated 1713 (F1,2). Points distinguishing


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the several issues are given, for 12° in Table VI, for 8° in Table VII.

Order of publication, as determined from advertisements in the folio Tatlers, confirms the textual relationship just described. Preceding any of the legitimate issues is a pirated two-volume 12° edition,[7] cited on 4 July 1710 in the same notice announcing as of "Monday next," or the 10th, the simultaneous issue of the authentic 12° and 8° (A,B). But where two 8° volumes had been proposed on 31 January, it is now admitted that only the first would appear, the second—according to an announcement of 6 July—"being necessarily defer'd for Want of Paper, which is just come by the Fleet now arriv'd from Holland." This volume B, then promised "in about a Fortnight," actually was delayed until 1 September, and thus follows the second 12° volume A, on ordinary paper, by seven weeks. Though the 12° goes unmentioned in later advertisements, it may be presumed that volumes III and IV in this format were issued, according to original intention, simultaneously with the 8° edition, III of this being announced (in final Tatler number 271) on 2 January 1711, and IV (in Harrison Tatler 316) 17 April 1711. The price of each volume of these several impressions is cited (in Tatler 196) as 2s.6d. for the 12° and (in Spectator 227) as 21s for 8° royal paper, 10s.6d. for 8° medium paper.

With all issues on record, it may be conceded that a definitive edition of The Tatler should take into account every printing except, perhaps, E and F of the collected series, and offer from a conflation of these an eclectic text. A full accounting, as calculated in this final summary, will range for any one number to as many as eight editions, for all numbers to some 1162 settings.

             
Volume  II  III  IV  Total 
Numbers  1-17[8]   18-32  33-50  51-114  115-117  118-189  190-271 
Total settings each no. 
Folio editions A-D  2-4  2-3  469 
12° issues A,C,D  422 
8° issue B  271 
Totals  6-8  5-6  1162 


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Table I. Arrangement of Folio Settings, Numbers 1-32

Note. Identifying letters merely signify order in which the following copies were examined: a-f. Harvard: * 57-1691F; 16441.3.9 *; 16441.4 *; 16441.4.6 * (nos. 1-235 only); P84.840; Widener (presentation copy, 2 vols, in green vellum gilt) g-i. Texas: q052.T188; 2d copy; 3d copy (nos. 1-229 only) j-k. North Carolina: Whitaker; T824.05/T219 (nos. 1-100 only) l-m. Professor Richmond P. Bond: Blue and Butler copies n-p. New York Public Library: Berg (Jerome Kern); Berg (Owen D. Young); reserve collection (miscellaneous lot, lacking early nos. 2, 4-5, 7-39) q-r. Columbia: special collection; Medical School Rules define the point where, except for an occasional purchase of missing copies, successive groups of readers appear to have collected numbers as issued. Certain collections, however, including presentation set f, may have been assembled later in the publisher's warehouse.

                                                                   
Copy 
No.  Settings 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 

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illustration

Notes. Aberrant title setting with broken 'e' in 'The' is also found in single edition of nos. 41-42, occasionally in later editions of 2-32, but in conjunction with roman type 'Advertisements' only, as specified in Table, in B setting of nos. 16, 20, 21. All of these occurrences perhaps indicate an alternate setting of heading and/or imprint used when regular type was already at press for another number.


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Table III. Folio Editions 1-32, Chronology and Points

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
No.  Ed.  Issued[‡]   Variations in text 
line 3  line 7  2.cw 
12  Apr  Main   think:  come 
16  Apr  Main   think:  ding 
24  May  main   think:  ding 
July  main   think:  ding 
2.11  3.73 
14  Apr  Home----  Molly,---- 
19  Apr  Home---  Molly,---- 
24  May  Home---  Molly,--- 
13  Aug  Home---  Molly
line 3  1.1|2 
16  Apr  Main   Country
19  Apr  Main   Country-| 
24  May  main   Country
13  Aug  main   Coun-|try  
3.last 
19  Apr  notice 
13  Aug  Notice 
13  Aug  Notice  [4 from last
1.1  4.penult 
21  Apr  (out   this 
24  May  out   this, 
13  Aug  (out   this, 
3.15  4.1 
23  Apr  Trojans Tranquility 
24  May  Trojans Tranquillity 
13  Aug  Trojans:   Tranquility 
4.2|3 
26  Apr  Tran-|quility 
July  Tran-|quillity 
3.17 
28  Apr  care 
18  June  Care 
4.21 
30  Apr  supposed 
July  suppos'd 
2.19 
10  May  pairing 
July  paring 
2.2|3  4.4 
11  May  Greatness|  Wollen  
24  May  Great-|ness  Woollen  
13  Aug  Greatness|  Woollen  
1.cw. 
12  May  [none
18  June  Place 
1.penult 
13  10  May  Glasses 
18  June  glasses 
1.1|2 
14  12  May  had | appear'd 
30  June  had ap-|pear'd 
No.  Ed.  Issued[‡]   Variations in text 
2.8|9 
15  14  May  a Bed-|Side 
13  Aug  a | Bed-Side 
2.2|3 
16  17  May  to come,|As  
July  to | come, As  
1.8 
17  19  May  from 
13  Aug  (from 
2.20|21 3.1st word 
18[*]   21  May  Place,|'tis he 
24  May  Place,|'tis the 
13  Aug  the | Place, the 
1.10 
19  24  May  Derision; 
18  June  Derision: 
1.9 
20  26  May  Brown 
July  brown 
2.1 
21  28  May  Comedy 
July  Comedy, 
4.10|11 
22  31  May  many | Virgins 
13  Aug  ma-|ny Virgins 
2.6|7 
23  June  a-|gainst 
13  Aug  |against 
1.6 
24  June  Letter 
13  Aug  Letter, 
2.8 
25  June  The Tale 
13  Aug  The Tale  
4.10 
26  June  Death: 
13  Aug  Death? 
2.1st word 
27  11  June  see 
13  Aug  we 
2.cw 
28  14  June 
13  Aug  a Man's 
2.1st word 
29  16  June  sters  
13  Aug  and  
3.13 
30  18  June  Tender 
13  Aug  tender 
2.11 
31  21  June  perform'd 
13  Aug  performed 
1.11  1.15 
32  23  June  Norris, Idea's 
13  Aug  Norris Idea's 
13  Aug  Norris, Ideas 


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Table IV. Simultaneous Folio Issues, Numbers 118-271

The following account lists in order the settings represented in the four Harvard and two Texas copies designated in Table I as abcegh. Points differentiating the two editions:

                                                                   
imprint reading, nos. 118-174[*]   TATLER heading, nos.132-271[†]  
A Advertisements   'R' perfect 
B Advertisements  'R' gouged 
118 BBBBAA  149 BBAAAB  180 ABBBAB  211 AAABAA  242 BABBAB 
119 BBAABB  150 BAABAA  181 BBABBA  212 ABAAAA  243 AABABB 
120 BAABBB  151 BAABAB  182 BBBABA  213 BABBBB  244 BAABBA 
121 BABBAA  152 BAABBB  183 BAABBA  214 BAABAA  245 ABBABA 
122 BBBBAB  153 BAABAA  184 BABBBA  215 AAAAAA[‡]   246 BABABB 
123 ABBBBA  154 BBAABB  185 ABAAAB  216 AABAAB  247 BABBBA 
124 BAABBB  155 ABABBB  186 AAAABA  217 AABBBA  248 ABBAAA 
125 BBBABB  156 AABABA  187 AAAAAA[‡]   218 ABBBAA  249 BBAABB 
126 ABABAA  157 AAABBB  188 AABBBA  219 BABABA  250 BAAAAB 
127 BABABB  158 ABABAB  189 ABBBAA  220 BBBBBA  251 BBAAAA 
128 BABAAB  159 BAAAAA  190 BBAABA  221 AAABBA  252 ABABAA 
129 BAAABA  160 AAABAB  191 BBBABA  222 BABAAA  253 ABAAAA 
130 AABBBA  161 BBAAAA  192 ABAABA  223 BBAABB  254 AABBBA 
131 BAABAB  162 ABBBBA  193 BBAAAB  224 ABAAAB  255 ABABAA 
132 BABABB  163 AABBBA  194 AAAABB  225 BBAABB  256 BBAABA 
133 BABAAB  164 ABABBB  195 AABBAB  226 AAAAAB  257 BAAABA 
134 BAAAAB  165 AAABAA  196 BBAABB  227 ABAABB  258 ABBBAB 
135 BBBBBA  166 BABBBA  197 BAABAB  228 AABABA  259 BABBBB 
136 ABABBA  167 BABAAB  198 BAABAA  229 AAAABB  260 ABBBBA 
137 BBAABB  168 BABABB  199 BABBAB  230 BAAAAA  261 AABAAB 
138 BBBBAB  169 AABABA  200 AABBAA  231 BBAAAA  262 BBBBAB 
139 AAAABA  170 BABABB  201 BABBBB  232 ABBAAA  263 ABAABA 
140 ABAAAA  171 BBBBBB[‡]   202 AABBAA  233 BAAAAB  264 AAABBB 
141 BBAABA  172 AABBBB  203 BABABB  234 ABBBAA  265 ABAABB 
142 AABBAB  173 ABABAB  204 BABBBA  235 ABABBA  266 BAABAB 
143 ABBBBA  174 AABAAA  205 BABBAA  236 BABBBA  267 BBBBBA 
144 ABBBAA  175 BAAABA  206 BABABB  237 BBAAAB  268 AAABBA 
145 AABBAB  176 AABBAB  207 AAAABA  238 BABABA  269 BAABBA 
146 ABABAA  177 BABAAA  208 BABBBA  239 BABAAB  270 ABBABB 
147 BBBABB  178 ABAAAA  209 BABABA  240 AABAAA  271 AAABBB 
148 BBAABB  179 AABABB  210 BABBAA  241 BABBBA 


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Table V. Revision in 12° and 8° Editions, Volumes I-II

The 'order' identifies readings successively appearing in f°, 12° (A), 8° (B), and 12° (C), numbers 1 and 51. All page and line references are to 12°.

                                                                                                         
Order  Ref.  Readings 
Volume I  
1211  1.5  Kinds, they] Kinds, yet they 
1212  1.11  being Persons] being Men 
1234  2.7  It is also resolv'd by me] I have also resolved] I resolve also] 
I resolved also 
1121  2.9  taken] invented 
1211  2.14  all Persons] my Readers 
1122  2.35  I shall on any other Subject offer] I have to offer on any other 
Subject 
1211  2.37  Reader] Readers 
1122  3.13  Helps] Force 
1122  3.17  not speak of any Think 'till it is pass'd] speak but of few 
Things 'till they are pass'd 
1211  3.20  April 7] April 11 
1122  3.33  he sits] sits 
1122  4.4  Play-house all the Week] Play-house every Night in the Week 
1222  4.21  he's] he is 
1222  4.22  he's] he is 
1222  4.23  The Reader is desir'd . . . in Love.] omit  
1211  4.23  acted] presented 
1222  4.30  Distinction, the] as at that Time; the 
1222  4.32  there appear'd also] it discovered even there 
1222  5.2  Perfection, and there seem'd a peculiar Regard had to their 
Behaviour on this occasion: No one] Perfection; the Actors 
were careful of their Carriage, and no one 
1222  5.5  Respect had] Respect was had 
1222  5.33  late Favour] Favour 
1222  5.36  may not] should be 
1222  6.6  and is] wherein he is 
1222  6.9  said] say 
1222  6.24  Hand; which] Hand. This 
1222  6.30  who come] that come 
1222  6.37  Prince Eugene was then . . . Seven Vessels.] omit  
1122  7.26  and that not] and not 
1222  8.5  Penetration] Skill 
1222  8.15  Advertisement. A Vindication . . . Year 1709.] omit  
Volume II  
1222  1.1  suitable] equal 
1222  2.20  when a] by a 
1122  3.1  and find] and to find 
1121  3.5  the College] his College 
1222  3.14  near] nearly 
1122  3.16  A great deal of good Company] A good Company 
1222  3.19  he presented us with] wherewith he presented us 
1122  4.18  or how] and how 
1222  5.18  Street] Secret 
1222  6.18  a Bar] the Bar 
1222  6.30  which will] that will 
1222  6.34  is said] I said 
1121  7.7  Last Night arrived . . . Common Cause.] omit  
1232  7.12  is arriv'd] was arriv'd] omit  
1123  7.14  taking] omit] making] 


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Table VI. Variant Issues A,C,D, First 12° Edition

All issues original and supplementary of invariant impressions, I-II of original on full sheets ordinary paper with horizontal chainlines, III-IV and all reprints on half-sheets of double-size paper with vertical lines. Originally published I-II on 10 July 1710, III 2 January 1711, IV 20 November 1711.

A. Volumes I-II of setting a, III of variant a, IV (all issues) with superfluous press figure page 286. Copy: Texas (the set used by George A. Aitken for his 1898-1899 edition).

Mr. D. G. Neill, who is now preparing a more detailed analysis of this issue, kindly advises me that volume II of his copy has in addition to the figures cited below a number 1 on page 22.

C. Apparently subsequent to octavo issue, volumes I-II of setting b, III of variant b with formes B and C(o) reimpressed, C(i) reset, figure on page 3 occasionally lacking. Copies: Bodleian, Columbia, Harvard, Todd.

D. As for preceding issue except volume I of variant c with sheets B-F reset. Copy: Professor Richmond P. Bond.

The following list cites by page-number the press figures in sheets so marked, by the letter(s) immediately above first signature a convenient point for unfigured sheets.

                                                                         
Ia   Ib   Ic   IIa   IIb   IIIa   IIIb   IV 
1710  1710  1710  1710  1710  1711  1711  1711 
he  22-2  11-3  23-5  24-1  3-5  4-5 
24-1  16-3  24-2  24-1  24-1  22-1 
36-3  46-2  25-1  45-4  28-2  45-2  45-5 
46-1  46-4  46-4  ____  46-1   46-4 
fr  52-2  70-4  70-1  69-5  52-2  70-1 
71-5  72-4  72-1  71-5  70-5  72-2 
ng  95-2  93-1  94-4  93-1  94-4  82-3 
96-4  98-5  96-1  95-2  96-3  96-4 
118-3  100-5  118-3  118-4  98-2  118-5 
_____  120-3  120-4  120-3  120-1 
nt  122-5  142-4  124-5  141-5  134-3 
144-4  144-3  142-5  142-2  141-2 
ed  165-5  166-4  166-4  165-5  158-5 
166-2  168-3  168-1  166-2  168-4 
190-3  190-3  190-3  191-5  190-3 
192-5  192-4  192-3  192-4  192-2 
e i  213-5  215-3  214-4  214-2  203-5 
216-4  216-1  216-4  205-4 
238-4  238-4  220-3  218-3  238-2 
240-5  240-3  238-4  240-5  240-1 
ou  262-2  261-3  262-3  256-3  253-3 
264-3  262-4  264-5  262-2  262-4 
ou  286-3  287-3  280-5  278-3  275-5 
288-4  288-4  286-1  285-4  288-1 
310-5  302-3  292-2  310-2  304-2 
312-5  312-4  302-3  312-5  310-3 
327-3  334-3  335-4  325-3  316-4 
333-3  336-4  336-2  334-4  334-5 
358-1  358-3  352-3  357-5  340-2  357-1 
360-2  360-4  358-4  358-1  358-4  359-2 
364-3  374-5  364-3  382-4  381-2  374-5 
382-1  376-3  382-2  384-4  382-3 
388-3  397-5  388-3 
398-4  398-4 


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Table VII. Variant Issues B,E,F, First 8° Edition

All issues original and supplementary of royal (22.3 x 14cm.) and medium paper (20 x 12.5cm.) impressions.[*] Original series published simultaneously with 12° edition A except for delayed issue of 2d volume, 1 September 1710.

B. Volume I dated 1710, II of setting a. 1. Royal-paper: BM (4 copies, one of vols I-II only), Harvard, New York Public (Berg copy vols I-II only), Bond. 2. Medium-paper: Bodleian (2 copies), Harvard, Texas (2 copies, one of vol I only), Bond.

E. Volume I reset and dated 1713, II of setting b except for sheet S which, in the one copy examined, is of a setting. 1. Royal-paper: none observed. 2 Medium-paper: Todd.

F. Volume I as in preceding issue, II reissued with reset prelims and title also dated 1713. 1. Royal-paper: BM, Bodleian. 2. Medium-paper: Columbia.

The following list cites by page-number the press figures in sheets so marked, by the letter (s) immediately above first signature a convenient point for unfigured sheets.

                                                                                                                                 
IIa   IIb   III  IV 
1710  1710  1710  1711  1711 
y, 
id  14-2  he  e o 
16-1 
30-2  rk  Ho  o w 
32-1 
of  46-2  s D  st 
48-1 
62-1  o h 
64-2 
78-1  at  nc 
80-2 
94-1  94-1  s, 
96-2  96-1 
110-2  110-1  th 
112-1  112-1 
126-1  126-2  ed 
128-2  128-1 
142-1  142-2  142-1 
144-1  144-1  144-1 
158-2  158-2  e C  ig  158-2 
160-1  160-1  160-2 
174-1  174-2  ms  s s  174-1 
176-2  176-1  176-1 
190-1  190-1  n f  190-1 
192-1  192-2  192-1 
206-2  206-2  , a  d s  207-2 
208-1  208-1 
222-1  222-1  219-2 
224-2  224-2  224-1 
238-2  238-2  l o  238-2 
240-1  240-1  240-1 
IIa   IIb   III  IV 
1710  1710  1710  1711  1711 
254-1  254-1  ho  254-1 
256-2  256-2  256-2 
270-1  270-1  270-1 
272-2  272-2  272-2 
286-2  286-1  st  284-2 
288-1  288-1  286-1 
302-1  302-1  g I  302-2 
304-1  304-1  304-1 
318-1  318-1  s w  318-2 
320-2  320-1  320-1 
334-2  wn  wh  334-1 
336-1  336-2 
350-1  , C  , C  e d  350-2 
352-1  352-1 
2A  366-2  . I  367-2 
368-1 
2B  382-2  he  d w  382-1 
384-1  384-2 
2C  398-2  e E  396-2 
400-1  398-1 
2D  ei  413-2 
415-1 
2E  ec  431-2 
432-1 
2F  me  he  445-2 
446-1 
2G  Mi  s o  460-1 
463-2 
2H  g t  t b 
2I 

notes

 
[1]

F.W. Bateson, RES, V (1929), 155-166; Graham Pollard, The Library, 4th ser., XXII (1941), 121; Todd, ibid., 5th ser., X (1955), 49-50.

[2]

To Professor Richmond P. Bond I am greatly indebted for microfilms of folio sets j-m and for a detailed account of the 8° and 12° editions in the British Museum, the Bodleian Lbrary, and his personal collection. Without these and other encouragements it is doubtful whether I should ever have concluded the "further investigation" I had some years ago invited others to pursue.

[3]

Todd, loc. cit.

[4]

Among the Tatlers the original edition of numbers 2 and 3, though long anticipated from certain peculiarities in 4, did not appear before the 10th copy examined (j), the original setting of 1 not before the 16th (p) and then only in an odd lot assembled from various sources. Among early numbers of the Gentleman's Magazine, also at first 'Printed for the Author', the original issue of March 1731 occurs only in five of the 36 sets I have inspected, the issue for February only in one, the issue for January not at all.

[5]

On 2 May 1710 John Nutt, the first printer, entered in the Stationers' Register his copyright to all issues, folio, octavo, and duodecimo. This notice, supplied over a year after original issue of number 1, doubtless was prompted either by the folio reprinting begun in Edinburgh 13 February, or by the pending book edition which Hills issued before 4 July.

[6]

Through the first number the later 8° exactly reprints B except for the accidental omission at 7.12 of the "s" in "Preparations".

[7]

This uncommon edition, issued by Henry Hills, reprints folios 1-100. The piracy is represented at the University of Texas, the Bodleian Library, and in Professor Bond's collection.

[8]

12° issue C is reset only through the first page of number 17.

[‡]

Edition 'A' issued as dated; editions B-D, though bearing same date, from evidence of Table II issued on or after date now assigned.

[*]

Edition B columns 1,2,4 of same setting as A and therefore issued immediately after A.

[*]

Thereafter both settings have 'Advertisements' in roman letter.

[†]

In the continuation bearing Morphew imprint the combined number 272-273 also was issued in two setting A and B, numbers 274-330 only in A.

[‡]

The alternate setting not represented in these numbers will be found, A171 in Texas copy i, B187 and 215 in Harvard copy f.

[*]

Vol. I page 368, originally misnumbered 863, is corrected in some copies of royal and all copies of medium paper impression; one or more of figures 96-2, 112-1, 128-2, 190-1 dropped in later copies of medium; vol. II page 96 figure 1 altered to 2 in some copies of royal and all copies of medium; vol. IV 284-2 added after early copies of royal.


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