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The Earliest Edition. The First Edition of Romeo and Juliet was a quarto published in 1597 with the following title-page:—

"An conceited Tragedie  Romeo and Juliet, As it hath been often (with great applause) plaid publiquely by the right Honourable the L. of Hunsdon his Servants., Printed by John Danter. 1597."

A second quarto edition appeared in 1599:—"The Most Excellent and lamentable Tragedie, of Romeo and Juliet. Newly corrected, augmented, and amended: As it hath bene sundry times publiquely acted, by the right Honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his Servants. Printer by Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, and are to be sold at his shop neare the Exchange. 1599."

A third quarto was issued in 1609, as "acted by the King's Majesties Servants, at the Globe," and "printed for John Smethwick"; this edition was subsequently reprinted, with an undated title-age, giving us for the first time the name of the author—"written by W. Shakespeare," though this additional information is not found in all the copies.

A fifth quarto, identical with the fourth, bears the date of 1637.

The text of the First Folio version was taken from the third quarto; many errors therein seem due to the compositors. The second quarto is our best authority