This selective bibliography of scholarship on English manuscripts, c. 1500–1660, is designed primarily for students of literature. [Updated October 11, 2024.]
A. Introductory
B. Handwriting and Transcription C. Manuscript Circulation D. Women’s Writing in Manuscript E. Poetry in Manuscript F. Verse Miscellanies G. Other Manuscript Genres of Compilation H. Drama in Manuscript I. Playhouse Documents J. Manuscript to Print K. Print to Manuscript L. Letters M. Diaries and Journals N. Historical Documents |
A. INTRODUCTORY |
A1. Introductory Essays
A2. Major Books and Resources
A3. Journals
A4. Online Facsimile Collections
A5. Bibliographies
B1. General Introductions
B2. Online Tutorials for Reading Early Modern Hands
B3. Examples of Hands
B4. Description and Identification
B5. Transcription
B6. Technology and Materials (Paper, Ink, Quills)
B7. Writing Beyond Paper
B8. Further Reading on Handwriting
B+. Online Resources
C1. General
C2. Milieux of Scribal Production and Circulation
C3. Collation and Stemmatics
C+. Online Resources
D1. Introductory Essays
D2. Introductions to Specific Topics
D3. Edited Collections
D4. Case Study: The Correspondence of Bess of Hardwick
D5. Case Study: The Writings of Jane Cavendish and Elizabeth Brackley
D6. Case Study: The Poetry of Hester Pulter (Leeds University Library, Brotherton Collection, MS Lt q 32)
D7. Case Study: The Writings of Anne Clifford
D8. Case Study: Frances Wolfreston’s Books
D9. Case Study: Katherine Austen’s Book M (British Library, MS Add. 4454)
D10. Case Study: The Calligraphic Manuscripts of Esther Inglis
D+. Online Resources
E1. General
E2. Editing Manuscript Poetry
E3. Manuscript Poetry: Specific Issues
E4. Case Study: John Donne’s Poetry in Manuscript
E5. Case Study: Katherine Philips’s Poetry in Manuscript
E6. Manuscript Circulation: Other Authors
E+. Online Resources
F1. General
F2. Edited Collections
F3. Case Study: The Devonshire Manuscript (British Library, MS Add. 17492)
F4. Case Study: The Verse Miscellany of Constance Aston Fowler (Huntington Library, MS HM 904)
F5. Other Miscellanies
F6. Manuscript Contexts of Printed Verse Miscellanies
G1. Commonplace Books: General
G2. Commonplace Books: Case Studies and Specific Topics
G3. Recipe Books
G4. Note Taking
G5. Notebooks: Case Studies
G6. Medical Casebooks
G7. Compilation Practices and Natural Philosophy
G+. Online Resources
H1. General
H2. Playhouse Manuscripts: General
H3. Playhouse Manuscripts: Specific Issues
H4. Playhouse Manuscripts: Specific Manuscripts
H5. Case Study: The Booke of Sir Thomas Moore (British Library, MS Harley 7368)
H5. Non-Playhouse Dramatic Manuscripts: Specific Manuscripts
H6. Case Study: Edward Dering’s Adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV
H7. Case Study: Mary Wroth’s Love’s Victory
H8. Case Study: The Plays of William Percy
H9. Circulation and Transmission of Dramatic Texts
H10. Compilation and Provenance of Dramatic Manuscripts
H+. Online Resources
I1. Playhouse Documents: General
I2. Case Study: The Henslowe-Alleyn Papers at Dulwich College
I3. Actors’ Parts
I+. Online Resources
J1. Introductions to Early Modern Printing
J2. Manuscript Copy in the Print Shop
J3. Case Study: John Harington and Richard Field
J4. Manuscript in Relation to Print
J5. Manuscripts and Early Printing
J+. Online Resources
K1. Marginalia: General
K2. Marginalia: Specific Issues and Authors
K3. Case Study: The Marginalia of Gabriel Harvey
K4. Case Study: Marginalia in Printed Playbooks
K5. Corrections
K6. Print Books Designed to Be Inscribed
K+. Online Resources
L1. General: Introductory Essays
L2. General: Book-Length Studies
L3. Edited Collections
L4. Circulation of Letters
L5. Editing Letters
L6. Selected Editions
L7. Further Reading on Letters
L8. Bibliographies
L+. Online Resources
M1. General
M2. Selected Editions
N1. Introductory
N2. Primary Documents: Major Calendar Series and Transcriptions
N3. State Papers and Public Records
N4. Parish Registers [Archives are helpfully navigated on FamilySearch.org]
N5. Wills
N6. Inventories and Accounts
N7. Archiving and Record-Keeping
N+. Online Resources
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