Books from Ben Jonson's library at the Folger

The bibliography includes a list of reference works on Ben Jonson’s library. Essays on a specific book owned by the playwright are listed under the title of the book. David McPherson’s Annotated Catalog is the main reference on Ben Jonson’s books. We follow the same organization as McPherson and list first the books attributed to Jonson then those with a doubtful attribution, and those with a spurious one. At the end, we have added a section for newly discovered books in neither McPherson nor The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ben Jonson (CEWBJ). Although the online database of Ben Jonson’s books in CEWBJ is a revised and enlarged version of McPherson’s catalog, it is a work in progress. We do not include references to it in our list but we recommend that researchers consult it when possible (it is accessible only by subscription).

Each entry includes the Folger call number of the item and McPherson’s catalog number. We indicate (but do not describe) the presence or not of Ben Jonson’s annotations as well as of his motto and signature. Information about access to the item in the Folger library’s reading room is also specified as well as whether or not a curatorial file with additional information on the book is available to researchers. For more information on Ben Jonson’s books at the Folger see the Folger Shakespeare Library blog, The Collation.

Bibliography

• Tannenbaum, Samuel Aaron. Ben Jonson (a Concise Bibliography)... New York, Scholars’ Facsimiles and Reprints, 1938.
• Herford & Simpson. Ben Jonson, ed. by C. H. Herford and Percy Simpson. Oxford: The Clarendon press, 1925-1952.
• McPherson, David. “Ben Jonson’s Library and Marginalia: An Annotated Catalogue,” Studies in Philology 71, no. 5 (December 1974): 1-106.
• Evans, Robert. “Ben Jonson’s Library and Marginalia: New Evidence from the Folger Collection,” Philological Quaterly 66 (1987): 521-528.
• Henry Woudhuysen’s annotations on Ben Jonson’s books, in The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ben Jonson (CEWBJ), online database (subscription required).

McPherson Main Catalogue

Aleandro, Girolamo

Antiquae tabulae marmorae. Paris: Ex Officina Niuelliana, Sumptibus Sebastiani Cramoysi, 1617.

• Call Number: N5763 .A3 Cage [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 4.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Baudius, Dominicus

Morali et civilis sapientiae monita... Leiden: Typis J. Balduinis, apud L. Elzevirium, 1611.

• Description: Title page only.
• Call Number: V.b.35 (11)
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 21.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: N/A.
• Curatorial file: Yes.
• Access: Use as little as possible.

Casaubon, Isaac

Animadversionum in Athen[aei] dipnosophistas libri XV... Secunda editio... Lyon: Apud viduam A. de Harsy & P. Ravuaud, 1621.

• Call Number: PA3937 .C3 1621 Cage [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 34.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Caussin, Nicolas

De Symbolica Aegyptiorum sapientia... Cologne: Apud I. Kinckium, 1623.

• Call Number: PJ1093 .C2 1623 [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 38.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Motto only.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Chaucer, Geoffrey

The Workes of our Ancient and Learned English poet, Geffrey Chaucer, Newly Printed ... London: Printed by Adam Islip, 1602.

• Call Number: STC 5080 Copy 3
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 39.
• Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quarterly 66, p.526.
• Robert C. Evans, “Ben Jonson’s Chaucer,” English Literary Renaissance 19 (1989): 324-345.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Motto only.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Eustathius, Macrembolites

Ευσταθιου καθʹΥσμινιαν και Υσμινην δραμα. Eustathii de Ismeniae et Ismenes amoribus... Paris: Sumptibus Hieronymi Drouart, 1617.

• Call Number: PA5315 .I7 1617 Cage [not in Hamnet].
• Description: Inserted title-page supplied from another copy. It may have belonged to a sammelband now at the Houghton Library, Harvard.
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 61.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: Unknown.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Use as little as possible.

Heinsius, Daniel

Danielis Heinsii Aristarchus Sacer... Leyden: Ex officinal B. & A. Elzevir, 1627.

• Call Number: BS2617 .H4 Cage [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 75.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Motto only.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Maiolo, Simeone

Dies caniculares... Mainz: Impensis Ioannis Theobaldi, 1614.

• Call Number: QH41 .M2 1614 Cage [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 110.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Motto partly only.
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: Yes.
• Access: Available for research.

Maiolo, Simeone

Dierum Canicularium Tomus V. et VI. Mainz: Impensis Ioannis Theobaldi, 1614.

• Description: Title page only.
• Call Number: Art vol. d59, 6AV [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 110-A.
  • Freeman, Arthur. “Everyman and Others, Part I: Some Fragments of Early English Printing, and their Preservers,” Library 9 (2008): p. 288.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Signature only.
• Annotations: Unknown.
• Curatorial file: Yes.
• Access: Available for research.

Martialis

M. Val. Martialis epigrammaton libri. Animaduersi, emendati et commentariolis luculenter explicati... London: Excudebat Felix Kingstonius impensis Gulielmi Welby, 1615.

• Call Number: STC 17492 Copy 1
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 119.
  • Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quarterly 66, p. 527. Wrong call number, Copy 2 instead of Copy 1.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Martialis

M. Valerij Martialis Epigrammatum libri XV… Paris : Apud Claudium Morellum, via Iacobaea, ad insigne fontis, 1617.

• Call Number: 259- 336f
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 120.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Signature only.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: Yes.
• Access: Available for research.

Martialis

M. Val. Martialis nova editio : ex museo Petri Scriverij. Leiden: Apud Ioannem Maire, 1619.

• Call Number: PA6501 .A2 1619 Cage
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 121.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Mulcaster, Richard

Positions Wherin Those Primitive Circumstances Be Examined... London : By Thomas Vautrollier for Thomas Chare [i.e. Chard], 1581.

• Call Number: STC 18253
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 133.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Signature only.
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Norris, Sir John, and Francis Drake

Ephemeris expeditionis Norreysij & Draki in Lusitaniam. London: impensis Thomæ Woodcocke, apud signum Ursi nigri [Printed by Thomas Orwin], 1589.

• Call Number: STC 18653
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 134.
  • Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quarterly 66, p. 524. Wrong call number, 18563 instead of 18653.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Signature only.
• Annotations: None of Jonson.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Ockland, Christopher

Anglorum prælia ab anno Domini, 1327... London: apud Radulphum Nuberie, ex assignatione Henrici Bynneman typographi [H. Bynneman], 1582.

• Call Number: STC 18773 copy 1
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 135.
  • Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quarterly 66, p. 524-525.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes. Both partially cut.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Panciroli, Guido

Notitia utraque Dignitatum, cum Orientis, tum Occidentis... Lyon : Ex officina Q.H. a Parta, apud Io. De Gabiansi, 1608.

• Call Number: DG.81,P2 1608 Cage [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 157.
  • Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quarterly 66, p. 526.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Petrarca, Francesco

Francisci Petrarchae opera quae extant omnia. Basel: Per Sebastianum Henricpetri, 1581

• Call Number: PQ4475 .A1 1581 Cage [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 140: Martin and Evans believe that this Folger copy is identical with the Charterhouse one.
  • Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quaterly 66, p. 526.
  • Martin, Christopher. “Retrieving Jonson’s Petrarch,” Shakespeare Quarterly 45 (1994): 89-92.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: Yes.
• Access: Available for research.

Scriverius, Petrus

M. Val Martialis nova editio. Ex Museo Petri Scriverii. Leyden: Apud Joannem Maire, 1619.

• Description: Half title-page only of the part intituled J. Gruteri ad Martialem notae.
• Call Number: Z.e.7, fol. 23
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 170.
  • Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quarterly 66, p. 527.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Signature. Motto partly erased.
• Annotations: Unknown.
• Curatorial file: Yes.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Selden, John

Johannis Seldeni J.C. De Diis Syris Syntagmata II... London: Bibliopolarum corpori excudebat Guilielmus Stansbeius, 1617.

• Call Number: STC 22167.2
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 172.
  • Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quarterly 66, p. 527-528.
  • Bland, Mark. “Jonson, Biathanatos and the Interpretation of Manuscript Evidence,” Studies in Bibliography 51 (1998), 154-82, at p. 165.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Tarchaniota Marullus, Michael

Poetae tres Elegantissimi... Paris: Apud Iacobum Du-puys, 1582.

• Call Number: PA8547 .M56 1582 Cage Copy 2 [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 186.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Motto only.
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Terentianus, Maurus

Terentiani Mauri... de litteris, syllabis, pedibus, et metris tractatus... Paris : Apud Simonem Colinaeum, 1531.

• Call Number: PA6754 .T6 1531 Cage [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 188.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Yes.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Valerius, Maximus

Valerii Maximi dictorum factorumque memorabilium libri ix... Antwerp: Ex officina Christophori Plantini, Architypographi Regii, 1574.

• Call Number: 266691
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, no. 192.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Signature only. Motto cut out.
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Doubtful Attributions

Mirandula, Octavianus

Illustrium Poetarum Flores, per Octavianum Mirandulam collecti, et in locos communes digesti. Lyons: Apud Ioannem Tornaesium, 1579.

• Call Number: PA6121 .A2 1579a Cage Copy 2 [not in Hamnet].
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, Doubtful Attributions, no. 3.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: Signature only.
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Weever, John

The Mirror of Martyrs, or the Life and Death of That Thrice Valiant Capitaine, and Most Godly Martyre Sir Iohn Old-castle Knight Lord Cobham. London: Printed by V[alentine] S[immes] for William Wood, 1601.

• Call Number: STC 25226
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, Doubtful Attributions, no. 7.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: No.
• Annotations: No.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Spurious Attributions

Plutarch

The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romanes, Compared Together by That Grave Learned Philosopher and Historiographer, Plutarke of Chæronea. London : by Richard Field for Bonham Norton, 1595

• Call Number: STC 20067 copy 4
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, Spurious Attributions, no. 5.
  • Robert C. Evans, Philosophical Quarterly 66, p. 527.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: No.
• Annotations: None by Jonson.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Terence

Aelii Donati grammatici clarissimi in sex P. Terentii Afri Comoedias examinata interpretation. Venice: Impressum quidem est opus hoc per Jacobum Gallicu[m] mira arte ac diligentia, 1476.

• Call Number: INC T59
• Cited in:
  • McPherson, Spurious Attributions, no. 7.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: No.
• Annotations: None by Jonson.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Books not Listed in McPherson nor CWBJ

Lipsius, Justius

De militia romana libri qvinqve : commentarivs ad Polybivm. Antwerp: ex Officina Plantiniana, apud Ioannem Moretum, 1598.

• Call Number: U35 .L5 1598. [not in Hamnet].
• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: No.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Temporarily restricted for conservation.

Camden, William

Annales rerum Anglicarum, et Hibernicarum, regnante Elizabetha, ad annum salutis M. D. LXXXIX. Guilielmo Camdeno authore. London: Typis Guilielmi Stansbij, impensis Simonis Watersoni, ad insigne Coronæ in Cœmeterio Paulino, 1615.

• Call Number: STC 4496 copy 1 vol.1
• Cited in:
  • Gants, David L. “The Application of Digital Image Processing to the Analysis of Watermarked Paper and Printers’ Ornament Usage in Early Printed Books,” New Ways of Looking at Old Texts II: Papers of the Renaissance English Text Society, 1992-1996, ed. W. Speed Hill (Tempe, Ariz., 1998): 133-147.

• Ben Jonson’s signature and motto: No.
• Annotations: Yes.
• Curatorial file: No.
• Access: Available for research.

Folgerpedia articles about Ben Jonson

Census of Ben Jonson 1616 folios

Ben Jonson, Man of Letters (seminar)