William Ponsonby (publisher)
Encyclopedia
William Ponsonby was a prominent London publisher of the Elizabethan era
. Active in the 1577–1603 period, Ponsonby published the works of Edmund Spenser
, Sir Philip Sidney
, and other members of the Sidney circle; he has been called "the leading literary publisher of Elizabethan times."
Ponsonby completed his apprenticeship under stationer
William Norton on 11 January 1571. Around 1576 he established his own bookshop at the sign of the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's
Churchyard.
Ponsonby's relationship with the works of Spenser began when he issued the 1590
volume of The Faerie Queene
, Books 1-3. Ponsonby published all of Spenser's future works, including the complete edition of The Faerie Queene in 1596
; he issued the entire Spenserian canon except for the poet's earliest volume, The Shepherd's Calendar (1579
).
In regard to Sidney, Ponsony issued both the 1590 and 1593
editions of the Arcadia, the 1595
edition of The Defense of Poesy, and the large 1598 folio
collection that included Astrophil and Stella. The works of Sidney's sister Mary, Countess of Pembroke
, including Antony (1592
, 1595), her translation of Garnier's
tragedy, were also published by Ponsonby.
Ponsonby nourished a reputation as an elite publisher, and so avoided what the Elizabethans considered lower-prestige product — like stage plays. Ponsonby printed none of the plays of English Renaissance drama
that are such a strong focus of modern interest in his era, and he generally avoided the non-dramatic works of dramatists as well — though his 1583
edition of Robert Greene's
Mamilia, Part II, and his 1594
publication of George Chapman
's The Shadow of Night
, are exceptions to this general trend. In 1595 Ponsonby tried to register ownership of Lewes Lewkenor's 'The Estate of English fugitives under the King of Spain and his ministers' but the edition was printed, possibly piratically, by John Drawater, assistant to Sir Thomas Blagrave
Master of the Revels
(Ponsonby's apprentice Edward Blount
largely followed his master's example of avoiding plays during his own independent career — though Blount made a few exceptions, most notably the First Folio
of Shakespeare's
plays in 1623
.) Ponsonby made occasional exceptions for closet drama
, as with the Countess of Pembroke's Antony noted above.
In an age when the disciplines of publishing and printing were largely (though not entirely) separate, Ponsonby concentrated on publishing and commissioned professional printers to print his texts. The 1590 Faerie Queene volume, for example, was printed by John Wolfe, while Ponsonby's 1595 edition of Spenser's Amoretti and Epithalamion was printed by Peter Short
. The 1583 Mamilia was printed by Thomas Creede
.
On Ponsonby's 1604 death, many of his copyrights passed to his brother-in-law, stationer Simon Waterson.
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
. Active in the 1577–1603 period, Ponsonby published the works of Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
, Sir Philip Sidney
Philip Sidney
Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier and soldier, and is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan Age...
, and other members of the Sidney circle; he has been called "the leading literary publisher of Elizabethan times."
Ponsonby completed his apprenticeship under stationer
Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Stationers' Company was founded in 1403; it received a Royal Charter in 1557...
William Norton on 11 January 1571. Around 1576 he established his own bookshop at the sign of the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
Churchyard.
Ponsonby's relationship with the works of Spenser began when he issued the 1590
1590 in literature
-Events:*The Children of Paul's perform at Court twice in the first week of January; one of the plays they acted may have been John Lyly's Midas. Later in the year, however, they are banned from performing because of the involvement of their chief script-writer, Lyly, in the Marprelate...
volume of The Faerie Queene
The Faerie Queene
The Faerie Queene is an incomplete English epic poem by Edmund Spenser. The first half was published in 1590, and a second installment was published in 1596. The Faerie Queene is notable for its form: it was the first work written in Spenserian stanza and is one of the longest poems in the English...
, Books 1-3. Ponsonby published all of Spenser's future works, including the complete edition of The Faerie Queene in 1596
1596 in literature
-Events:*The first complete edition of The Faerie Queene in six books is published.*James Burbage buys the disused Blackfriars Theatre from Sir William More for £600; yet he is prevented from using it for theatrical productions by the opposition of wealthy and influential neighbors.* Lord Hunsdon...
; he issued the entire Spenserian canon except for the poet's earliest volume, The Shepherd's Calendar (1579
1579 in literature
-Events:*Bible of Kralice is published - the first translation of the Bible into the Czech language.-New books:*Stephen Gosson - The Schoole of Abuse*Martin de Hoyarçabal - Les voyages aventureux du Capitaine Martin de Hoyarsal, habitant du çubiburu...
).
In regard to Sidney, Ponsony issued both the 1590 and 1593
1593 in literature
-Events:*The London theatres remain closed for almost the entire year, due to the outbreak of bubonic plague that began the previous year. In the summer, Edward Alleyn and other actors tour the towns and countryside beyond the city...
editions of the Arcadia, the 1595
1595 in literature
-Events:*Lope de Vega leaves the service of the Duke of Alba and returns to Madrid.* December 9 - Shakespeare's Richard II is possibly acted at a private performance at the Canon Row house of Sir Edward Hoby; Sir Robert Cecil attends.-New books:...
edition of The Defense of Poesy, and the large 1598 folio
Book size
The size of a book is generally measured by the height against the width of a leaf, or sometimes the height and width of its cover. A series of terms is commonly used by libraries and publishers for the general sizes of modern books, ranging from "folio" , to "quarto" and "octavo"...
collection that included Astrophil and Stella. The works of Sidney's sister Mary, Countess of Pembroke
Mary Sidney
Mary Herbert , Countess of Pembroke , was one of the first English women to achieve a major reputation for her literary works, poetry, poetic translations and literary patronage.-Family:...
, including Antony (1592
1592 in literature
-Events:*Ulysses Redux, a Latin play by William Gager, is staged by the students of Christ Church, Oxford on February 5. Two days later, on February 7, the students revive Gager's 1583 Latin play Rivales...
, 1595), her translation of Garnier's
Robert Garnier
Robert Garnier was a French tragic poet. He published his first work while still a law-student at Toulouse, where he won a prize in the Académie des Jeux Floraux. It was a collection of lyrical pieces, now lost, entitled Plaintes amoureuses de Robert Garnier...
tragedy, were also published by Ponsonby.
Ponsonby nourished a reputation as an elite publisher, and so avoided what the Elizabethans considered lower-prestige product — like stage plays. Ponsonby printed none of the plays of English Renaissance drama
English Renaissance theatre
English Renaissance theatre, also known as early modern English theatre, refers to the theatre of England, largely based in London, which occurred between the Reformation and the closure of the theatres in 1642...
that are such a strong focus of modern interest in his era, and he generally avoided the non-dramatic works of dramatists as well — though his 1583
1583 in literature
-Events:*June 11 - Rivales, another Latin play by Gager, is acted by the students of Christ Church, Oxford. Rivales, criticized for its "filth," was never printed and does not survive; but was revived for two performances in 1592, one before Queen Elizabeth I of England.*June 12 - Dido, a play in...
edition of Robert Greene's
Robert Greene (16th century)
Robert Greene was an English author best known for a posthumous pamphlet attributed to him, Greene's Groats-Worth of Wit, widely believed to contain a polemic attack on William Shakespeare. He was born in Norwich and attended Cambridge University, receiving a B.A. in 1580, and an M.A...
Mamilia, Part II, and his 1594
1594 in literature
-Events:*The London theatres re-open in the spring, after two years of general inactivity due to the bubonic plague epidemic of 1592–94. Many of the actors who used to be Lord Strange's Men form a new organization, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, under the patronage of Henry Carey, 1st Baron...
publication of George Chapman
George Chapman
George Chapman was an English dramatist, translator, and poet. He was a classical scholar, and his work shows the influence of Stoicism. Chapman has been identified as the Rival Poet of Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Minto, and as an anticipator of the Metaphysical Poets...
's The Shadow of Night
The Shadow of Night
The Shadow of Night is a long poem written by George Chapman; it was first published in 1594, in an edition printed by Richard Field for William Ponsonby, the prestigious publisher of Edmund Spenser and Sir Philip Sidney....
, are exceptions to this general trend. In 1595 Ponsonby tried to register ownership of Lewes Lewkenor's 'The Estate of English fugitives under the King of Spain and his ministers' but the edition was printed, possibly piratically, by John Drawater, assistant to Sir Thomas Blagrave
Thomas Blagrave
Thomas Blagrave came from Shropshire, he was Master of the Revels from 1573-79 under Queen Elizabeth IAt least three siblings, William, John and Mary....
Master of the Revels
Master of the Revels
The Master of the Revels was a position within the English, and later the British, royal household heading the "Revels Office" or "Office of the Revels" that originally had responsibilities for overseeing royal festivities, known as revels, and later also became responsible for stage censorship,...
(Ponsonby's apprentice Edward Blount
Edward Blount
Edward Blount was a London publisher of the Elizabethan, Jacobean, and Caroline eras, noted for his publication, in conjunction with William and Isaac Jaggard, of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays in 1623....
largely followed his master's example of avoiding plays during his own independent career — though Blount made a few exceptions, most notably the First Folio
First Folio
Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. is the 1623 published collection of William Shakespeare's plays. Modern scholars commonly refer to it as the First Folio....
of Shakespeare's
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
plays in 1623
1623 in literature
The year 1623 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*February 2 - The King's Men perform Twelfth Night at Court on Candlemas....
.) Ponsonby made occasional exceptions for closet drama
Closet drama
A closet drama is a play that is not intended to be performed onstage, but read by a solitary reader or, sometimes, out loud in a small group. A related form, the "closet screenplay," developed during the 20th century.-Form:...
, as with the Countess of Pembroke's Antony noted above.
In an age when the disciplines of publishing and printing were largely (though not entirely) separate, Ponsonby concentrated on publishing and commissioned professional printers to print his texts. The 1590 Faerie Queene volume, for example, was printed by John Wolfe, while Ponsonby's 1595 edition of Spenser's Amoretti and Epithalamion was printed by Peter Short
Peter Short (printer)
Peter Short was a London printer of the later Elizabethan era. He printed several first editions and early texts of Shakespeare's works....
. The 1583 Mamilia was printed by Thomas Creede
Thomas Creede
Thomas Creede was a printer of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, rated as "one of the best of his time." Based in London, he conducted his business under the sign of the Catherine Wheel in Thames Street from 1593 to 1600, and under the sign of the Eagle and Child in the Old Exchange from 1600 to...
.
On Ponsonby's 1604 death, many of his copyrights passed to his brother-in-law, stationer Simon Waterson.
See also
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