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James Roberts (printer) facts for kids

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James Roberts was an English printer who lived from about 1564 to 1606. He was known for printing many important books during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He sometimes printed books without permission from their original owners.

James Roberts' Printing Career

James Roberts became a member of the Company of Stationers on June 27, 1564. This company was like a guild for printers and booksellers in London. A few years later, on June 24, 1567, he started taking on apprentices. Apprentices were young people who learned the printing trade from him.

His first recorded print job was for an almanac (a calendar with predictions) in 1570. Later, in 1588, he received a special permission, called a patent, to print almanacs and predictions for 21 years. This patent lasted until Queen Elizabeth I's reign ended.

In 1594, James Roberts took over the printing business of another printer named John Charlewood. This included the important right to print "playbills," which were like posters for plays. This was a big deal because William Jaggard, another printer, also wanted this right but didn't get it.

Roberts continued to print many different types of books. He printed poetry collections for various publishers, including works by famous writers like Samuel Daniel and Philip Sidney. He also printed popular collections like England's Helicon.

He also printed satirical works, which were writings that made fun of people or society. Some of these included Christ's Tears over Jerusalem by Thomas Nashe and Scourge of Villainy by John Marston.

Roberts kept printing playbills for The Lord Chamberlain's Men, which was William Shakespeare's acting company. He even officially registered five plays belonging to this company, but he didn't print them all himself. These included The Merchant of Venice (1598), A Larum for London (1600), and Troilus and Cressida (1603). He also printed the second edition of Shakespeare's play Titus Andronicus for another printer, Edward White.

Famous Plays Printed by Roberts

James Roberts played a key role in printing some of Shakespeare's famous plays.

  • On July 22, 1598, he registered "A booke of the Marchaunt of Venyce." He then printed the very first edition of this play in 1600.
  • In the same year, 1600, he also printed the first editions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Titus Andronicus.
  • On July 26, 1602, he registered The Revenge of Hamlett, Prince of Denmarke. The first edition of Hamlet was printed by someone else in 1603. However, Roberts printed the second and third editions of Hamlet in 1604 and 1605.
  • Another Shakespeare play he registered was Troilus and Cressida on February 7, 1603. The first printed edition of this play came out in 1609 from a different printer.

His last recorded printing entry was on July 10, 1606. Later, on October 29, 1615, the rights to print playbills and some of his books were transferred to William Jaggard.

James Roberts' Family and Home

Around 1595, James Roberts likely married Alice, who was the widow of John Charlewood, the printer whose business he took over. It seems he later became a widower. He is also believed to have married a daughter of another printer named Thomas Heyes. Roberts sold the rights to print The Merchant of Venice to Thomas Heyes on October 28, 1600.

At one point, the Stationers' Company told Roberts to stop printing a book called "the Brief Catechism" and to hand over all the copies he had printed. This happened on September 1, 1595. On June 25, 1596, he was admitted into the "livery," which was a higher rank within the Stationers' Company.

Towards the end of his life, James Roberts lived in St. Paul's Churchyard in London, at a place called the Sun. He also had a house in an area called the Barbican.

His Legacy in Printing

James Roberts continued printing until 1606. After his death, his printing business was carried on by his brother, Robert Roberts. Robert Roberts married Mary Balwin, whose mother, Abigail Baldwin, was also a successful publisher. Even though Mary died before her mother, Robert Roberts inherited Abigail Baldwin's business. He combined the two businesses but continued to use the name "James Roberts" for the company.

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