42Half-Sheet H

The most complex bibliographical intrigue concerning the extant copies of this play resides in half-sheet H, which exists in three states, two of which are preserved in single copies. Thirteen copies of the play include a corrected form of half-sheet H,^[174] while the Eton copy alone preserves the text in its uncorrected form. The BL1 copy contains a very different state of half-sheet H, which does not feature in the chronological correction of the text. It has not been ‘correctedʼ, rather ‘reprintedʼ, using a wider measure and, Greg suggests, a different font. He proposes that some sort of accident caused the last three pages to be reset.^[175] Pieing is improbable as an explanation because both formes are involved.^[176] Greg suggests that either a short run of half-sheet H was printed, or that the printed stock was accidentally destroyed, prompting a reprint. In order for this to be probable, the type set for the original copy must have been redistributed by the time of destruction, necessitating the resetting of the half-sheet.

43The chronological production of the three states must have begun with the printing of the ‘uncorrectedʼ state (Eton copy), followed by correction and the printing of the ‘correctedʼ state (BL2 and others). The third state of the text (BL1) must have been printed after the other two. No further theory can be posited without specific information concerning the activity of the printing house.