William Shakespeare's Signature
William Shakespeare's Signature
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William Shakespeare's Signature
CLC_522_MS03738_signature (Collage 322915)
London Metropolitan Archives: Corporation of London
This is signature of William Shakespeare which appears on the deed of purchase of a property in Blackfriars, London, dated 10 March 1612. We would date this as 10 March 1613 but in Shakespeare?s time the New Year began on March 25. Dates between 1 January and 24 March were therefore considered to belong to the previous year. The vendor of this property was Henry Walker, described as a citizen and minstrel of London, and the purchaser was William Shakespeare of Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, gentleman. Shakespeare paid œ140 for the property.

The is one of only six ?authenticated? examples of Shakespeare's signature. Why he purchased the property is not known. He may have intended to live there - it was conveniently situated for the Blackfriars Theatre and for the Globe Theatre just across the river - but there is no evidence to suggest that he ever did so. He may have bought it as an investment or to enhance his status as a gentleman.
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