The Watermarks on the Northumberland Manuscript and Hand D: Research Findings and Reflections on the Shakespeare Authorship Question

Abstract

• Key manuscript documents relevant to the Shakespeare Authorship Question are examined for the watermarks on the paper. Manuscripts of ten contemporaries are examined, revealing that variations of a generic watermark of a pot were used by the paper manufacturers. Elements of this watermark are analysed and examples compared. This process shows that only the watermarks on paper used by one authorship candidate, Henry Neville, match those on the Northumberland Manuscript and the Hand D section of Sir Thomas More.