BSA Small Grant Awardee Report: Andy Reilly

8th March 2026

Andy Reilly, who received a BSA Small Grant to support his archival research, offers a summary of how the scheme helped him to advance his current research project.

With the generous support of the BSA Small Grants Fund, I conducted a research trip to the British Library and UK National Archives from January 6th to 11th, 2026. This trip formed an essential part of my ongoing project to prepare my doctoral thesis, which focuses on the publication of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the early eighteenth century, for publication as a monograph.

While at the British Library, I engaged in close material analysis of the library’s copies of single-text Hamlet editions published between 1710 and 1734. Consulting these books in person allowed me to analyse features that impact the reading experience, including type size, paper, and format.

During the day I spent at the National Archives, I consulted legal documents charting court cases and other arrangements undertaken by the publishers of some of these editions. These documents shed light on significant publishing decisions related to Shakespeare during this period and provide valuable historical context. Overall, this BSA-funded research trip has helped me significantly advance my project by giving me access to the rare books and archive records that underpin my analysis of Hamlet in publication in the early eighteenth century.

The next round of applications for the Small Grants Fund will close on 30th March 2026. BSA members in good standing are eligible to apply for the Small Grants Fund, which offers awards of up to £500 to fund a broad rance of activites. More information about the scheme and application instructions are available here: https://www.britishshakespeare.ws/bsa-small-grants-fund/