Excerpt from Romeo and Juliet: The First Quarto, 1597, a Facsimile (From the British Museum Copy, C 34, K 55) The first appearance of a new ballad on the subject of a popular drama is a robable indication of its following shortly after the production of the latter on t e stage. Edward White entered 'anewe ballad of Romeo and julie/t' on the books of the Stationers' Company, on August sth, 1596. - halliwell-phillipps.