First Folio

Rosybrook


Our Librarian, Elizabeth E. Fuller, recently wrote up these notes about the upcoming sale of one of the last Shakespeare First Folios left in private hands:

[Note-the image here is of the Rosenbach’s copy of the third folio!]

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Sotheby’s recently announced that it will offer a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio at auction in London on July 13. Because of the mystique this book has for collectors, and because of its significance in Dr. Rosenbach’s career, we can expect questions about it from visitors and others. Especially since the Shakespeare Association of America will have its annual meeting in Philadelphia this weekend (April 13-16), we may have more visitors than usual with a special interest in this area. Here’s a little background information:What it is

  • First collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, published 1623 (7 years after his death)
  • In large (folio) format
  • Proper title: Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies
  • First collection of plays in large format to be published in England
  • 3 more collected editions (2nd-4th Folios) published before end of 17th century

The numbersContains 36 plays, half not previously publishedNo more than 750 copies printed228 surviving copies known, most incomplete, many fragmentaryFolger Shakespeare Library has over 80 copiesOnly one is left in private hands (estate of Paul Getty)Dr. R. and the First Folio

  • Bought and sold six copies during his career
  • Named his boat First Folio and its successor First Folio II. (Second Folio just doesn’t have the same cachet.)
  • His own Shakespeare collection (all 4 folios, first quarto (single) editions of all plays), sold to Martin Bodmer of Geneva in 1952
  • RML today has 2nd (2 copies), 3rd, & 4th Folios; one 1st quarto (Merchant of Venice, 1609); and about 140 later editions, mostly single plays from late 17th & 18th centuries

The copy for sale

  • Property of Dr. Williams’s Library, an independent theological research library in London, which has owned it since at least 1716
  • In especially fine condition, with extensive early annotations of great interest to scholars
  • Estimated to fetch £2.5-£3.5 million (about $4.4-6.1 million); nearest comparable copy sold at Christie’s New York in 2001 for $5.6 million
  • To be exhibited at Sotheby’s New York April 19-23

More details here.