FINE PHOTO-FACSIMILE OF THE 1632 SECOND FOLIO OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS, WITH AN ACTUAL LEAF OF THE TEMPEST FROM THAT EDITION BOUND IN

SHAKESPEARE, William. Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Faithfully Reproduced in Facsimile from the Edition of 1623. London: Methuen & Co., 1909. Thick folio (9 by 14-1/2 inches), modern full tan morocco gilt over beveled boards, raised bands, all edges gilt. $4500.

Beautiful photo-facsimile of the 1632 Second Folio edition of Shakespeare's plays—with an actual leaf from the Second Folio, pages 17-18 of "The Tempest," bound in appropriately. An impressive folio volume handsomely bound in full morocco-gilt by Asprey.

Because plays were not considered "serious literature" in the 17th century, Shakespeare's collected works did not appear in print until after his death, and 17 of the 36 plays included in the 1623 first folio edition had never been published before (and might have been lost had this folio not been printed). It is believed that copies of early folio printings numbered only in the hundreds. This beautiful Methuen facsimile of the 1632 second folio edition is produced from high-contrast photographic plates, retaining the quaint imperfections of the original. A leaf from the actual Second Folio, leaf B3, pages 17-18 of The Tempest, has been window-mounted and bound in appropriately.

An exquisite production, handsomely bound and in fine condition, most desirable with an actual leaf from the Second Folio bound in.