FINE PHOTO-FACSIMILE OF THE SHAKESPEARE FIRST FOLIO

SHAKESPEARE. Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Faithfully Reproduced in Facsimile from the Edition of 1623. London: Methuen & Co., 1910. Folio, original half linen, blue-gray boards, printed paper spine label, uncut. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $3500.

Lovely photo-facsimile of the 1623 First Folio, uncut and largely unopened in original boards.

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 first 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. Since the first folio is so scarce and important, several facsimiles have appeared over time. This beautiful Methuen facsimile is produced from high-contrast photographic plates, retaining the quaint imperfections of the original. With replacement spine label tipped-in at rear.

Interior clean and fine, minor spotting and discoloration to boards. An excellent copy in original binding, uncut and unopened.