May 2020 Catalogue

59 M a y 2 0 2 0 With An Actual Leaf Of The Tempest From The Second Folio Bound In 55. SHAKESPEARE, William. Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Faithfully Reproduced in Facsimile from the Edition of 1623. London, 1909. Thick folio (9 by 14-1/2 inches), modern full tan morocco gilt. $4500. Click for More Info 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. 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. “Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”—Measure for Measure