The first folio of shakespeare, published in 1623, is an extraordinary book. Our powerful search engine helps you find the content you need quickly and easily. The making of the first folio the shakespeare blog. About the bodleian first folio university of oxford.
In the 1660s it left the library and was lost from view until 1905, when an undergraduate from magdalen college brought a tattered copy of an early shakespeare folio. Much ado about nothing first folio hd book 6 kindle. Folio editions were large and expensive books that were seen as prestige items. Here you can download images and text of the first folio in a variety of formats. Pip wilcox, curator of digital special collections, bodleian libraries, university of oxford, gives a talk for the 2016 dhoxss on shakespeares first folio, held by the bodleian. The bodleian received a copy of shakespeare s first folio in 1623, but appears to have sold it at some point in the late 1660s, perhaps having replaced it with the new, improved, edition, the third folio, with its additional plays, which was published in 16634. Bodleians battered shakespeare first folio to be put on internet. The bodleians original first folio of shakespeare the.
Apr 23, 2016 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of william shakespeares death and to celebrate the opening of the bodleian libraries shakespeares dead exhibit, we have added our copy of the first folio to digital. Bodleian libraries bodleian first folio on display in. This book, generously illustrated with key pages from the publication and comparative works, tells the human, artistic, economic and technical stories of the birth of the first folio and the birth of shakespeares towering reputation. More first folio resources folger shakespeare library. May 12, 2014 in the winter of 1623, a copy of shakespeares newly printed first folio arrived at the bodleian library from london. Some time later, it left the library and for years it was lost from view. Of the 750 copies of shakespeares first folio the first collected edition of the bards plays printed in 1623, 232 are known to survive. But it did not appear in the 1674 catalogue, which lists only the third folio 1663. Before they laid a finger on the battered, brownleather book, the conservators at the bodleian library in oxford just sat and stared at it, working.
A curiosity in the bodleian first folio shakespeare ros. Find out more about the bodleians first folio, a highlight in the recent treasures of the bodleian exhibition, from dr emma smith. A brief history of william shakespeares first folio. It appeared in the 1635 appendix to the 1620 catalogue. The first folio is the first collected edition of william shakespeares plays, collated and published in 1623, seven years after his death.
An account of the first folio based on its sales and prices, 16232000 at. Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays, 36 of which are contained in the first folio. The books dont need to be rare or valuable in themselves. What is interesting about the bodleian s copy of the first folio is that the library decided to dispose of it with the publication of the third folio of shakespeares plays in 1664. A curiosity in the bodleian first folio shakespeare ros barber. The bodleian s original copy of the first folio of william shakespeares plays is the subject of a campaign to stabilize the volume through a conservation program,digitize the volume, and publish it freely online. While copies of this book are not uncommon, this one is a rarity because it has not been rebound or restored during. The first edition of william shakespeares collected plays was published in 1623. Add tags for the original bodleian copy of the first folio of shakespeare the turbutt shakespeare.
Welcome to the digital facsimile of the bodleian first folio of shakespeares plays, arch. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of william shakespeares death and to celebrate the opening of the bodleian libraries shakespeares dead exhibit, we have added our copy of the first folio to digital. Shakespeares plays are among the most significant pieces of literature in the english language and have influenced art and media all over the world for centuries. The bodleian first folio a digital facsimile of the first folio of shakespeares plays, bodleian arch. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading much ado about nothing first folio hd book 6. A copy of shakespeares first folio, one of the most soughtafter books in the. Apr 07, 2016 the revelation of this first folio is not only important for the isle of bute but significant for scotland as a country. The colin franklin prize is for a collection of books that is meaningful to you. An introduction to shakespeares first folio that the bodleian once gave away by dr emma smith, fellow in english, university of oxford.
They are preserved here, in the first printed edition of the collected works, published after shakespeares death. The bodleian libraries are very grateful for this additional support, which brings new features to the digitized first folio. Much ado about nothing first folio hd book 6 kindle edition by william shakespeare. Bodleians battered shakespeare first folio to be put on. Images, digital text, and xml are all available for download. It is considered one of the most influential books ever published. This copy of the first folio is still in the original binding which in 1905 identified it as the bodleian copy. That was a very large sum, twice the market value of an ordinary copy of the first folio.
The first impression had a publication date of 1623, and the earliest record of a retail purchase is an account book entry for 5 december 1623 of edward dering who purchased two. First folio sprint for shakespeare university of oxford. Library history the conveyor bodleian libraries blogs. The original bodleian copy of the first folio of shakespeare. May 06, 2016 a curiosity in the bodleian first folio shakespeare may 6, 2016 october 19, 2016 ros barber one of the finest results of the 400th anniversary of the death of a certain man from stratford has been the increased availability of digitised original texts connected to shakespeare. Tales of the bodleians first folio university of oxford. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. All chicago e books are on sale at 30% off with the code ebook30. Pdf leather cover of the bodleian first folio peter d. It ranks as one of the three major surviving irish manuscripts to have been produced in prenorman ireland, the two other works being the lebor na huidre and the book of leinster. Like all books of its time, it was typeset and printed off in sheets, meaning, in this case, some three dozen separate gatherings of. The bodleian libraries two copies of the first folio will be on display in the weston library later this month in an exhibition curated by professor smith called shakespeares dead. As part of her work on shakespeares first folio, smith worked with conservators, digital specialists and crowdsourced funding on a bodleian library project to digitise a copy of the book.
This second phase of the bodleian first folio project has been made possible by a lead gift from dr geoffrey eiblkaye and generous support from the dallas shakespeare club, mr james barber, and a private individual. There are probably others waiting to be found, perhaps lying forgotten in dusty attics or locked away in the private libraries of reclusive billionaire bibliophiles. He offered to sell the book to the bodleian at the same price as folgers, and gave the curators until march 31st, 1906 to find the money. We can use this copy to identify some of its unique features and imagine their equivalents in senate houses stirling copies.
All chicago ebooks are on sale at 30% off with the code ebook30. This copy was sent to be bound by william wildgoose, and was duly returned to the library. Bodleian library bodleian first folio on display in singapore. About half of shakespeares plays had never previously appeared in print, including as you like it, julius caesar, macbeth, the tempest, and many more. May 29, 20 of the 750 copies of shakespeares first folio the first collected edition of the bards plays printed in 1623, 232 are known to survive.
First folio a midsummer nights dream act 1, scene 1. The sorrylooking volume is one of the most famous books in the world. The chicago distribution center has reopened and is fulfilling orders. The digitization of the bodleian copy, with its strange and eventful history, is a great project. The making of shakespeares first folio, smith the chicago distribution center has reopened and is fulfilling orders. Listen to folger shakespeare unlimited podcasts on multiple aspects of the first folio, read posts. One of 11 known surviving copies of the first book printed in north america, and the only copy outside the united. Introducing the iiif first folio bodleian digital library. The library appears to have sold it at some point in the late 1660s, perhaps having replaced it with the new, improved, edition, the third folio. William shakespeare, the first folio bodleian treasures. Most unusually, this copy of the first folio is still in its original binding. The shakespeare first folio is the most important secular book in the history of the western world, said jonathan bate, a shakespeare scholar at oxford.
Now in private hands, it was offered for sale, and to its considerable relief the bodleian succeeded in reacquiring the book after an urgent public appeal. Five surprising facts about oxfords bodleian library amreading. One of the important things about the bodleian first folio is that it is in its original binding. Without this book, the famous first folio, eighteen of shakespeares plays including julius caesar and macbeth would probably be lost to us. The bodleian library of oxford purchased a copy in early 1624. In the winter of 1623, a copy of shakespeare s newly printed first folio arrived at oxfords bodleian library from london. Turbutts intention to keep the book as a family heirloom melted. Both the bodleian first folio and folger first folio no. Read the catalogue record for this book, and the other oxford copies of shakespeares first folio. Bodleian library, university of oxford book list the. The making of shakespeares first folio from bodleian library publishing in late november 1623, edward blount finally took delivery at his bookshop at the sign of the black bear near st pauls of a book that had been long in the making.
The display is open to the public until 23 april 2017 in the national library building, and also forms a part of this years university of oxfords alumni weekend in asia, which takes place 2426 march 2017. In 2016 she authenticated a new copy of shakespeares first folio found on at mount stuart house on the isle of bute. If you just want to see the page images, you may prefer to read the book using the. The bodleians first folio was received on publication, under the arrangement with the stationers company. Aug 01, 2012 the shakespeare first folio is the most important secular book in the history of the western world, said jonathan bate, a shakespeare scholar at oxford. The first bodleian shelfmark had been torn from the bottom of the title page. Emma smith is fellow and tutor in english at hertford college, oxford. There are 233 known surviving copies of the first folio. Gladwyn turbutt was the undergraduate at magdalen college, university of oxford who, by chance, brought the book back to the library for. Oxford university academics discover a first collected edition of. The first recorded sale was two copies to sir edward dering, who noted the purchase in his account book. Aimed at a variety of audiences, they delve into every aspect of its story, from the first folio s creation to its portrait of shakespeare and much more. Oxford, bodleian library, rawlinson b 502 is a medieval irish manuscript which presently resides in the bodleian library, oxford.
In the winter of 1623, a copy of shakespeare s newly printed first folio arrived at the bodleian library from london. The bodleian has two copies of the first folio, and one has been digitized, following a public appeal. It is the modern equivalent of a magic book, and smiths own book does justice to that magic. An effort to put first edition of shakespeare online the. Aug 01, 2012 bodleians battered shakespeare first folio to be put on internet. Bodleian libraries bodleian first folio on display in singapore. The bodleians original first folio of shakespeare the conveyor. Bodleian centre for the study of the book, bodleian. Bodleian and created a iiif manifest that allows the full structure of the book to be displayed in digiratis universal viewer. Published seven years after his death, it includes thirtysix plays, many of which would otherwise have been lost. In the 1660s it left the library and was lost from view until 1905, when an undergraduate from magdalen college brought a tattered copy of an early shakespeare folio into the library for advice on its binding.
Shakespeare first folio discovered on scottish island bbc news. The book the making of shakespeares first folio, emma smith is published by bodleian library, university of oxford. The first folio treasures of the bodleian university of oxford. In the winter of 1623, a copy of shakespeares newly printed first folio arrived at oxfords bodleian library from london. Dec 05, 2011 for as reliable an account as possible of what shakespeare wrote, the first folio is it not just for scholars but for actors and directors, says channel 4 news culture editor matthew cain. The bodleian first folio is a rarity for not having been rebound since it was first donated to the library in 1623. Mays teaches economics at california state university at long beach and has had a lifelong shakespeare obsession. The bodleian libraries have collaborated with the national library of singapore to display a copy of shakespeares first folio in singapore. The making of the first folio posted on february 2, 2016 by sylvia morris i wrote a week or so ago about emma smiths new book the making of shakespeares first folio, published by bodleian library publishing, and the stories relating to the bodleian librarys own copy. Information about this copy of the first folio during its first residence in the bodleian comes from library records, the librarys archive of its own history. As one of the worlds most famous books, located at the core of shakespeare studies, the first folio has inspired a host of folger resources.
Access all our collections using a single interface, making exploring fun. Over the last 106 years, the first folio has occasionally been photographed by experts at the bodleian libraries, and, before that, by oxford university press. The making of shakespeares first folio from bodleian library publishing. This has been made possible by the generous support of the donors to the sprint for shakespeare public campaign august to december 2012. The following is from andrea mays the millionaire and the bard, a literary detective story following the collectors of shakespeares first folio from elizabethan and jacobean london to gilded age new york. A catalogue of the shakespeare exhibition held in the bodleian. New shakespeare first folio discovered 400 years after his. The making of shakespeares first folio bodleian libraries. The vernon manuscript oxford, bodleian library, ms eng. An introduction to shakespeares first folio by dr emma smith, fellow in english, university of oxford. This sprint for shakespeare echoes an earlier effort, over a century ago, to ensure that the book would be housed in the library after a long period of absence from the. This is commonly known as the first folio and is one of the most iconic and valuable books in the world. Sep 11, 2012 the bodleians original copy of the first folio of william shakespeares plays is the subject of a campaign to stabilize the volume through a conservation program,digitize the volume, and publish it freely online.
Apr 22, 20 see peter blayneys the first folio of shakespeare folger 1991 and linked below for an overview of this, charlton hinmans the printing and proofreading of the first folio of shakespeare clarendon p, 1963 for a detailed explanation of such changes, and eric rasmussen and anthony james wests the shakespeare first folios. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. You can also read the digital text, view the images alongside the digital text, see the xml. The bodleian received a copy in 1623, but appears to have sold it in the late 1660s.
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