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Open spread of printed book showing the final two pages of The Tragedie of King Lear, with the left page numbered 38 and the right 309

Shakespeare’s First Folio

Printed book open to a spread; the left-hand page notes “the actors names” and the right the beginning of “The Life of Henry the Fift.”

Shakespeare’s First Folio

Printed book displayed open to a printed verse on the left-hand page and a black-and-white engraving of William Shakespeare on the right-hand title page

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies
Lenox Collection Copy A

London: Printed by Isaac Jaggard, and Ed. Blount., 1623
Rare Book Division

Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies

In 1921 the Bulletin of the New York Public Library deemed Shakespeare’s First Folio to be “the greatest of all English books,” noting that “collectors have always aspired to own it.” The Library’s collection of First Folios includes copies previously owned by William Astor (who purchased his copy in 1849), James Lenox, and Samuel J. Tilden. They all donated their copies to the Library between 1870 and 1898. The Bulletin describes this copy, which Lenox purchased in 1855, as the Library’s “most celebrated copy” because it has an extra title page. The title page shown here appears to be dated 1622—the year the book was first announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair, although it was not published until November 1623. However, backlighting reveals that the date has been tampered with, possibly in the early 19th century: the second “2” appears to have been made by overlaying paper to obscure the lower portion of the printed “3,” and then overwriting in ink.

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The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.

Items in The Written Word

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  • Detail of frontispiece of Shakespeare's portfolio showing an engraving of the author in 17th-century dress. Above it reads: Published according to the true original copies.

    The Written Word Introduction

  • Open spread of printed book showing the final two pages of The Tragedie of King Lear, with the left page numbered 38 and the right 309

    Shakespeare’s First Folio

    Not currently on view

  • Printed book displayed open to a printed verse on the left-hand page and a black-and-white engraving of William Shakespeare on the right-hand title page

    Shakespeare’s First Folio

    Not currently on view

  • Printed book open to a spread; the left-hand page notes “the actors names” and the right the beginning of “The Life of Henry the Fift.”

    Shakespeare’s First Folio

    Not currently on view

  • Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. The book is displayed open with a portrait of Phillis Wheatley on the title page.

    Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

    Not currently on view

  • Typescript poem with dedication and signature of the author handwritten in blue ink on a diagonal at lower right

    Gwendolyn Brooks’s “Malcolm X: For Dudley Randall”

    Not currently on view

  • Front side of a typescript letter printed on the letterhead of “The Criterion: A Quarterly Review”

    Gwendolyn Brooks’s “Medgar Evers”

    Not currently on view

  • Detail of frontispiece of Shakespeare's portfolio showing an engraving of the author in 17th-century dress. Above it reads: Published according to the true original copies.

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