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Observer
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Shakespeare folios expected to fetch more than £3.5m at auction
William Shakespeare's four folios, published more than 300 years ago, are set to go under the hammer, where they are expected to fetch between £3.5 million and £4.5 million. The tomes, which compile Shakespeare's plays, will be sold at Sotheby's in London on 23 May, a month after the Bard's birthday on 23 April. Experts state that the first folio, which contains 36 of Shakespeare's plays, is "the most significant publication in the history of English literature," adding that without it, up to half of the writer's works would have been lost, including "Macbeth," "Twelfth Night," and "Julius Caesar." Alongside the King James Bible, the auctioneers assert that this book has had "the greatest impact on the development of the English language itself." The initial print run of the first book is believed to have been around 750 copies, which led to the release of subsequent volumes to meet demand, with the books published between 1623 and 1685. It is thought that producing the first 750 copies would have cost nearly £100 due to the price of the 227 sheets of crown paper used in each. The folios were compiled by John Heminges and Henry Condell, who were close friends of Shakespeare, both being actors and shareholders in the King's Men, the acting company to which Shakespeare belonged for most of his career. Shakespeare even bequeathed money for a mourning ring to the pair in his will. The earliest recorded purchase of the first folio was in December 1623, when Edward Dering bought two copies for £2. The third folio is the rarest of the books, with the Shakespeare Census listing 182 copies still in existence, which is just over half the number of surviving second and fourth folios. Its rarity is believed to be due to a proportion of the stock being destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Born in 1564, Shakespeare is considered one of the UK's greatest writers, with his best-known plays including "Romeo and Juliet," "Macbeth," and "Hamlet." He died on his birthday in 1616 at the age of 52. —PA Media/dpa
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Rare editions of Shakespeare's plays could fetch US$6 million at auction
A set of the first four editions of William Shakespeare's collected works is expected to sell for up to £4.5 million (US$6 million) at auction next month. Advertisement Sotheby's auction house announced the sale on Wednesday, Shakespeare's 461st birthday. It said the May 23 sale will be the first time since 1989 that a set of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios has been offered at auction as a single lot. The auction house estimates the sale price at between £3.5 million and £4.5 million. A portrait of Shakespeare believed to have been made during his lifetime. Photo: AP After Shakespeare's death in 1616, his plays were collected into a single volume by his friends John Heminges and Henry Condell, actors and shareholders in the playwright's troupe, the King's Men. The First Folio – fully titled Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies – contained 36 plays, of which half were published there for the first time. Without the book, scholars say, plays including Macbeth, The Tempest and Twelfth Night might have been lost. Sotheby's called the volume 'without question the most significant publication in the history of English literature.' The First Folio of William Shakespeare, which contains 36 of the poet's plays, and is one of four folios due to go on sale at Sotheby's in London on May 23. Photo: Sotheby's via AP About 750 copies were printed in 1623, of which about 230 are known to survive. All but a few are in museums, universities or libraries. One of the few First Folios in private hands sold for US$9.9 million at an auction in 2020.
CNN
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Rare set of first editions of Shakespeare's plays could fetch $6 million at auction
A set of the first four editions of William Shakespeare's collected works is expected to sell for up to £4.5 million ($6 million) at auction next month. Sotheby's auction house announced the sale on Wednesday, Shakespeare's 461st birthday. It said the May 23 sale will be the first time since 1989 that a set of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios has been offered at auction as a single lot. The auction house estimated the sale price at between £3.5 million and £4.5 million. After Shakespeare's death in 1616, his plays were collected into a single volume by his friends John Heminges and Henry Condell, actors and shareholders in the playwright's troupe, the King's Men. The First Folio — fully titled 'Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies' — contained 36 plays, of which half were published there for the first time. Without the book, scholars say, plays including 'Macbeth,' 'The Tempest' and 'Twelfth Night' might have been lost. Sotheby's called the volume 'without question the most significant publication in the history of English literature.' Related article World's oldest Hebrew Bible sells for a record-breaking $38.1 million About 750 copies were printed in 1623, of which about 230 are known to survive. All but a few are in museums, universities or libraries. One of the few First Folios in private hands sold for $9.9 million at an auction in 2020. The First Folio proved successful enough that an updated edition, the Second Folio, was published in 1632, a third in 1663 and a fourth in 1685. Although the First Folio is regarded as the most valuable, the third is the rarest, with 182 copies known to survive. It is believed the third book's rarity is because some of the stock was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The Third Folio included seven additional plays, but only one — 'Pericles, Prince of Tyre' — is believed to be by Shakespeare.
Chicago Tribune
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
A set of first editions of Shakespeare's plays could fetch $6 million at auction
LONDON — A set of the first four editions of William Shakespeare's collected works is expected to sell for up to 4.5 million pounds ($6 million) at auction next month. Sotheby's auction house announced the sale on Wednesday, Shakespeare's 461st birthday. It said the May 23 sale will be the first time since 1989 that a set of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios has been offered at auction as a single lot. The auction house estimated the sale price at between 3.5 million and 4.5 million pounds. After Shakespeare's death in 1616, his plays were collected into a single volume by his friends John Heminges and Henry Condell, actors and shareholders in the playwright's troupe, the King's Men. The First Folio — fully titled 'Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies' — contained 36 plays, of which half were published there for the first time. Without the book, scholars say, plays including 'Macbeth,' 'The Tempest' and 'Twelfth Night' might have been lost. Sotheby's called the volume 'without question the most significant publication in the history of English literature.' About 750 copies were printed in 1623, of which about 230 are known to survive. All but a few are in museums, universities or libraries. One of the few First Folios in private hands sold for $9.9 million at an auction in 2020. The First Folio proved successful enough that an updated edition, the Second Folio, was published in 1632, a third in 1663 and a fourth in 1685. Although the First Folio is regarded as the most valuable, the third is the rarest, with 182 copies known to survive. It is believed the third book's rarity is because some of the stock was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The Third Folio included seven additional plays, but only one – 'Pericles, Prince of Tyre' – is believed to be by Shakespeare.
Mint
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
A set of first editions of Shakespeares plays could fetch $6 million at auction
LONDON (AP) — A set of the first four editions of William Shakespeare's collected works is expected to sell for up to 4.5 million pounds ($6 million) at auction next month. Sotheby's auction house announced the sale on Wednesday, Shakespeare's 461st birthday. It said the May 23 sale will be the first time since 1989 that a set of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios has been offered at auction as a single lot. The auction house estimated the sale price at between 3.5 million and 4.5 million pounds. After Shakespeare's death in 1616, his plays were collected into a single volume by his friends John Heminges and Henry Condell, actors and shareholders in the playwright's troupe, the King's Men. The First Folio — fully titled 'Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies' — contained 36 plays, of which half were published there for the first time. Without the book, scholars say, plays including 'Macbeth,' 'The Tempest' and 'Twelfth Night' might have been lost. Sotheby's called the volume 'without question the most significant publication in the history of English literature.' About 750 copies were printed in 1623, of which about 230 are known to survive. All but a few are in museums, universities or libraries. One of the few First Folios in private hands sold for $9.9 million at an auction in 2020. The First Folio proved successful enough that a an updated edition, the Second Folio, was published in 1632, a third in 1663 and a fourth in 1685. Although the First Folio is regarded as the most valuable, the third is the rarest, with 182 copies known to survive. It is believed the third book's rarity is because some of the stock was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The Third Folio included seven additional plays, but only one – 'Pericles, Prince of Tyre' – is believed to be by Shakespeare. First Published: 23 Apr 2025, 09:14 PM IST
