24-04-2025
$6M auction for first editions of Shakespeare's plays
ALBAWABA – A rare set of first editions of some of Shakespeare's plays is expected to be sold at auction for approximately $6 million. The auction will be held in London next month by Sotheby's, one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewelry, and collectibles. The company operates in 80 locations across 40 countries.
Shakespeare's plays for $6 million
If you are a fan of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, or King Lear, do not miss the upcoming auction in London next month. A rare set of first editions of William Shakespeare's collected works—including these iconic plays—will be up for sale. The collection, featuring the first four editions, is expected to fetch around $6 million.
The auction was announced by Sotheby's on April 23rd—Shakespeare's birthday. It is scheduled to take place on May 23rd and marks the first major auction of Shakespeare's works since 1989.
The collection, featuring the first four editions, is expected to fetch around $6 million. (AFP)
Notably, after Shakespeare's death, some of his friends compiled all his plays into one publication titled Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies. The first edition was printed in 1623, followed by a second in 1632, a third in 1663, and a fourth in 1685.
The upcoming auction will feature all four editions. Experts note that while the first edition is the most valuable, the third is the rarest as many copies were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.
