Shakespeare's First Folio

On Thursday an ultra rare copy of Shakespeare's first folio sold at Sotheby's for $5.2 million (US). This folio is widely regarded as one of the most important books in the English language. It is one of 40 complete copies to still exist. None of Shakespeare's own manuscripts of his plays survive. The only texts dating from his lifetime are the 18 plays published in quarto editions between 1594 and his death in 1616. In 1623, seven years after his death two of Shakespeare's friends had 36 of his plays printed in the famous first folio. 18 of which were printed for the very first time. It is believed that without this publication the plays would have been lost. Originally there were 750 copies made and only about a third still survive. Most copies however have pages missing. While in England I just so happened to see two of the surviving copies. One was located in the British Library in London and the other was in Stratford-Apon-Avon at the birthplace of Shakespeare. The picture to the left is a postcard I bought of the famous first page in the folio.