Shakespeare’s Library / First Folio / Ultra / Unlined

This stately gold-tooled design comes from a unique binding attributed to Christian Samuel Kalthoeber, a German bookbinder working in London. He created the beautiful new cover for this copy of Shakespeare's First Folio around 1800. Originally published in 1623 in London and containing 36 of Shakespeare's plays, Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (known as the First Folio) is one of the most influential books ever published. It is the only reliable text for the 18 Shakespeare plays that had previously never been printed, including Macbeth, The Tempest and Twelfth Night. Today, there are only 235 known surviving copies, from approximately 750 printed. Due to its influence and scarcity, the First Folio is one of the most valuable printed books in the world, with one being sold at auction in 2020 for nearly $10 million. The Folger Shakespeare Library itself holds 82 copies of the First Folio in their collection. We are honoured to introduce this beautiful and unique binding as our first reproduction from the Library's unparalleled collection.