Arena

The First Folio

Facsimile Edition of the Chatsworth Copy

Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies is the 1623 published collection of William Shakespeare's plays, commonly referred to as the First Folio. Printed in folio format and containing 36 plays, it was dedicated to the "incomparable pair of brethren" Willliam Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke and his brother Philip Herbert, Earl of Montgomery.

Although eighteen of Shakespeare's plays had been published in quarto prior to 1623, the First Folio is arguably the only reliable text for most of the plays, and a valuable source text even for many of those previously published. The Folio includes all of the plays generally accepted to be Shakespeare's, with the exception of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, The Two Noble Kinsmen, and the two lost plays, Cardenio and Love's Labour's Won.

This facsimile edition is a reproduction of the Chatsworth copy, with introduction and census of copies by Sidney Lee. This book is number 168 of 1000 copies printed in this version and through heavy usage over the years has sustained damage resulting in the front cover coming loose and the spine unable to support the pages. By adopting this title you can ensure that these well-loved plays can be enjoyed in an original form.

Funding required for restoration -  £350

• Repair of the headbands
• Add new glues and linings
• Repair any sheets where needed
• Case in text block with cloth joints so the original endpapers can be used
• Gentle cleaning