The First Folio THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 'FIRST FOLIO' - The "First Folio" is of major importance to William Shakespeare as it is the first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays without which there would be no William Shakespeare!
- Publishers used the ' First Folio ' to print copies of the plays and other Folios were printed in 1632, 1663, 1664 and 1685
WHAT IS A FOLIO?- A folio is a Manuscript
- A Folio is made up of ' quires ' consisting of 6 leafs of paper folded in half with text on both sides giving twelve pages of text
- The pages are sewn together
WHAT DID THE 'FIRST FOLIO' CONTAIN'? - The first Folio contained 36 of William Shakespeare's plays
- The First Folio consisted of 900 pages
- It was entitled "Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories & Tragedies". A picture of the cover is shown at the top of the page
WHO COMPILED THE CONTENT FOR THE 'FIRST FOLIO'? - Two of William Shakespeare's friends and fellow actors, John Hemminge and Henry Condell, were the editors of the collection
- William Shakespeare mentioned both actors in his will "my fellows John Hemynges Richard Burbage & Henry Cundell," leaving them 26s..8d to "buy them Ringes."
- They, no doubt, had copies of the plays in Quarto text in the format of Fair or Foul copies
- It was from these copies that the content of the First Folio originated
- The First Folio was dedicated to two brothers, William and Philip, the sons of the Earl of Pembroke and Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke
WHO PUBLISHED THE 'FIRST FOLIO'? - The Printer and Publisher of the 'First Folio' were William Jaggard and his son Isaac with Ed. Blount
- The 'First Folio' was registered on 8th November 1623.
- 500 copies of the ' First Folio ' were printed at the price of £1 for each copy - approximately 238 known copies have survived
- Publishers used the ' First Folio ' to print copies of the plays and other Folios were printed in 1632, 1663, 1664 and 1685
THE PICTURE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ON THE 'FIRST FOLIO'- The picture which appears on the First Folio is produced from a copper engraving of a likeness of Shakespeare
- It must be remembered that during William Shakespeare's era that only engravings were used to illustrate such documents, it was not possible to reproduce paintings of portraits
- The engraver of this famous image of Shakespeare was called Martin Droeshout (1601 - 1651)
- It is a very odd image! For those who like a mystery and more information about the engraver click the following link Droeshout Engraving
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