Certainly the most widely read, most often published,
and most influential writer in the annals of English literature is William
Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon. His 36 plays have been translated into every
major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other
playwright. Though a number of his plays were published during his lifetime - he
died in 1616 at age 52 - it was not until 1623 that a collected edition of his
plays was published, known as the First Folio. Nine years later, another edition
was called for, and in 1632 there was published the Second Folio of Mr. William
Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. It was essentially a
page-for-page reprint of the First Folio, but with a very significant addition,
John Milton’s “An Epitaph on the admirable Dramaticke Poet, W. Shakespeare” -
the first appearance in print of any work of Milton’s. There were to be two more
folio editions of Shakespeare’s Works published during the 17th
century - the third folio of 1664 and the fourth folio of 1685.
PBA Galleries in San Francisco will, on February 8, 2010, place
at auction an exceptional copy of the Second Folio. The “tall,” well-margined
copy was rebound in full morocco in the middle of the 19th century by
the firm of J. Leighton for the owner, Robert Curzon, 14th Baron
Zouche, a noted traveler, scholar and collector. The gilt arms on the morocco
front cover reads “What Curzon Helde, Let Curzon Holde,” and “R. Curzon, Parham”
is written on the front flyleaf. There is some restoration to the title-page and
final leaf, but overall a very choice copy, in eminently collectible condition.
PBA Galleries estimates this monumental work will sell for between $200,000 and
$300,000.
About PBA
Galleries
PBA Galleries is the
only specialist auction house in the West devoted to rare books, manuscripts,
and maps. Focused primarily on personal collections and exceptional books,
recent offerings have included the sale of maps and atlases from the Ernst W.
Gerber collection; the library of Ford Mitchell: Early Americana, Texas & the West;
John Dunlap’s collection from the estate of William Randolph Hearst; and many
more. PBA Galleries provides clients the benefits of its staff of appraisers,
online and printed catalogues, and biweekly gallery auctions where clients can
bid in person, email, and in real time from their computer. We welcome you
to follow the auction and bid in real time by clicking on the Real Time Bidder
button at the PBA Galleries website. Bidders will have to register before the
auction. Please contact shannon@pbagalleries.com for more
information.