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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Tuesday 24 OcTOber 2023

Exhibits and collectors editions mark 400th anniversary of

Shakespeare’s First Folio

By HILLEL ITALIE British Museum to the New like there’s a good market
AP National Writer York Public Library and at for fine editions of classic
NEW YORK (AP) — On least two major book proj- books,” says Folio Society
the 400th anniversary of ects will mark the anniver- publishing director Tom
Shakespeare’s First Folio, sary. Walker.
rare originals are being dis- The British Museum is col- The First Folio was daring,
played and publishers are laborating with Rizzoli Books even audacious for its time,
offering collectors editions in New York on “Shake- when such publications
of Shakespeare’s plays, in- speare’s First Folio: 400th were “reserved for learned
cluding one that sells for Anniversary Facsimile Edi- treatises, hefty genealogi-
$1,500. tion,” contained within a cal texts, books of religious
Scholars believe that be- slipcase cover. With a list or historiographical impor-
tween 200-300 copies still price of $150, the book is tance, or even works by
survive from the late 1623 928 pages and includes an monarchs,” according to
release of “Mr. William introductory booklet co- Shakespeare scholar Chris
Shakespeares Comedies, written by Adrian Edwards, Laoutaris. Before Shake-
Histories & Tragedies.” Pre- head curator of the British speare the only playwright
sided over by two friends Library’s Printed Heritage known to have been so
and former colleagues of Collections. honored was his contem-
Shakespeare, who had The most ambitious, and porary Ben Jonson, who
died in 1616, the Folio en- exclusive project, is “The honored himself by over-
sured that lasting texts exist- Complete Plays,” a limited seeing “The Workes of Ben-
ed for “Macbeth,” “Twelfth edition from the Folio Soci- jamin Jonson” in 1616. While
Night” and other corner- ety, an employee-owned the British Museum edition
stones of Western literature. company in London that is relatively affordable, the
In Shakespeare’s lifetime, puts out customized vol- Folio Society’s production is
many of his works were un- umes ranging from “Be- closer to the intended mar-
published or available only owulf” to George R.R. Mar- ket for the original release.
in cheap paperback edi- tin’s “A Song of Ice and “Only those with deep
tions. Fire” series. The Society has pockets, and the space to
“Without the First Folio we printed just 1,000 copies of read them, could afford
would have lost a world the 3-volume box set, with such luxurious products,”
of words,” Gregory Doran, a list price of $1,500. Be- says Laoutaris, an associ-
artistic director emeritus sides Doran’s introduction, ate professor at the Shake-
of the Royal Shakespeare the Folio Society release This cover image released by Rizzoli shows “Shakespeare’s speare Institute in the play-
Company, writes in the in- includes a foreword by First Folio: 400th Anniversary Facsimile Edition: Mr. William wright’s native Stratford-
troduction to “The Com- Dame Judi Dench. Each Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies, Published On-Avon and author of
plete Plays” of Shake- set is hand-numbered by il- According to the Originall Copies.” Associated Press “Shakespeare’s Book: The
speare, a new publication. lustrator Neil Packer. Intertwined Lives Behind
First folios have been on ex- More than three-quarters of already sold, according to “In an era when everything the Fist Folio,” which came
hibit everywhere from the “The Complete Plays” have the publisher. seems disposable, I feel out this year.q

Milwaukee comic shop looking to sell copy of first appearance of

Spider-Man, book could go for $35K

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Mil- media last Tuesday. He told very bad condition and 10
waukee comic book shop the Journal Sentinel a cou- being perfect condition.
is looking to sell a rare copy ple found the book among Dobrzynski said the book
of the first appearance of a dead relative’s posses- could fetch as much as
Spider-Man. sions and brought it to him $35,000.
Collector’s Edge has ac- for help selling it. He did not “It depends, if you put it up
quired a copy of Amazing name the couple. at auction, who’s bidding
Fantasy No. 15, the Journal A near-perfect copy of on it,” he said. “If nobody’s
Sentinel reported. The com- Amazing Fantasy No. 15 bidding on it, it’s obviously
ic book, written by Marvel sold for $3.6 million at auc- going to sell for a bit less.”
Comics icon Stan Lee and tion in Texas in 2021. The Dobrzynski contacted
published in 1962, tells the Collector’s Edge copy is some regular customers to
story of how Peter Parker worn and the edges have give them a shot at buying
was bitten by a radioactive small tears. the book before making it
spider, gained amazing Dobrzynski sent it to the Cer- public, but he hasn’t got-
powers and learns that with tified Guaranty Company, ten a yes or no from any of
great power comes great a Florida-based comics them yet.
Steve Dobrzynski, owner of Collector’s Edge Comics, holds an responsibility. and collectibles grading “They’re thinking about it,
Amazing Fantasy #15 Marvel comic which is the first appearance
of the Amazing Spider-Man on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 in The shop’s owner, Steve service. The service rated but I can only wait so long
Milwaukee, Wis. Dobrzynski, first posted pho- the book at 3.0 on a scale for people to think about
Associated Press tos of the book on social of 0.5 to 10, with 0.5 being it,” Dobrzynski said.q