New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
FIRST FOLTOS" IN AMERICA.
NINE COPIES OF THIS EDITION OF
SHAKESPEARE IN GREATER
NEW-YORK
THEY ARE ALL PERFECT AND IN GOOD FIRES
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE
DIFFERENT COPIES.
DIFFERENT COPIES.

ent of forty-fve copies Of the first folio OF
Shakespeare which are traceable to-day Its
compiler did not claim completeness for his lst'
but he considered it a step toward the ascertain
ment OF the number Of such folios In existence.
OF the forty-fve which he mentioned four only
were in America. These were credited TO ROD
ert Hoe, Augustin DAILY and the LenoX Library
New-York. and to Robert Roberts, OF Boston
Upon reading the list IT at once occurred to the
writer that there were probably other copies
in New-York besides those recorded, and an
Investigation of the matter proved that THIS
was true 1t also disclosed several interesting
facts In connection with the history OF soihe VI
the folios now owned in this city.
Instead of three, the writer has been able 10
find nine. OF these the Lenox Library owns
four Columbia University one, Mr.. Hoe ana
Mr. DAILY each one, stated, and the remain
ing two copies are the property respectively or
T. d. Church and W. A. White, of Brooklyn.
1t has frequently been observed by literary
authorities that the first, 1923, folio OF
Shakespeare is not. strictly speaking, rare
book except in a state OF perfect preservation.
II all the battered and defective copies were
counted, the list, says one writer, could doubt
less be extended into the hundreds The nine
mentioned here, however, and presumably all
those included in the English list, are known
70 book collectors as perfect copies. THIS
means that the whole of the text is intact. but
II admits Of some slight defects in the title
page and TIE first two or three leaves at each
end of the volume. These being moro exposed
to wear than the rest OF the book, when the
binding becomes weak are the first to go In
many OF the copies whatever Of the original
printing still remains has been so skilfully IN
laid upon new paper that 1t would require an
10. n
custom among some dealers to subject the
folios to a cleaning process, but they are more
highly regarded when they have not been 50
treated. \ cleaned book has "A blodchod, wan
appearance which seems to detract from It's
dignity and character. Some of the prices paid
for the 1923 foos have been remarkably high.
The copies vary in size. and, other things being
equal tho larger they are the greater their
value
OF the four specimens now IN the Lenox IL
brary one is the old Astor Library copy. which
was recently taken uptown when the consoi-
dalton Of the two institutions caused some
changes to be made in the arrangement Of the
books. This was known in England the
Stowe copy. Not much is known about its his
tory beyond the fact that 1t was bought by
Bohn in 1910 for $40 II measures l2% inches
by SlA inches and has the Ben Jonson verses,
opposite the Drocshout portrait, inlaid
The most famous Of the LenOx folios is the
Baker Lichfeld- Baker copy once owned by
James Baker. Kings Arms. C0eman-st.. London.
1t measures 12l5 by 81 inches and cost in 1870
1853 les. distinguishing popularity is that
It has two cancelled leaves in "As You Like
It. 1t may be said incidentally that all Of
these folios present some slight differences in
the text. so that each has "A certain Individual
itv Tho most rcnarka thing alOut this COPY
however is that il bears the date 1872 instead
Of the usual 1923. The discrepancy has been
the subject of much argument, and opinions
seem TO have been divided as TO whether the
alteration was made by accident design. Mr.
LenOx said Of II:
1.-THE title-page with the date 1922 is nad
at the bottom below the imprint. If by this
means the last figure has been tempered with,
the alteration is very successfully concealed"
The copy is now bound in maroon morocco,
with giIt margins, edges and back The binding
Is the work Of Charles Lewis
OF the third Lenox copy no history is given.
1t Is a fine one similar 10 the one just de-
rcribcd except that the date is the usual 1923.
II has been bound by Francis Bedford in red
crushed levant morocco. with gilt edges and
cooling on the sides and back.
The fourth and last Of the folios now in the
library was formerly the property Of Samuel
7 Tilden. It is inferior to the others IN cond-
uon and IS kept locked up instead Of being on
view in the cases.
remarkably fine copy is that owned by w.
A White of Brooklyn 1t measures T. 3-lG by
1G inches. and was bound about twenty-five |
Years ago by Francis Bedford This folio was
nncc the property Of Sir William Titc. from
whose possession it subsequently passed into that
~ Eugene y. Robinson and then into the |
library OF Brayton Ives. 1t was one OF the |
vaIuable books disposed Of at the well-known |