The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0529  Monday, 5 June 2006

[1] 	From: 	Jeffrey Myers <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
	Date: 	Friday, 2 Jun 2006 13:41:04 -0400
	Subj: 	RE: SHK 17.0524 Sotheby's to Auction First Folio (1623)

[2] 	From: 	Clay Shevlin <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
	Date: 	Friday, 2 Jun 2006 11:11:32 -0700
	Subj: 	RE: SHK 17.0524 Sotheby's to Auction First Folio (1623)


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: 		Jeffrey Myers <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
Date: 		Friday, 2 Jun 2006 13:41:04 -0400
Subject: 17.0524 Sotheby's to Auction First Folio (1623)
Comment: 	RE: SHK 17.0524 Sotheby's to Auction First Folio (1623)

I find that price difficult to believe.  It was my understanding that 
first folios weren't even that rare.

Jeff Myers

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: 		Clay Shevlin <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
Date: 		Friday, 2 Jun 2006 11:11:32 -0700
Subject: 17.0524 Sotheby's to Auction First Folio (1623)
Comment: 	RE: SHK 17.0524 Sotheby's to Auction First Folio (1623)

Carol Barton's announcement was welcome news, but I have to say that, in 
the most amicable manner, I do not share what may be her institutional 
bias.  How many first folios does the Folger already have?  Do they 
really need another copy?  Is there anything "wrong" with a well-heeled 
private collector obtaining said copy?

To be sure, there are distinct bibliographical advantages to having 
multiple copies of an important work in one location.  Being able to 
examine such copies side by side permits the kind of bibliographical 
examination and analysis generally not available if individual copies 
were examined at different times and places.

The trend towards the institutionalization of rare and important works 
of literature has its advantages, but let's not forget the important 
role that private collectors have played over the centuries.  We should 
not automatically regard institutions as the "best location" for such works.

If there is any point to my message, it is that we should not assume 
that places like the Folger are the best locations for newly available 
copies of important books, and in fairness to Carol, I have used her 
comment more as a jumping off point rather than concluding that she 
truly believes the Folger is the ideal location for such books.  Being a 
newbie here, I don't know if this subject holds any interest to this 
group, but it is an issue close to my heart and I raise it in case there 
are others who find it worthy of discussion.

Finally, my thanks to those who responded to my query re conjuring 
("jugglers") in the Elizabethan and Stuart eras.

Clay Shevlin

_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, 
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>

DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the 
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the 
editor assumes no responsibility for them.