In a rare and momentous event for literary collectors and enthusiasts, Sotheby’s auction house in London has announced the upcoming sale of a complete set of William Shakespeare’s first four folios. This set, comprising the First (1623), Second (1632), Third (1663), and Fourth (1685) Folios, is anticipated to command between £3.5 million and £4.5 million (approximately $4.4 million to $5.7 million) when it goes under the hammer on May 23, 2025. The auction coincides with the celebration of Shakespeare’s 461st birthday.
This marks the first occasion since 1989 that all four editions are being offered together as a single lot, underscoring their exceptional rarity and historical significance. The First Folio, officially titled Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies, was published in 1623, seven years after the Bard’s death. Compiled by his colleagues John Heminges and Henry Condell, the volume preserved 36 of Shakespeare’s plays, 18 of which had never been printed before, including masterpieces like Macbeth, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night.
Approximately 750 copies of the First Folio were originally printed, with about 230 known to survive today, predominantly housed in museums, universities, and libraries. Notably, a First Folio in private hands fetched $9.9 million at an auction in 2020, setting a record for a work of literature.
The subsequent editions—the Second, Third, and Fourth Folios—reflect the enduring popularity of Shakespeare’s works.The Third Folio is particularly rare, with only 182 known copies, partly due to the destruction of many copies in the Great Fire of London in 1666. This edition included seven additional plays, though only Pericles, Prince of Tyre is widely attributed to Shakespeare.
The upcoming auction not only offers collectors a chance to own a cornerstone of English literature but also highlights the lasting impact of Shakespeare’s work. The sale is expected to attract significant interest from institutions and private collectors worldwide, reflecting the timeless appeal and scholarly importance of these seminal texts.
As the literary world commemorates over four centuries of Shakespeare’s influence, this auction serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the playwright whose works continue to resonate across generations.
