This year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, better known to us today as the First Folio. The book, a landmark publication even at the time it was printed, has over time acquired iconic status and institutions owning a Folio now regard it as a badge of honour.

The Durham First Folio has the distinction of having been held in the same location for the longest period out of all surviving copies. It also has a troubled recent history, having been stolen in 1998. Ten years later, Librarians at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC became suspicious of a badly damaged First Folio brought to them for authentication which, following forensic examination, was proved to be the missing Durham copy.

As part of the Durham Inspired Live Programme, join Tony King, Head of Collections Care and Conservation, and Danielle Westerhof, Rare Books Curator, to learn more about the significance of Shakespeare’s First Folio, the story of Durham’s own copy and how it was recovered.

The session will be ran virtually via Zoom.