The First Folio and the transatlantic trade in early drama c.1900–1929

Abstract

Abstract In early twentieth-century America, ownership of all four Shakespeare folios was a benchmark for rare-book collectors, showcasing a dedication to assembling an exceptional library. The First Folio (1623) typically commanded the highest prices. Dealers sought to capitalize on the popularity of Shakespeare’s works by labelling a wide range of material as ‘Shakespeareana’, and the 1920s saw a boom in the market for early English plays. For some American collectors, notably Henry Folger, one copy of an edition was not enough, but others, including Henry Huntington, released duplicates back into the market, helping to keep interest high and facilitating the use of books as investments in the 1920s. This article examines the transatlantic trade in early English drama from c.1900 to 1929, to situate sales of First Folios in their economic and cultural context and to explore why large numbers of sixteenth-century English plays are now held in a handful of American libraries.