Shakespeare First Folio to Auctioned, Might Receive $6 Million

Euronews sends word of an auction at the New York branch of Christie's in April. According to Jez Fielder, as "John Heminge and Henry Condell collated and published what became known as William Shakespeare's First Folio in 1623, they were only just beginning to understand the English playwright's greatness." More: 

The Stratford dramatist had died seven years earlier in 1616 but over four centuries later he is now still regarded as the unparalleled master of his art.

It could be contended that the folio itself contributed towards the success of the content within, as this large form format was almost exclusively used for religious texts and would have thus attributed a status to the tome that other literary publications could not have rivalled.

"The First Folio always stands out. It is a phenomenon. I mean partly just because of the text and resonance of Shakespeare and that he does speak to all ages, and all people, and cultures and so a complete copy of the first folio really is in any context going to be a tremendous moment," says Margaret Ford, the head of books and manuscripts at Christie's, where the auction is taking place.

Knowledge of what actually constitutes the complete Shakespearean cannon is hard to come by. The authorship of certain plays remains a matter for debate in literary circles, with eight or more plays thought to have been the result of collaboration.

There are also a cadre of people - known as Anti-Stratfordians - who believe that Shakespeare was used as a front for other writers whose profiles in society were too lofty to admit authorship.

Learn more at Euronews.