William Shakespeare’s ‘First Folio’ expected to fetch up to £4.5million at auction in New York – The Sun

ONE of just six known 400-year-old books of Shakespeare’s plays is expected to fetch up to £4.5million at auction.

The 1623 First Folio is one of the greatest literary works in the English language.

It contains 36 plays including Macbeth and Measure for Measure — and features 18 that may otherwise have been lost for ever such as Twelfth Night.

The book also organised Shakespeare’s work into categories such as comedy and tragedy for the first time.

The bard died in 1616 and the First Folio was compiled by his friends John Heminges and Henry Condell.

This one is being sold by Christie’s in New York on April 24.

First it will tour London, Hong Kong and Beijing.

Margaret Ford, of Christie’s, said: “To handle a First Folio is always a privilege and, given its tremendous significance and influence around the globe, is even a humbling experience.”

The current auction record for a First Folio is £4.17million set in October 2001 in New York.

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