Shakespeare's First Folio casket

XR 6

fonds

before 1885

889835

1 casket - 62 x 46 x 39 cm - wood, velvet, silver plate

Oak casket carved by Morris & Norton of Birmingham, with the design attributed to Norton. It was reported that the oak was 'grown in the historic forest of Arden', which featured in Shakespeare's play 'As You Like It'.

The casket was created to house the volume titled 'Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories & tragedies : published according to the true originall copies', also known as Shakespeare's First Folio (held separately at call no. SAFE/ RB/ Y1/ 1). The volume was purchased by Sir Richard Tangye and George Tangye, engineers of Birmingham, at auction in 1884 for £750.

References:
'Shakespeare's First Folio', Sydney Morning Herald, 17 January 1885, page 8.
'Shakespeare's First Folio'. State Library of New South Wales. Accessed 9 January 2023. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/shakespeare-library/shakespeares-first-folio

Carved oak casket created to house Shakespeare's First Folio. The central front panel features the Shakespeare coat of arms; the interior is lined with blue velvet and includes an inscribed silver plate.

Information transferred from Pictures Card Catalogue as part of the eRecords Project, 2009-2010

On permanent display in the Shakespeare Room, Mitchell Wing

Silver plate, casket interior, inscribed 'Shakespeare's First Folio, 1625. Presented to the Sydney Free Public Library by Richard and George Tangye, Birmingham, 1884'.