Sotheby's (London)

(28 cm), 60 (4) pp., illustrations (most in colour). 1 lot. Publisher’s cloth, pictorial dust jacket. - The Shakespeare First Folio “was basically a good if not sparkling copy with some enigmatic marginal markings throughout by an early reader. Sotheby’s, who had been exhibiting it in New York and even Beijing, must have expected the estimate of £2.5m-£3.5m to prove conservative. On the day, however, the telephones did not ring, and it was knocked down to Simon Finch at £2.5m [£2,808,000 inclusive] against the reserve” (from a saleroom report in The Book Collector, Autumn 2006, pp.404-405). Offprint of lot 95 in Sotheby’s catalogue of “English literature, history, fine bindings, private press and children’s books: including the Dr Williams’ copy of the Shakespeare first folio”, 13 July 2006. ¶ Unmarked copy.