The Shakespeare thefts : in search of the first folios

The first edition of Shakespeare's collected works, the __First Folio__, published in 1623, is one of the most valuable books in the world and has historically proven to be an attractive target for thieves. Of the 160 __First Folios__ listed in a census of 1902, 14 were subsequently stolen-and only two of these were ever recovered. In his efforts to catalog all these precious __First Folios__, renowned Shakespeare scholar Eric Rasmussen embarked on a riveting journey around the globe, involving run-ins with heavily tattooed criminal street gangs in Tokyo, bizarre visits with eccentric, reclusive billionaires, and intense battles of wills with secretive librarians. He explores the intrigue surrounding the Earl of Pembroke, arguably Shakespeare's boyfriend, to whom the __First Folio__ is dedicated and whose personal copy is still missing. He investigates the uncanny sequence of events in which a wealthy East Coast couple drowned in a boating accident and the next week their __First Folio__ appeared for sale in Kansas. We hear about __Folios__ that were censored, the pages ripped out of them, about a volume that was marked in red paint-or is it blood?-on every page; and of yet another that has a bullet lodged in its pages. Part literary detective story, part Shakespearean lore, __The Shakespeare Thefts__ will charm the Bard's many fans. The First Edition Of Shakespeare's Collected Works, The First Folio, Published In 1623, Is One Of The Most Valuable Books In The World And Has Historically Proven To Be An Attractive Target For Thieves. Of The 160 First Folios Listed In A Census Of 1902, 14 Were Subsequently Stolen-and Only Two Of These Were Ever Recovered. In His Efforts To Catalog All These Precious First Folios, Renowned Shakespeare Scholar Eric Rasmussen Embarked On A Riveting Journey Around The Globe, Involving Run-ins With Heavily Tattooed Criminal Street Gangs In Tokyo, Bizarre Visits With Eccentric, Reclusive Billionaires, And Intense Battles Of Wills With Secretive Librarians. He Explores The Intrigue Surrounding The Earl Of Pembroke, Arguably Shakespeare's Boyfriend, To Whom The First Folio Is Dedicated And Whose Personal Copy Is Still Missing. He Investigates The Uncanny Sequence Of Events In Which A Wealthy East Coast Couple Drowned In A Boating Accident And The Next Week Their First Folio Appeared For Sale In Kansas. We Hear About Folios That Were Censored, The Pages Ripped Out Of Them, About A Volume That Was Marked In Red Paint-or Is It Blood?-on Every Page; And Of Yet Another That Has A Bullet Lodged In Its Pages. Part Literary Detective Story, Part Shakespearean Lore, The Shakespeare Thefts Will Charm The Bard's Many Fans-- A Literary Detective Story -- The Most Hated Man In England : The Gondomar Copy -- First Folio Hunters -- A Cuban Fraud : The Durham University Copy -- The Waiting Is The Hardest Part -- Unrecovered : The Manchester University Copy -- The Pope's Sticky Fingers -- A Close Personal Relationship : The Pembroke Copies -- Nationalism, Bullets, And A Recovered Treasure -- The Bibliomaniac : The Sir Thomas Phillipps Copy -- Looking Into Shakespeare's Eyes -- Fell In The Weeping Brook : The Fiske Harris Copy -- Got To Get Ourselves Back To The Garden -- The King's Companion : Royalist Copies, Puritan Copies -- A Literary Thief, A Bootlegger, A Shoe Salesman, And Hitler : The Williams College Copy -- Why Is 'the Whore Of Babylon' Well Thumbed? -- Alienated : The Hereford Cathedral Copy -- Creative Control -- Purloined & Embezzled : The William Beeston Copy -- The World's Worst Stolen Treasure -- Appendix. The Making Of The Shakespeare First Folio. Eric Rasmussen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Published in 1623, the first edition of William Shakespeare's collected works, known as the "First Folio," is one of the most sought-after books in the world. Compiled by Shakespeare's fellow actors, it is the authoritative text of his plays, and copies from its 750-copy print run have been yearned for by kings, earls, and bibliophiles since they first came off the press. In his effort to track down the extant 232 copies - and to identify others that have been stolen or lost - renowned Shakespeare scholar Eric Rasmussen and his team of First Folio hunters embarked on an incredible adventure around the world. This fast-paced narrative takes us from the courtrooms of England to high-security vaults in the rare book rooms of Japan, back through centuries to Ben Jonson's cousin, and even takes a look at the notes that a Spanish Inquisitor scribbled on the margins of one copy. In their search to unravel the often circuitous journeys of the volumes, Rasmussen and his team encounter thieve, reclusive librarians, and eccentric billionaires who are all lusting for one of the world's most valuable books. This fascinating account explores how manuscript hunters identify a book that may have an illegitimate owner and a secret past; how to identify distinguishing marks: a bullet hole, desecrated pages, and red stains that resemble blood; and how a book's location and condition can reveal its story. Part literary detective story, part Shakespearean lore, "The Shakespeare Thefts" is a rare glimpse between the covers of one of the most coveted books in the world.