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Closer Inspection: Shakespearean treasures

“We are the Mount Everest for Shakespeare,” says Michael Witmore, director of Washington’s Folger Shakespeare Library, of its extensive holdings. Here, he shares the library’s bizarre and rare Shakespearean finds. — Kris Coronado

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One of the most unusual holdings in the Folger Shakespeare Library (201 East Capitol St. SE, 202-544-4600, www.folger.edu) is this 1577-83 grimoire (a collection of magical recipes or spells, according to library director Michael Witmore). It was a rarity even in its day. “We’ve got Latin, we’ve got some Hebrew, there’s English. That’s a very small fraction of the literate public,” Witmore says.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Walt Whitman’s 1847 pocket copy of Shakespeare’s poems is a tangible link between “the great lyric poet in the U.K. and the trailblazer of American verse in the lyric tradition,” Witmore says.

Walt Whitman’s 1847 pocket copy of Shakespeare’s poems is a tangible link between “the great lyric poet in the U.K. and the trailblazer of American verse in the lyric tradition,” Witmore says.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Whitman’s name is inscribed on the book’s opening pages.

Whitman’s name is inscribed on the book’s opening pages.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

“This is one of the most wonderful things we have in the library, because it has a close and immediate physical connection to this man,” says Witmore of the final concord document for Shakespeare’s purchase of his home in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1602. The wavy cut was a security measure: “If there’s ever a dispute ... we put the two together, and then we know that they were once one piece of paper,” Witmore says.

“This is one of the most wonderful things we have in the library, because it has a close and immediate physical connection to this man,” says Witmore of the final concord document for Shakespeare’s purchase of his home in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1602. The wavy cut was a security measure: “If there’s ever a dispute ... we put the two together, and then we know that they were once one piece of paper,” Witmore says.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The Folger’s 1594 copy of “Titus Andronicus” is the only surviving quarto (one sheet of paper folded into eight pages) of the play. “When there are differences between the quarto version and the folio, we get a glimpse into how these plays were revised,” Witmore says.

The Folger’s 1594 copy of “Titus Andronicus” is the only surviving quarto (one sheet of paper folded into eight pages) of the play. “When there are differences between the quarto version and the folio, we get a glimpse into how these plays were revised,” Witmore says.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

This 1623 first folio of Shakespeare’s works has its original 17th-century calfskin binding, with the coat of arms of former owner Ralph Sheldon pressed upon the cover. Each folio is unique because “they corrected it as they were printing it,” Witmore says.

This 1623 first folio of Shakespeare’s works has its original 17th-century calfskin binding, with the coat of arms of former owner Ralph Sheldon pressed upon the cover. Each folio is unique because “they corrected it as they were printing it,” Witmore says.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

A peek inside a first folio. The Folger Shakespeare Library owns 82 first folios of Shakespeare’s complete works (there are 232 known surviving to date), making it the largest collection of first folios in the world. Meisei University in Tokyo comes in second with … 12.

A peek inside a first folio. The Folger Shakespeare Library owns 82 first folios of Shakespeare’s complete works (there are 232 known surviving to date), making it the largest collection of first folios in the world. Meisei University in Tokyo comes in second with … 12.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The Folger’s Witmore. Besides centuries-old books, the library has other items of Shakespearean lore — such as “a bundle of sticks that was collected on the property of Shakespeare’s house,” Witmore says.

The Folger’s Witmore. Besides centuries-old books, the library has other items of Shakespearean lore — such as “a bundle of sticks that was collected on the property of Shakespeare’s house,” Witmore says.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Hair jewelry was a popular Victorian keepsake. This 1879 bracelet is made of hair from Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth, brother of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth.

Hair jewelry was a popular Victorian keepsake. This 1879 bracelet is made of hair from Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth, brother of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

This 18th-century tea caddy is carved from a mulberry tree that had grown on Shakespeare’s New Place. “When this tree fell, instead of turning it into firewood, they started carving objects out of it,” Witmore says.

This 18th-century tea caddy is carved from a mulberry tree that had grown on Shakespeare’s New Place. “When this tree fell, instead of turning it into firewood, they started carving objects out of it,” Witmore says.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

”They’re true Shakespearean relics,” Witmore says of the tea caddy and other objects carved from trees from Shakespeare’s home.

”They’re true Shakespearean relics,” Witmore says of the tea caddy and other objects carved from trees from Shakespeare’s home.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

After the 1948 release of Laurence Olivier’s “Hamlet,”play sets of characters and backdrops were devised to be used with a Pollock’s Toy Theatre, so children could stage their own play.

After the 1948 release of Laurence Olivier’s “Hamlet,”play sets of characters and backdrops were devised to be used with a Pollock’s Toy Theatre, so children could stage their own play.

Benjamin C. Tankersley / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

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