Sotheby's London will auction a rare set of all four Shakespeare Folios—the First (1623), Second (1632), Third (1663), and Fourth (1685)—as a single lot on May 23, with a presale estimate of £3.5–4.5 million ($4.7–5.99 million). The set, assembled in 2016, is led by the First Folio, which preserved 18 of Shakespeare's plays that might otherwise have been lost. The sale marks the first time all four volumes have been offered together since a 1989 Sotheby's New York auction, which was canceled after a private offer was accepted.
The auction matters because complete sets of Shakespeare Folios are extraordinarily rare, with most copies held by institutions like the Royal Collection. The First Folio alone is considered the most coveted publication in English literature, and past sales of individual copies have reached nearly $10 million. This sale highlights the enduring market value of literary artifacts and the scarcity of such complete collections in private hands, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity for collectors.