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First Folio Monument, London
Constructed in 1896, this pink granite monument, adorned with a Shakespearean bust, stands within the former churchyard of Saint Mary Aldermanbury on Love Lane. Its primary purpose is to honor the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, but it also serves as a tribute to Henry Condell and John Heminges, two associates of the Bard. These actors, who collaborated with Shakespeare at The Globe Theatre, played a crucial role in compiling and printing the First Folio after his passing in 1616. Both Condell and Heminges resided in the same parish and found their final resting place in its churchyard.
The First Folio contains all 36 plays commonly attributed to Shakespeare, with the exceptions of "Pericles, Prince of Tyre," "The Two Noble Kinsmen," "Edward III," and the lost plays "Cardenio" and "Love's Labour's Won." Of the approximately 750 copies originally printed, only 235 are known to exist today, many of which are housed in public archives or private collections. Notably, a copy sold at Christie's in New York in October 2001 fetched a hammer price of $6.16 million (then equivalent to £3.73 million), while in October 2020, a copy from Mills College sold at Christie's for a staggering $10 million, making it the most expensive literary work ever auctioned.
The First Folio contains all 36 plays commonly attributed to Shakespeare, with the exceptions of "Pericles, Prince of Tyre," "The Two Noble Kinsmen," "Edward III," and the lost plays "Cardenio" and "Love's Labour's Won." Of the approximately 750 copies originally printed, only 235 are known to exist today, many of which are housed in public archives or private collections. Notably, a copy sold at Christie's in New York in October 2001 fetched a hammer price of $6.16 million (then equivalent to £3.73 million), while in October 2020, a copy from Mills College sold at Christie's for a staggering $10 million, making it the most expensive literary work ever auctioned.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
First Folio Monument on Map
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Sight Name: First Folio Monument
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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