Collection highlights
The Trevelyon Miscellany
Thomas Trevelyon’s hand-drawn 1608 miscellany depicts a wide array of subjects, such as English and Scottish rulers, biblical stories, and embroidery patterns.
Anne of Cleves's Book of Hours
Anne of Cleves gifted her husband, King Henry VIII, this illustrated prayer book.
A “Foure-Footed Beaste”
Edward Topsell’s 1607 bestiary depicts grisly creatures, both actual and mythical.
Paul Robeson as Othello
Paul Robeson’s 1943 appearance as Othello had the longest run to that time of any Shakespearean production on Broadway.
Fanny Kemble costume design
This costume design was for popular early 19th-century British actress Fanny Kemble’s role as Desdemona in Othello.
Edwin Booth as Richard III
This costume was worn by 19th-century actor Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth, for his role as Richard III.
Sangorski’s Songs and Sonnets
Alberto Sangorski’s manuscript book of Shakespeare’s songs and sonnets features beautiful calligraphy and gold-leaf illuminations, created in 1926.
A censored Second Folio from Valladolid
An official of the Spanish Inquisition crossed out passages from Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII that use imagery evocative of the Virgin Mary to describe Elizabeth I.
Folger First Folio 1
An inscription from 1623 records this book as a gift from the First Folio’s printer, William Jaggard.
Umberto Romano: Shakespeare recites Shakespeare
This 1960s oil painting by the American artist Umberto Romano depicts William Shakespeare.
Francesco Zuccarelli: Macbeth meeting the witches
This 18th-century oil painting by Francesco Zuccarelli depicts a scene from Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Blackfriars Gatehouse Deed
This manuscript is Shakespeare’s copy of his deed of purchase of the Blackfriars gatehouse in 1613.