Folger Collections

I made a zine inspired by the Folger Shakespeare Library’s collection (and you can too!). 

In early modern England, New Year’s Day was celebrated with a long-standing custom of giving gifts to the monarch. Each gift was carefully recorded on “gift rolls.” What were the top gifts in 1539 and 1585?

Scenes of winter in the Folger collection, from snowy outdoor scenes to fashionable illustrations to mentions of winter in Shakespeare’s Sonnets.

Flowers, bugs, birds, frogs—all and more are found in the manuscripts of Esther Inglis (1570?–1624) now on display in Little Books, Big Gifts, a special Folger exhibition highlighting her artistry with pen and brush.

Explore the (often biting) commentary that Victorian novelist Antony Trollope left in a copy of Marlowe’s plays.

A behind the scenes look at the creation of a reproduction of one of the embroidered bindings on display in Little Books, Big Gifts: The Artistry of Esther Inglis.

We revisit Anandi Rao’s November 2024 presentation as part of our discussion of Nisha Sharma’s Dating Dr. Dil.

This month’s Folger Mystery explores the reuse of a woodblock print as it was eaten away by worms.

Spot the difference in this month’s Folger mystery!

Fellow Douglas Clark delves into the contents of the previously overlooked manuscript, Thomas Grocer’s Banquet of Sweetmeats.

We revisit Rachel B. Dankert’s October 2024 presentation as part of our discussion of Edward Carey’s Edith Holler.

Beatrice Bradley revisits her September 2024 presentation on Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks.