General notes
Two portions of a single manuscript acquired separately (in 1958 and 2007) after having been split up no later than 1887. Pages 1-14 remain unlocated
Pagination added later in blue ink (contemporary foliation in brown ink survives, foliated 16-114; wanting leaves 15-17, 26-28, 38, 40, 111-113)
In English and Latin with some Hebrew
Written in black and red ink
Annotations in several hands, contemporary and modern, in pencil and ink
In the text appears the names: John Weston (p. 143) and in anagrammatic form, John Porter (nh4z retr4p) (p. 135)
Dates: May 8, 1577 on p. 51; 1583 on p. 105
Most poems from V.b.26 (1) listed in Folger index of first lines
"R.C.S., 1822" (the astrologer R.C. Smith aka Raphael) in manuscript on page 15, after which provenance varies. See item-specific information for each volume
(V.b.26 (1)) Also available on microfilm
Also available as a digital reproduction
Publications
Mowat, Barbara A. "Prospero's book," Shakespeare Quarterly, Spring 2001, p. 1-33
Exhibited
Exhibited: Shakespeare: The Globe and the World, traveling exhibition, October 4, 1979-September 6, 1982 (V.b.26 (1))
Exhibited: The Curatorial Eye: Discoveries from the Folger Vault, curated by Folger Shakespeare Library staff, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C., June 13-August 29, 2009
Item information about Folger V.b.26 (1)
p. 15-205, 35 x 23 cm. Decorated initials added later by R.C. Smith. A poem, "Fairy lore," by E.H.W. Meyerstein, dated September 8, 1929, corrected May 20, 1935, appears on verso of leaf after p. 205. 19th century half-calf binding. Provenance: R.C. Smith -- Frederick Hockley -- Hockley's sale, Sotheby's April 6-7, 1887 (lot 380) -- "E.H.W. Meyerstein, July 8, 1929," [leaf 4] -- Meyerstein's sale, Sotheby's (London) December 15-17, 1952 (lot 474). Acquired from Day's (Booksellers) Ltd., Highfield, 1958
OPEN IN MIRADOR