1685 Comedies, Histories & Tragedies by William Shakespeare
Invest Now-
$115,000
Initial Offering Marketing Cap -
$115
Initial Offering Share Price -
#SHKSPR4
Ticker -
07/2020
Initial Offering Date
As the greatest writer of the English language, William Shakespeare needs no introduction. However, you might never have heard the name, “Shakespeare,” were it not for the collection of his plays into folios. In the early 1600’s, publishing a book in the folio format, which referred to the process of folding a single sheet of paper to make two leaves or four pages, was only used for prestigious works of literature. Shortly after his death, fellow actors in Shakespeare’s company decided to compile The Bard’s works into “Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories & Tragedies,” which featured thirty-six plays, eighteen of which had never before been published.
#SHKSPR4 Gallery
“Just after Shakespeare’s death, his stature was considerable. [Folios were] printed in a size reserved for great classes and lectern Bibles.”
— New York Times, on Shakespeare’s Folios | July 2011
#SHKSPR4 Timeline
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William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-upon-Avon, in the county of Warwickshire, England.
Apr. 1564
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At 18-years old, William Shakespeare marries 26-year-old, Anne Hathaway.
Nov. 1582
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Shakespeare writes his first play, Henry VI, Part One.
Jan. 1590
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The Bubonic Plague closes London’s theaters and kills roughly 5% of the city’s residents. Shakespeare uses the time to write poetry.
Jan. 1593
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After the Plague subsides, the theaters reopen.
May 1594
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With construction led by The Chamberlain’s Men, The Globe Theatre is built.
Jan. 1599
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Shakespeare’s father dies in 1601, and the tragic event is believed to have inspired Shakespeare to write Hamlet.
Jan. 1601
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Queen Elizabeth I dies and King James ascends to the throne. The Chamberlain’s Men change their name to the King’s Men ahead of performing for King James.
Mar. 1603
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A collection of 154 sonnets written by Shakespeare is published by Thomas Thorpe.
Jan. 1609
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In collaboration with John Fletcher, Shakespeare composes his final plays: Henry VIII, Two Noble Kinsmen, and Cardenio (which was subsequently lost).
Jan. 1613
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Shakespeare loses his battle to an unknown illness and passes away on his 52nd birthday.
Apr. 1616
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The First Folio is published by John Heminge and Henry Condell, Shakespeare’s former colleagues in the King’s Men. The folio contains 36 plays, 18 of which were appearing in print for the first time.
Jan. 1623
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The Second Folio is published and includes the first published poem of John Milton.
Jan. 1632
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The Third Folio is published with an additional 7 plays, bringing the total number of plays from 36 to 43.
Jan. 1664
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The four-day Great Fire of London grips the city and destroys most copies of the Third Folio, leading to the printing of the Fourth Folio two decades later.
Sep. 1666
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Shakespeare’s Fourth Folio is published, and #SHKSPR4 is printed.
Jan. 1685
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A 1623 copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio sells at Christie’s for $6,166,000.
Oct. 2001
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A 1685 copy of Shakespeare’s Fourth Folio sells at Sotheby’s for $197,454.
Dec. 2019
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Rally enters into an agreement to acquire #SHKSPR4 and offer it on the Rally platform.
Feb. 2020
#SHKSPR4 Details
Rally’s #SHKSPR4 is a 1685 copy of Shakespeare’s Fourth Folio, the last and most elegant of the 17th century editions long prized by collectors. Notably, this copy retains the original portrait and title pages, setting it apart from inferior copies which have these pages in facsimile. Copies similar to #SHKSPR4 have appreciated over 20% since 2015.
Invest Now| Financials | |
|---|---|
| Price Per Share | $115.00 |
| Number of Shares | 1,000 |
| Market Cap. | $115,000 |
| Storage Location | Rally |
| Asset Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Title | Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies |
| Author | William Shakespeare |
| Edition | Fourth Folio |
| Issue | Brewster/Bentley |
| Publisher | H. Herringman, E. Brewster, and R. Bentley |
| Publication Date | 1685 |
| Binding | Modern panelled calf over old boards |
| Book Condition | Good, minor restoration |
| Inscriptions or Note | None |
