24 Victoria and Albert Museum

Books  Back in the halcyon days of 2016 when I could afford a monthly visit to London and because you could still book such a trip months in advance for under £35 return, my first visit was to the V&A to see the theatrical display during which I was surprised to find his Shakespeare Folio on display, which as you can see was open to the first page of Twelfth Night.  This same volume has subsequently appeared on television.

Secrets of the Museum is a behind the scenes documentary series about the conservation work at the Victoria and Albert Museum, a sort of institutional version of The Repair Shop.  In one episode, the fifth in series one, we're given an extensive look at this First Folio as Jane Rutherston, Principal Book Conservator is shown doing paper repairs to thirteen tears on various pages and part of the spine which has broken due to having been out on display on the same page for too long.

During the introductory passage, RSC stalwart Alexandra Gilbraith is invited in to chat about the book and provide some context for viewers ("Am I allowed to touch it?" "You are allowed to touch it.").  Rutherston suggests that single plays, the Quartos, were printed for the actor's use, which isn't confirmed, especially since a lot of them were pirated version to give rival companies access to the plays.

The book's pretty identifiable from the folio survey book which describes the binding of "brown goatskin with blind fillets as a double framed border with double ‘V’ at the bands. It is slightly scuffed.  In the programme we see a glimpse of the spine which has "six bands" and "‘shakespeare,’ is gold- tooled in the second panel and ‘london,| 1623,’ appears in the third panel. There is no other decoration."  

This binding was apparently from the time of the first identified owner, Reverand Alexander Dyce, Anglican Minister and editor of Early Modern Plays, with two different editions published in his lifetime (his work can be seen at the internet archive).  He bequeathed the book to the V&A on his death in 1869, along with his collection of 15,000 items which included books, paintings. prints, rings and art objects.

Late, the conservator is seen repairing the volume, indeed fixing many of the problems itemised in The Shakespeare First Folios book.  A small dab of wheat starch paste is applied to the spine to bring the worst break back together and fibres from the inner bark of the mulberry tree are glued to the tears.  It's a very satisfying watch.