King’s College, Cambridge

This copy has been owned by King’s College since 1850. However, it was missing from Sidney Lee’s 1902 Census. The renowned economist and fellow of King’s College John Maynard Keynes informed Lee of his omission in a letter from 19^th June 1924. This letter is now stored together with this copy of the First Folio and other items: a news article from The Times (21 April 1923), which celebrates the 300^th anniversary of the First Folio’s publication, and three slips of paper with notes about the condition of the volume. This copy misses some pages, and the portrait of the title page seems to be an engraved facsimile copied from the state two original. The copy came to the King’s College from Dr. George Thackeray’s private collection. He is the only known private owner of this copy and was Provost of King’s College from 1814 until his death in 1850. After his death, his daughter made sure that, as Thackeray wanted, his library, which contained copies of the First, Second and Fourth Folios, was added to the College collection.