Most expensive literature by Shakespeare sold at auction

The most valuable work by William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is one of only five copies of the First Folio dated 1623 printed by Isaac Jaggard and Ed. Blount, 1623 which was sold at Christie's, New York, USA on 8 October 2001 for $6,166,000 (£4,156,947). It is also the highest price ever paid for a 17th century book.

The First Folio is considered by some to be the most important book in English literature and was sold as part of the Library of Abel E. Berland, a Midwest collector. The First Folio is important because it was the first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays. The printing of it in 1623 was a massive achievement and included 36 plays, 18 of which had never been published before. Had the First Folio not been published the following works could have been lost:Shakespeare's three last plays (Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale and The Tempest), four tragedies (Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus), and two of his mature comedies (As You Like It and Twelfth Night).