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The Collation

The Collation

Research and Exploration at the Folger

The Collation is a gathering of useful information and observations from Folger staff and researchers. Read more about this blog

“What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?”: December 2020
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“What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?”: December 2020

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The Collation

Ack! Nearly December already? Wasn’t it just March? (Isn’t it still March?) Guess that means it’s time for another Crocodile Mystery. Take a look at the image below. It’s not pencil on paper. It’s not oil on canvas. What is…

Creating John Gregory’s Bas Reliefs at the Folger
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Creating John Gregory’s Bas Reliefs at the Folger

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Author
Erin Blake

Who carved the John Gregory’s bas reliefs on the facade of the Folger? Readers of last week’s Collation post will know that the apparently obvious answer—John Gregory—is incorrect. Sculptor John Gregory (1879–1958) definitely created the works of art, but professional…

Postcards of the Folger: Richard the Third, Hamlet, First Part Henry the Fovrth
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Postcards of the Folger: Richard the Third, Hamlet, First Part Henry the Fovrth

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Author
Stephen H. Grant

A guest post by Stephen Grant The final three bas-reliefs along the Folger’s north wall are Richard the Third, Hamlet, and Henry the Fourth, Part 1. The images shown here are from the same two sets of postcards that were discussed in…

Idols of the Reformation
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Idols of the Reformation

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Author
Rachel B. Dankert

Thank you to all who weighed in on this month’s Crocodile Mystery! Many people recognize October 31, 1517 as a major milestone in the beginning of the Protestant Reformation—the date that it is said Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses…

“What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?”: November 2020
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“What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?”: November 2020

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Author
The Collation

It’s time to puzzle over another Crocodile post! This month try to figure out what the object is—and bonus points to anyone who can guess who the figure might be! As always, leave your thoughts in the comments below, and…

Postcards of the Folger: Macbeth, Ivlivs Caesar, King Lear
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Postcards of the Folger: Macbeth, Ivlivs Caesar, King Lear

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Author
Stephen H. Grant

A guest post by Stephen Grant The next three bas-reliefs along the Folger’s north wall are Macbeth, Julius Caesar, and King Lear. The images shown here are from the same two sets of postcards that were discussed in the previous…

Introducing the Folger Reference Image Collection
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Introducing the Folger Reference Image Collection

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Author
Julie Swierczek

Sometimes when people contact the Folger to ask questions about items in our collections, the easiest way to provide an answer is to take a quick photo of a particular detail. This has resulted in a growing collection of smartphone…

An Unfinished Title Page Border?
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An Unfinished Title Page Border?

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Author
Caroline Duroselle-Melish

Many thanks for your answers to last week’s post. They convey the puzzling nature of this title page border: Is it an unfinished work? Was it intended to be completed by readers of the book? Does it look different in…

“What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?”: October 2020
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“What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?”: October 2020

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Author
The Collation

Welcome to another Crocodile Mystery! This month we ask you to look at the image below and tell us what you think might be going on? What sort of questions does this image generate? As always, leave your thoughts in…

Who was a refugee in early modern England? The “Poor Palatines” of 1709
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Who was a refugee in early modern England? The “Poor Palatines” of 1709

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Author
Jeremy Fradkin

A guest post by Jeremy Fradkin Today’s Collation post is a little bit different. It showcases materials held in archival collections at the British Library and the National Archives, both in the United Kingdom. It is the product of an…

Re-discovering three-cornered notes
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Re-discovering three-cornered notes

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Author
Erin Blake

A couple of years ago, when I had Saturday Duty in the Reading Room, a group of early-19th-century letters came across the desk. I noticed right away that one of them had unusual diagonal fold lines: Folger Y.d.23 (82x), a…

Postcards of the Folger: Midsommer, Romeo and Ivliet, Merchant of Venice
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Postcards of the Folger: Midsommer, Romeo and Ivliet, Merchant of Venice

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Author
Stephen H. Grant

A guest post by Stephen Grant It is my pleasure to show you two early sets of picture postcards of the Folger’s bas-reliefs by John Gregory. On the left you have photographic cards printed on Kodak (AZO) Paper. I’m hoping…

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