Scholars’ 40-year wait ends at the University of York
Posted on 12 June 2006
It is one of two historical literary texts, worth a total of £3 million, that have been loaned to the University’s Library and Archives anonymously.The other is an even rarer manuscript of the 14th-century poem The Vision of Piers Plowman, by William Langland, which has also been in private hands since 1966.
These are exciting additions to our collections and we are enormously grateful to the owner for loaning them to us
Elizabeth Heaps
The First Folio – a complete printed edition of Shakespeare’s plays published in 1623 – is in superb condition, but the hand-written Piers Plowman manuscript, which is also in near-perfect order, is potentially of even greater interest to scholars.
One of only 54 complete manuscripts of Langland’s poem known to be still in existence, it is thought to date back to the 1450s, though some academics believe it to be even older.
Both volumes have been loaned to the University for three years and are being kept under climatically controlled conditions and tight security in the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
Before being made available for researchers, the Borthwick Institute’s Conservator Trevor Cooper painstakingly removed later bookplates from the front and rear covers of both volumes.
University Librarian Elizabeth Heaps said: “These are exciting additions to our collections and we are enormously grateful to the owner for loaning them to us. These particular editions have not been available for research and comparative purposes for many years.
“We plan to make surrogate copies (digital or microfilm) to limit wear and tear on the originals, though they will be available as needed, under secure conditions, for research.”
Notes to editors:
- Photocall: Archivist Philippa Hoskin and Conservator Trevor Cooper will be available for pictures with the Shakespeare First Folio and the Piers Plowman manuscript at 11am Tuesday 13 June at the Borthwick Institute for Archives. Journalists should report to Reception or contact David Garner 01904 432153 or 07795 315029.
- The University of York Library houses over a million printed books and journals and provides access to several thousand electronic resources. It supports the teaching, learning and research of the University and is also open to the public. The J B Morrell Library is the original University Library on Heslington campus. Next door, the architecturally dramatic Raymond Burton Library for Humanities Research was built following a generous benefaction and opened in 2003. The King’s Manor Library is the University Library’s city centre branch.
- The Borthwick Institute for Archives is one of the biggest archive respositories outside London. During its 50-year history it has collected archives from all around the world, from the 12th century to the present day. Every year it welcomes thousands of visitors who use its archive materials.In January 2005 it opened to the public in new, purpose-built premises, situated next to the J.B. Morrell and Raymond Burton Libraries on the University of York's Heslington campus. The new building was made possible thanks to a generous grant of £4.4 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund.