Shakespeare's First Folio (Norton Facsimile) LE

I have the non-LE version published in 1996.
It is a huge, heavy, beautifully bound book with leather spine and buckram covers that are blocked with a contemporary engraving of the Thames and Globe.
The text is a facsimile of the Norton manuscript. Easy to read the words in the facsimile except for the use of the old fashioned "f" for "s".
I have no regrets in purchasing it.
I paid AU$199+postage (about £127) new from FS.

I have the LE from 2001, also a reprint of the 2nd edition of the Norton facsimile. It is half-bound in Wassa Goatskin with marbled paper sides. Folio 60 has it in the appendix as only being FS in that it has an FS binding. It has a slipcase, not a solander box. It also says that it was republished in a non LE in 2006. I paid $500 US for mine.

Folio 60 does not mention the 1996 edition spoken of by wcarter, so I wonder if he really got it from the FS.

The FS LE program started shortly after the 2001 edition, with the "Benedictional of St Aethelwold", also in 2001.

Most definitely bought from the FS (I have the receipt), but not published by the FS.
Publisher is W W Norton and printed in the USA but done in a style similar to the better FS editions.

>wcarter
I believe you. I looked it up on ABE after I posted my message, and 4 of the 7 copies' info said that the Folio Society was involved. Curious why it is not mentioned in Folio 60.

>Eclectic,
I bought mine directly from the FS, brand new.
I don't know if you were only looking on ABE in the US, but Ardis in England seeems to have three copies of the one wcarter described, for around $170. They also have pictures, and it looks quite attractive. There is also what appears to be a copy of the 2006 edition, which is bound in red morrocco, also in the UK. There is only one copy of the actual FS LE in the ABE listings.

>6 garyjbp: garyjbp
FS often markets publications of similar high quality, but not published by them. This was one such edition as I can find no reference to the FS anywhere in the book. My copy is listed as the second edition, the first being in 1968.
I have the three page original advertising flyer for the book from the FS which states:
"The Folio Society is delighted to be associated with W W Norton & Co. in the production of this magnificent facsimile....."
It also states that the full price is US$375, and is being offered to members at half price (which translates to AU$199 at that time).
Despite being not a FS publication, it is still a beautiful and very collectible book at a far lower price than the FS LE.

I have the very same volume described by wcarter. It's not a comfortable book to handle but it is attractive and very well bound. For the curious, an indispensable reference.

It is confusing. The 2001 FS LE title page only lists WW Norton as publisher. The only mention of the FS is on the limitation page, which was laid in. The FS commissioned the binding, as it may have done for the 1996 version. But the intro to the Folio 60 Appendix says that it contains books which were bound by the society, but for which "the sheets were bought in" from other publishers. So I might say no, it is not an FS book.

But then, some of the other facsimiles the FS has done also only mention the FS on the limitation page. But I consider them to be FS books, since they actually published them.

So you have to make up your own mind. Maybe we can do a poll.