Shakespeare First Edition Book ~ Early Folio
The Oldest Known Copy of Macbeth by Willaim Shakespeare - Very Rare Book!
I’ve done a lot to ensure that when people want to sell rare books and look on the internet in search of a dealer they find me.
To that end I get offered all sorts of things. A book can make you a month’s income or it can make you laugh.
Check this out - is it ignorance or an Indian Book Scam.
It could be my lucky day - I’ve been offered a 1623 edition of Macbeth by William Shakespeare published by Allied Newspapers ltd.
Hang on, that doesn’t sound quite right - our Indian friend appears to be a little wayward with his dating - by almost 300 years in fact !
The red dividers mark the start and end of the email he sent me and the bold text is me highlighting the juciest bits
********************** Start of Email********************
Respected sir,
I hereby informed you that my father has a “world’s oldest and antique novel named-“MACBETH”. This novel is written by the grate and famous author named “WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE”.
Discription
(*) This novel is 285 years old.
(*) it contains picture of lady mark also
(*) This novel is written in the year of 1606 and published in the year of
1623 by allied publication (London).
(*) It is very small novel whose length is 3 cm and height is 5 cm and birth
Is just 1.5 cm only.
(*) The weight of this novel is only 16 grams.
(*) It has total 315 pages and the characters are readied by necked eyes.
Story of the novel
It is the famous tragedy which is written by William Shakespeare. In this novel the Macbath is a soldier in a royal army. The soldier named Macbeth is a very ambition person whose dream is to win the entire world and therefore he killed his king. And after that he feeled very guilty that what he had done. The entire story of this soldier named Macbeth. The moral of this novel is “SOMETIMES THE WAY OF GETTING AMBITION OF MEN IS DANGEROUS”
Publicity of this novel
This photograph of this novel is published in all the newspapers and magazine. The photographs and the story of this novel are published in the following famous magazines and newspaper. These is as follows
(1) “INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE LIMITED”(NEWS-AGENCY OF AMERICA AS WELL AS INDIA)
(2) “THE TIMES OF INDIA” (THE FAMOUS NEWSPAPER OF INDIA)
(3) “DIVYA BHASKAR” (NEWS-PAPER)
(4) “SANDESH” (NEWS-PAPER)
(5) “ABHIYAN” (MAGAZINE)
(6) “GUJARAT SAMACHAR”(NEWS-PAPER)
(7) “CHITRALEKHA(MAGAZINE)
(8) “D.N.A”(NEWS-PAPER)
(9) “ETV”(NEWS CHANNEL)
(10) “AAJ-TAK”(NEWS CHANNEL)
(11) “Z NEWS”(NEWS CHANNEL)
Humble Request
So, I wish that this antic novel is placed in your famous auction house so that the last memorable and antique thing can be saved and prevented so that the next generation can see it and know the greatness of the great author William Shakespeare. So if you are interested than e-mail to me or contact me. My contact number is *********** (India). I hope you will answer me very soon. I am waiting for your reply. Please see the photographs in attached files. If you want to look after any document or any certificate or any proof about this antique novel then I will surely provide the certificate and other documents of this antique novel.
NOTE:
To know about the publication edition and to know about the novel that this novel is oldest or not! I have contacted “THE BRITISH LIBRARY”
Then the authorized person of this library said that this novel is antique. Oldest in the world and no other copy of this antique novel is present in the world”
********************** End of Email********************
I still think it could be an investment opportunity, if so, perhaps I should pass on our friend’s copy and go for the copy pictured below which is listed on abebooks ~ after all it’s only $12 
A Shakespeare First Folio
Who’d be a bookseller - not me
Bibliomaniacally Yours
Rod
Little Brother said,
June 4, 2009 @ 12:02 am
Rod,
Love it…great post. Really is.
LB
Rod said,
June 4, 2009 @ 7:19 am
LB
I had one from Nigeria last week ( The Nigerian Books Scam )
“I am wanting to buy all your boks”
Cheers
Rod
Annie Flinn said,
June 4, 2009 @ 6:28 pm
Do people really fall for these things?? Think of the money he will make if everyone responds with the $12. Low price; many takers;no folio.
Annie
Rod said,
June 4, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
Annie
the $12 book is legit - a genuine dealer offering the book for pretty much what it’s worth.
Selin said,
November 30, 2009 @ 12:47 am
Hey guys LOL all that was quite funny… umm well i have a ques. I have found a 1939 copy of Macbeth edited by George Lyman Kittredge… umm published by THE ATHENEUM PRESS and the earliest copies I can find on the net are like dated 1966 copies which have then been edited again by some other guy. Anyone have any idea how much this book may be worth? Or where I can find out? I been trying to research on the net but had no luck…
you can get me at selin_alan@hotmail.com
Thanks…
Hwajeong said,
November 24, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
Dear Sir,
I was googling the first edition books of Shakespeare and found your blog, which is very interesting.
I wonder if you have got the MACBETH finally?
Hope you have a wonderful day.
Best,
Hwajeong
gemma said,
June 20, 2011 @ 11:23 am
hello
i have emailed you about my first edition casino royale book that im looking to sell i was wondering if you was interested or you had any ideas on selling this book
thank you
Rod said,
June 20, 2011 @ 12:06 pm
Hi Gemma,
I received no email lately re a Casino 1st, if you want to resend ensuring it has a proper title to the email etc to avoid it getting lost - I get about 500 emails a day you see
Cheers
Rod