The Trevelyon Miscellany of 1608

The Trevelyon Miscellany of 1608 is a unique volume in the Folger Shakespeare Library. It contains 596 pages of entries, including astronomy, a history of British rulers, embroidery patterns, the nine muses, the seven deadly sins, ornamental alphabets and much more. The Folger commissioned this full-size facsimile—11 x 17 inches and weighing 18 pounds—to allow bibliophiles and scholars access to this treasure of late-16th-century information. Sixty pages of prefatory information were added, including an introduction, several scholarly indices and a reference index of miniature page reproductions. It required two years to produce, with great efforts made to ensure the best, most accurate facsimile within budgetary restraints. Among the unusual steps taken, the Italian printing company’s owner flew to Washington, D.C. to personally check every page proof against the original. Additionally, the printer created special four-color inks to more faithfully reproduce the unusual colors of the manuscript. Because of the facsimile’s size, pieces of wood are used for the book boards. Instead of trying to create the appearance of a period binding (the original was lost over time), the dust jacket and book cover are designed in a manner that reflects the contents but is closer in spirit to our times.

“Mammoth, monumental and essential are the words that come to mind when describing this book. Not meant for reading in bed, this book demands its own table.”