The Shakespeare Folio Felony

One of the most audacious and mindless acts of theft and destruction relating to a cultural object i have heard of recently, is a report of the stolen Shakespeare Folio from Durham University.

The Folio, printed in 1623, is the first ever collection of virtually all of Shakespeare's plays and is described by Ian Doyle, the former keeper of rare books at the University of Durham, as 'the most important printed book in English Literature'.

The Folio, which was on display in a reinforced cabinet in the Bishop Cosin's Library at the University, had been stolen in 1998 along with seven other books and manuscripts. Due to the cabinet being under cover for sunlight protection however, the discovery of its abduction was not made until a few days after it is believed Mr Raymond Scott, 53, stole the priceless cultural artefact.

The University of Durham's website states;

Professor Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said: "The loss of the Folio, a national icon, was hugely upsetting for the University community...

"Shakespeare's First Folio is extremely important, not only as a first collection of his works, but also a milestone in the history of English literature.

Mr Scott, who is known as being in Durham at the time of the Folio's disappearance, is linked with the Folio's almost unbelievable theft, after events that occurred during 2008, when he handed the book over to the Folger Library, in Washington DC, for valuation. The staff at the library instantly suspected a theft as it appeared that the book had been defaced. The BBC elaborates;

'Mr Scott "mutilated" the folio, removing both the covers, the frontispiece, final page and binding in an effort to disguise its provenance.'

Mr Scott claims that he found the stolen book at a friends house in Cuba, where he had been residing. The BBC reports Mr Scott went to the Folger Library;

claiming he was the multi-millionaire son of a building contractor...

Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said: "He presented himself as someone doing a service to the cultural community by bringing the book in to have it identified, but he did not make it clear what he intended to do with the book.

It seems from several reports that Mr Scott had spent some time in Cuba and had become obsessed with a Cuban waitress named Heidy Garcia Rios, who he had planed to share the proceeds of the Folio with, once they had sold it on the open market. Or so was the plan! The BBC reports of the trail;

Mr Smith said: "He had been transferring to her substantial amounts of money which he could ill afford and which he had borrowed for that purpose.

"He is not a wealthy man by any means. On the contrary he was living on state benefits.

"He had credit card debts and bank liabilities of more than £90,000."

Furthermore;

Experts described it as "damaged, brutalised and mutilated", but were able to tell that it was the Durham folio by its dimensions and by a handwritten note, referring to the play Troilus And Cressida.

The Judge, Richard Lowden described the Folio as;

"quintessentially English treasure" and said damage to it was "cultural vandalisation"

At the Trial, which took place last year, Richard Lowden said to Mr Scott;

"Your motivation was for financial gain. You wanted to fund an extremely ludicrous playboy lifestyle in order to impress a woman you met in Cuba"

"You are to some extent a fantasist and have to some degree a personality disorder and you have been an alcoholic.

"It is clear that from the (psychiatric) report you are not suffering from any mental disorder."

The court heard that once Mr Scott was suspected of theft of the Folio, the British Embassy, FBI and Durham Police were brought in to investigate the crime. It was relayed that Mr Scott had 25 previous convictions relating to dishonesty, dating back to 1977.

Mr Scott has been found guilty of handling stolen goods but has been cleared of the theft of the Folio. He has now been sentenced to eight years in jail where it appears, oh wondrous justice, that he has been given a responsibility in the prison library!

The Folio, estimated to be worth between 1 and 3 million pounds even in its damaged state, has now been returned to the University of Durham and will be on display until March as part of the 'Treasures of Durham University' exhibition. The University then plan to spend this coming year conserving the Folio whilst trying to minimise any further erosion to the artefact caused by its vandalism.

The BBC also reported that that the Head of Heritage Collections at the University, Sheila Hingley said;

she was shocked when she saw the damaged folio because, although she had not seen it first hand, she had seen photos and it had been in a good condition.

She said: "But when I saw it when it came back it was horrifying, especially having lost its title page, and that was what I really felt very strongly about because that was the destruction of some historical evidence that was very important."

Ms Hingley said: "How anybody could vandalise a book like that I just do not know."

The folio is in such a condition that when it is touched another part of the sewing breaks and leaves come loose.

Ms Hingley said: "We are showing it as it is. I want people to see what a thief can do to destroy evidence on what I consider a work of art, certainly a work of history.

"But when it comes off display we will conserve it and make sure that it has a nice robust binding and will remain in the state it is is in now, it won't deteriorate any further.

"Bill Bryson, author and Chancellor of Durham University snnounced on the University website;

"Shakespeare's First Folio is arguably the most important book in English literature. It is fantastic that Durham's copy is coming home at last.

"I look forward to joining everyone in welcoming this wonderfully important book home to the University and the City when it eventually goes on display."

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chris Higgins also says;

"We are delighted that the Folio will be able to be exhibited again alongside the many other historic and medieval treasures cared for by the University."

Professor Higgins added: "Since the theft, our security arrangements at Palace Green have been significantly tightened.

"The whole of the University Library, including Cosin's Library, is currently being refurbished to ensure all our treasures, of which this book is only the tip of the iceberg, are much more accessible to students, staff and the public while being fully protected both physically and environmentally."

For further information on this story and of University of Durham's other fine collections and future exhibitions of the Folio please see the links below:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wear-11989311

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wear-10838480

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10567772

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10343040

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10571122

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wear-12176338

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wear-12198849

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/news/800001263/rare-shakespeare-book-found-in-us.html

http://www.dur.ac.uk/news/shakespeare_folio/?itemno=10344

http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%26+heritage/literature+%26+music/art315901