Muggle Books of Magic and Wizardry

"Muggle Books of Magic and Wizardry: From Hogwarts to the Folger"

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Henry Clay folger held a significant amount of stock in Standard Oil of New York that would later aid in his ability to collect work related to Shakespeare, including the First Folios. Since then, the Folger Shakespeare Library has gone on to amass one of the largest collections of Shakespeareana in the world. But not all items in the collection relate to Shakespeare. There are hundreds of topics, including royalty, science, philosophy, history, geography and theatre. If you dig deep enough, you'll find books containing information about magic, healing potions, witchcraft and wizardry.

Is it possible Henry was given some items from a secret representative of Hogwarts? Did this person cloak these items in magic so you, the researcher, would never know? Look through the display, pulled from the depths of the vault, and determine for yourself if there truly is magic in the Folger collection.

Items on display:

• A Descriptive and historical view of Alnwick, etc.

   William Davison
   Alnwick: 1822
   DA690 .A4 D4 1822 Cage

• Cary's new map of England and Wales, with part of Scotland, etc.

   J. Cary
   London: 1794
   G1854 .C2 Cage

• The history and antiquities of the abbey and cathedral church of Gloucester, etc.

   J. Taylor
   London: 1829
   NA5461 .B8 v.5 Cage (folio)