The Trevelyon Miscellany of 1608
A new facsimile edition of Folger Shakespeare Library MS V.b.232
published January, 2007

One of the greatest treasures in the collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library, The Trevelyon Miscellany is a 400-year-old, hand-drawn and lettered book created by the skilled scribe and pattern maker Thomas Trevelyon. Borrowing words and images from English and European woodcuts, engravings, broadsides, almanacs, emblem books and the Bible, Trevelyon created a rich and fascinating encyclopaedia of daily life and thought in Shakespeare s England. It is a monumental work that was intended to be both studied and enjoyed, its pages turned and savoured. Familiar scenes of domesticity and husbandry are intertwined with accounts of the rulers of England, descriptions of local fairs, the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, astronomy according to Ptolemy, illustrations of the seasons, the nine muses and the seven deadly sins, Old Testament history, household proverbs, alphabets and embroidery patterns. A massive volume (18 inches / 45 centimetres tall by 11½ / 29 centimetres wide, weighing over 17 lbs / 8 kg), this monumental work is now available in a gorgeous facsimile edition, thanks to state-of-the-art conservation and high-resolution digitization. It provides an exciting and unparalleled snapshot of the passions, concerns and everyday interests of a highly talented London commoner and for this reason is of significant scholarly and general interest. This limited edition, full-size facsimile of the entire manuscript is being produced to celebrate Folger Shakespeare Library s 75th anniversary in 2007. It is printed on archival paper, Smythe sewn and bound in cloth-wrapped boards with a reinforced spine and full-colour dust jacket. In addition to the 594 pages illustrated by Trevelyon, the volume includes an introduction by Dr Heather Wolf, Curator of Manuscripts, Folger Shakespeare Library; and indexes to poetry first lines, scripture, subjects, images and sources.

Find out more about the Trevelyon MS here.