Origins of this imposing gold-tooled cover trace back to Christian Samuel Kalthoeber's artistic endeavors, a German craftsman renowned for his work in bookbinding in London. Around the turn of the 19th century, he was commissioned to reimagine the casing for the treasured artifact, Shakespeare's First Folio. Debuting in 1623 in the heart of London, this iconic work, christened “Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies” – or simply the First Folio – brings together thirty-six of the Bard's celebrated plays. Regarded as among the most significant literary works ever to see publication, it serves as the sole trusted source for eighteen of Shakespeare's masterpieces like 'Macbeth,' 'The Tempest,' and 'Twelfth Night' which had not been printed before this manuscript.