A lost treasure, a ghost brought back to life by the magic of historical conservation and modern technology. As Shakespeare himself said: ‘Such stuff as dreams are made on.’ 

Rediscovered and recovered, the unique tale of Durham’ University’s First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays sits at the heart of a new exhibition at their Palace Green Library.

Shakespeare Recovered is a testament to the power of restoration, creative collaboration and a seamless blend of old and new. Stolen and believed lost for over a decade, the rare edition has been restored, reimagined and brought to life with help from our Statex team of print and display expertise.

 

A Lost Treasure

Durham University’s rare and influential First Folio was stolen from the Cosin’s Library in 1998. Presumed lost for over a decade, it reappeared in Washington DC, badly damaged and with pages missing.

The book, originally published in 1622, was returned to Durham in 2010 where expert conservators have worked to preserve and open its pages to future generations.

 

Shakespeare Recovered

In late 2024, Durham University began planning an ambitious exhibition to share the folio’s dramatic history. Telling its story, steeped in heritage and embracing modern techniques to bring it vividly back to life.

So, working closely with the University’s Exhibition and Conservation Teams, our experts at Statex created an immersive visitor experience within Cosin’s Library, a 17th century building requiring preservation and care. The exhibition considers the dilemma of restoration vs preservation – is the book rebound and restored, or kept in its current state for people to see and experience?

Our team explored a variety of display approaches, trialling the use of textured and raised print techniques to bring the exhibition to life. While these were not ultimately used, experimentation allowed our team to refine a creative direction that fully respected the historic space and told the story in a unique and innovative way.

 

Innovation & Heritage 

Visitors entering the exhibition are met with a handcrafted wooden book, standing over six feet tall and printed with custom-designed vinyl graphics to bring the exhibition to life in a tactile and memorable way. Old and young are invited to learn how technology such as spectroscopy and infrared imaging revealed secrets hidden within the pages, including centuries-old doodles.

Visually bold, yet sympathetic to its setting, this showpiece also tells the tale of the folio’s two missing ‘ghost pages.’ Sadly never recovered, the two missing pages are replicated in transparent acrylic and backlit to appear as ghosts in the folio’s story. An intricate, and vital, part of the exhibition – our team undertook a painstaking series of opacity and quality tests to ensure the printed acrylic was 100% perfect before the final piece was vinyl wrapped in situ at the library.

 

Craftsmanship & Technology

Shakespeare Recovered is an opportunity to see a rare and important cultural artefact, gain a hands-on understanding of the delicate balance between restoration and preservation and experience a book as never before.

When it came to printing the exhibition guidebook, we understood the importance of reflecting this thoughtful fusion of old and new. Our team spent time testing papers and finishes, choosing a Buckram book binding cloth to create a natural, heritage style. The books were printed using a state-of-the-art Canon Large Format machine before being hand-sewn by Durham University Conservation Team – a seamless fusion of hands-on craftsmanship and modern technology.

 

Running from 4th April – 2nd November 2025 at Palace Green Library, Durham – Shakespeare Recovered is more than an exhibition. It’s a celebration of resilience, craftsmanship and the possibilities that emerge when heritage and innovation unite. We’re proud of this collaboration between Durham University and Statex, bringing a stolen treasure new life and a new legacy.