William Shakespeare’s signature will be displayed in Clerkenwell for three months, one of only six in the world known to be genuine.
‘Shakespeare in London’ will show the signature, as well as a map of 16th-Century London, highlighting the streets he would have walked along and the area where he bought property.
City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee chairman Brendan Barns said: “If London’s history is your thing you can’t fail to be impressed when these iconic documents, maps, books, and images are brought out of the archives’ huge storerooms and put on display – often, for several months and sometimes, for the first time ever – to be viewed and enjoyed.
“Whether you are a fan of Shakespeare’s work or just never expected to see his signature up close, or are intrigued to see London’s streets and landmarks depicted in this extraordinarily detailed map, The London Archives and this new display are definitely well worth visiting.”
The pieces will be shown at the City of London Corporation’s archives in Clerkenwell, from 30 June to 25 September.
The signature is on a parchment property deed for a house in Blackfriars bought by Shakespeare in 1613, within walking distance of the Globe, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666.
The map, Civitas Londinum (c.1633), shows London at a date between 1561 and 1570, and St. Paul’s Cathedral appears without its spire, which was destroyed by a lightning strike.
Complementing this display will be Romantic poet, John Keats’ personal copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio
Published in 1808, this brings together Shakespeare’s complete works.
The exhibit boasts free admission – tickets available here.
Featured image credit: iStock – duncan1890
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