Library plans to auction Shakespeare's first four folios

An element of the 'deaccession' debate:

Charlotte Higgins, 'University of London's plan to sell rare Shakespeare plays condemned', The Guardian, Tuesday 3 September 2013

 A proposal by the library of the University of London to auction a rare set of early printed editions of Shakespeare's plays has been branded "egregiously wrong", "completely unjustifiable" and likely to result in "four iconic and unique books moving into private hands". The set of Shakespeare's first four folios was left to Senate House Library in 1956 by Sir Louis Sterling to be housed permanently in the institution. But now the library is planning to auction it to raise £3-5m for its historical research collection [...] permission would be required from the Charity Commission to run against the terms of the bequest, which states that the four works – a set bound together in the 19th century – should be permanently housed there. [...]  The proposals have prompted anger among prominent Shakespearians and scholars. Sir Richard Eyre, the former director of the National Theatre, said: "Both in itself and as an emblematic gesture it is wrong. Partly because it sets a precedent: these things must be valued, and if academic institutions don't value them the game is up, really. It's completely wrong, indefensible."