A folio is a large book in which printed sheets are folded in half only once, creating two double-sided leaves, or four pages. Folios were more expensive and far more prestigious than quartos. Seven years after Shakespeare's death, John Heminge and Henry Condell, his friends and colleagues, collected almost all of his plays in a folio edition. The 1623 First Folio of Shakespeare, however, is the earliest folio consisting only of an author's plays. The work sold well enough to ensure a second edition. Known now as the Second Folio, this 1632 publication contained few changes, although it does contain the first appearance in print of John Milton.

The University of Mississippi’s copy of the Second Folio is particularly rare, as it was owned by one of history’s greatest Shakespearean actors, Edwin Booth. The actor was noted for his restoration of Shakespeare’s own texts to the stage. Before Booth, performances were characterized by the furious and passionate romanticism of actors such as Edmund Kean, and not true to the original text found in the First and Second Folios. Booth's performances not only showcased his talent but also helped popularize Shakespearean works in the United States during the 19th century. He was instrumental in elevating the appreciation for Shakespeare's plays among American audiences, contributing significantly to the cultural and theatrical landscape of his time.