Is this Shakespeare I see before me?

The renowned star of stage and screen, an honorary associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company, was keen to get a glimpse of a rare copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio at Craven Museum and Gallery.

The museum, run by Craven District Council, joined the ranks of big institutions such as the British Library when it put its copy on display, and the Skipton First Folio is currently one of only four on permanent display in the world.

A museum spokeswoman said: “Sir Patrick has supported the project throughout and provided the stirring and dramatic voice over for the displays audio-visual presentation.”

Published in 1623, the book is a compilation of plays in one volume. No more than 750 copies of this First Folio were printed and today only about 230 survive, with less than 50 in the British Isles. It is regarded as the most important book in English literature.

For decades the council thought the Folio was a second edition until Dr Anthony James West, who was compiling a list of all the first folios around the world, came to Skipton in 2003 and confirmed its provenance. While not in perfect condition, it includes all comedies, but the title pages are missing.

Bought in the early 1900s by local businessman John James Wilkinson, it was later donated to the museum.