How to Fold a Shakespearean Quarto (with diagrams)

Ever wanted to fold your own Shakespearean quarto? Let's get started!

First Things First: The Layout of Text on the Quarto

The layout of text on the quarto looks complex at first. Pages 1, 8, 4, and 5 are printed on one side of the paper; pages 2, 7, 6, and 3 are printed on the other side of the paper. See the diagram below for the orientations of the pages.

The diagram below shows the piece of paper shows the same page flipped over horizontally (side to side). Page 2 is under Page 1; Page 3 is under Page 4; Page 6 is under Page 5; and Page 7 is under Page 8. Double check the orientations and placement of your page numbers if printing on a sheet of paper before folding into a quarto. If you plan to handwrite text (which is easier), do so at the end according to Step 5.

Folding Your Quarto

Step 1: Getting Started

Place your piece of paper vertically (with the long side going up and down, and the short side going left to right) on the table in front of you. The side of the paper facing you is the front: on this side, pages 1, 8, 4, and 5 will be printed.

Step 2: Making the Creases

Fold your paper both horizontally (side to side), across the middle, and unfold. Fold your paper vertically (top to bottom), across the middle, and unfold. You will have two creases on your flat piece of paper: one going side to side, and one going top to bottom.

Step 3: Arranging the Quarto

Using your horizontal fold, place the top half (Pages 4 and 5) under the bottom half (Pages 1 and 8). Using your vertical fold, place the left half (Page 8 facing you) under the right half (Page 1 facing you).

Step 4: Separating the Pages

Cut along the two folds on the top of the book to separate the pages. Stop cutting just before you meet the edge of the book. Do not cut the fold along the side of the book; this fold makes the spine of the book!

Step 5: Adding Handwritten Text

Write your text in your finished quarto. All of the pages are in the correct orientation, so there is no need to worry about writing words upside down. 

Congratulations; you're all done!

To learn more about quartos and how they relate to Shakespeare and his plays, check out our post on quartos and folios.