Final answer:
Shakespeare's plays were first collected and printed in the First Folio, published in 1623 after his death by his own company. It was the primary source for most of Shakespeare's work available today. The publication was also crucial as Shakespeare did not publish his plays during his lifetime.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shakespeare's plays were first collected and printed in the venerable publication known as the First Folio, which came out in 1623. This significant anthology was published posthumously by colleagues of Shakespeare from his own company. It was a landmark event in the history of English literature as Shakespeare himself never published any of his plays during his lifetime. He refrained from doing so to prevent other companies from having access to his work. The First Folio is of immense importance; not only was it the first compilation of Shakespeare's plays, but it also served as the main source for most of his work that we have today. Modern collections of Shakespeare's works, like the Arden Shakespeare and Folger Shakespeare editions, continue to build upon the legacy of the First Folio, ensuring that newer generations can experience and study these classics.
Although Neil Freeman rearranged and edited a version of the Folio in 2000, it was the original 1623 publication that proved to be a cultural milestone. This edition ensured the survival of numerous plays by Shakespeare that otherwise might have been lost, and it established a canonical collection of his works that have been read, performed, and cherished for centuries since.