The Sonnets, a presentation copy of the finely bound, illustrated, limited, and numbered edition signed by the poet Robert Graves, the illustrator Clarke Hutton, and the book designer Edward Burrett, accompanied by the original publisher's prospectus and order form, and with a lengthy gift inscription from Edward Burrett and his wife

London: The Swallow Press, 1975. Full leather. This is an exquisite, finely bound, strikingly unconventionally illustrated edition of The Sonnets by poet, playwright, dramatist, and primus inter pares, William Shakespeare. 300 copies were produced thus of which this is number 44, signed on the colophon by Robert Graves (who contributes a substantive Preface), Edward Burrett (the book designer), and Clarke Hutton (the illustrator). A troika of features distinguish this copy. First is exceptional condition. Second, this copy is accompanied by the original publisher’s prospectus and order form. Third, this is a designer’s presentation copy, evidenced by a lengthy, signed, and dated 1975 gift inscription by Edward Burrett and his wife, Cecile, on the recto of the blank preceding the half title. Edward Burrett (1909-1995) was a noted specialist and connoisseur in book design, a founding member of the Society of Typographic Designers, and founding proprietor of the Penmiel Press.

This large volume measures 10 x 14 inches (25.4 x 35.6 cm) bound in full Niger Morocco goatskin by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, the contents printed on laid paper with each of the one hundred and fifty-four Sonnets allocated a single page. The volume is housed in a felt-lined, purple and gold paper-covered slipcase featuring an interlocking pattern of swallows, which is mirrored on the pastedowns of the book. The Sonnets features 40 illustrations on various tinted papers by Clarke Hutton (1898-1984) – “one of the most eminent and influential book illustrators of his time”. Hutton adds something unique to Shakespeare’s work, which so often comes accompanied by traditional engravings, rather than modernist line work. The colophon features the signatures of Robert Graves, Edward Burrett and Clarke Hutton below the limitation number “44”. The signatures of the book designer, Edward Burrett, and his wife, Cecile, are also found beneath their autograph gift inscription. Laid in are the large and beautifully printed publisher’s prospectus, featuring a specimen page and extensive information about the edition. Also laid in is the publisher’s order form.

The volume is in truly fine condition, with no appreciable wear or flaws to either the binding or contents. The slipcase remains bright and fully intact, with superficial overall scuffing.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) left a cultural and literary legacy whose continuing influence is difficult to overstate. His stature so dominates English letters that it verges on biblical proportion. To the point, Shakespeare is often assumed to have been born on 23 April, St. George’s Day, so that England’s national poet and her patron saint share the same day of celebration, akin to how Christ’s birthday is asserted onto the winter solstice.

Shakespeare’s plays are the most conspicuous aspect of his literary legacy, but, as Robert Graves states in his Preface, “Shakespeare built up a double reputation in literature; as a classic English playwright and as author of the Sonnets, his profound meditations on love. In the plays we are frequently aware of Shakespeare the poet; in the Sonnets we recognize his role as dramatist. The author of the Sonnets became incomparably greater than his contemporaries precisely because he needed to see himself and his beloved in dramatic and human terms.”

Robert Graves (1895-1985) was an English poet, novelist, critic, and translator perhaps best known today as a pioneer and master of the historical fiction genre for his Claudius series, compellingly fictionalizing the Roman Emperor. Born to a middle-class family with an Irish Gaelic scholar father, Graves’s early life shaped his love for myth and poetry, even as boxing shaped his repeatedly broken nose. In 1913 he received a scholarship to study classics at St John’s College, Oxford. However, he did not take his place at the university until after WWI; in 1914 he enlisted almost immediately after the outbreak of war, joining a regiment which included fellow war poet Siegfried Sassoon.