The Letterpress Hamlet (Limited Edition) by William Shakespeare

From the Publisher

In the 400 years since it was first performed, Hamlet has become the most widely published work in the world, after the Bible. Yet in all that time, there has never been a finer edition than this. From the choice of text and meticulously designed pages to the mould-made paper and unsurpassed art of letterpress printing, attention has been lavished on every facet of the reading experience. The result is a fit and harmonious balance between the internal and external: a volume which is not only a delight to look at and hold, but a joy to read; formed not for mere display, but to satisfy the passion for language felt by all those who love Shakespeare.

The paper is made of cotton mixed with pure wood fibres, dried slowly on a cylindrical mould. When the sheets are removed, the feathered edge at the sides is called the 'deckle'. The high cotton content ensures the paper is stronger and will retain its distinctive quality for generations, which is why artists and galleries choose it for fine art prints and etchings. The pages are folded in sections of eight for a perfectly flat opening to the spine, and only the top edge is trimmed.

The text is designed by eye and set on a manual machine, not a computer. Each letter of type has been created from hot metal in the rarely used 16-point font of 'Monotype' Baskerville, chosen for its clarity and elegance of form. Tiny irregularities testify to the hand-crafted nature of the process, since the shape of each line, the very gap between letters, is adjusted by hand to create the most pleasing overall effect. Letterpress printing today is used only for the very finest, private press publishing. Running your fingers over the rag-content paper, letterpress is instantly distinguishable from commercial litho printing. You can feel the indentation where each letter has been impressed into the mould-made paper.

Top edge gilding is a traditional finish, protecting books' exposed tops from dust, moisture or atmospheric pollution. The three-quarter binding of finest Nigerian goatskin leather is dyed for an exact match, but the gold and scarlet pattern on the hand-marbled paper sides is unique to each volume, since the exact pattern of droplets can never be repeated. For Ann Muir, marbling the paper for the individual books of Shakespeare's four great tragedies will take nearly half a year of continuous labor.

The small craft bindery of Lachenmaier in Germany has won a record number of prizes in the 125 years it has been binding fine art and specialty books. There, an experienced team of craftsmen sew, case in and bind the book. Both the spine and separate leather label for the solander box are hand-blocked in 22-carat gold.

In order to allowing the beautiful reading volume to remain uncluttered by notes, the commentary volume reproduces the Oxford University Press text with full glossing and explanatory comments. Edited by Professor G. R. Hibbard under the General Editor Stanley Wells, this text has become a byword for rigorous scholarship. Professor Hibbard's illuminating introduction provides an exceptionally thorough textual and historical overview of Hamlet, making this one of the most highly respected of all academic editions.

The Folio Society undertakes a project of this magnitude only once in a generation, and no more than 1,000 copies of Hamlet will be released at this time. The remaining 2,750 will be kept to allow future members the opportunity to acquire one, although never again at this special price. Each copy is numbered on the limitation page.

• Hand-bound in goatskin leather, blocked in gold; with hand-marbled paper sides. 136 pages, 14" x 10 3/4".
• Printed in 16pt 'Monotype' Baskerville, with Caslon display.
• Commentary volume: 416 pages, 83/4" x 53/4", bound in buckram.
• Solander box: 15" x 11" x 2 3/4", bound in buckram.
• "Beautifully printed and handsomely produced... ideal" —Stanley Wells

Details from Seller

• ISBN: 1400671876
• Publisher: Folio Society, The
• Pub. Date: November 2007
• Condition:

Comments from the Seller: This item is brand-new shipped directly from The Folio Society. Please note that because the edition has been limited to 2,500 hand-numbered copies, a total of only 5 copies are available to B&N.com customers. After these 5 copies are purchased, the Letterpress Hamlet will no longer be available for sale on B&N.com. The play and accompanying commentary from Professor G.R. Hibbard are presented here as two separate volumes, housed in a large solander box (15' x 11' x 23/4'). The play is hand-bound in goatskin leather, blocked in gold, with hand-marbled paper sides. The commentary is bound in buckram. See 'Overview' and 'Editorial Reviews' below for full details. Barnes & Noble.com is proud to be the exclusive U.S. source for fine, collectible editions from The Folio Society. Select the 'Standard Domestic' shipping option during checkout to receive a free upgrade to an expedited shipping method. Every order will be processed and shipped by the end of the business day after it is placed.