Cosway-style binding by Bayntun, 1921

BAYNTUN, binder – SHAKESPEARE, William (1564-1616). Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Stratford-upon-Avon: The Shakespeare Head; Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1921.

Limited edition in luxury binding with hand-painted portrait of Shakespeare. Founded in 1904, The Shakespeare Head press operated in the bard’s birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon until it’s owner’s death in 1920, after which point Basil Blackwell of Oxford oversaw much of the press’ output. No. 280 of 410 copies.

Small octavo (163 x 115mm). Half-title. Full scarlet morocco by Bayntun of Bath, Cosway-style binding with upper cover inset with a miniature of Shakespeare hand-painted on ivorine encircled by an ornamental gilt border, covers decorated by gilt rules, spine gilt in six compartments with raised bands, moiré silk doublures and free endpapers, all edges gilt, stamp-signed by the binders on upper turn-in (small mark below portrait). Cloth slipcase. Provenance: Sotheran's (stamp on reverse of free endpaper) – sold Christie’s East, 16 Nov 1994, lot 66A.