The Sonnets by William Shakespeare, Thornwillow Press, 2017. DESCRIPTION: Octavo (8v0) 9 1/4 x 6 3/4 inches (236 x 170 mm), 154 pp. Introduction (foreword) by Dr. Neil Rudenstein, Harvard University. Set in Jenson type and printed letterpress on felt paper. 11 of 100 copies in binding of deluxe half morocco with paste paper over boards, handmade end papers, four raised bands on spine with black leather spine label with gilt titling, top edge gilt. Enclosed in a black cloth covered clamshell box with suede lining. Neil Rudenstein and proprietor Luke Ives Pontifell. Protected with a clear archival Grafix Dura Lar dust wrapper. CONDITION: Several small superficial tears in the front cover inner hinge (see photo). Text block remains firm and square, unaffected by these small tears. Otherwise, remainder of the book and clamshell box are “as new”. DISCUSSION: This Thornwillow Press edition commemorated the William Shakespeare Quadricentennial (2016) using the Folger Shakespeare Library text. It is elegantly designed and letterpress printed with one sonnet per page. Frontispiece is a reproduction of the title page of the original (1st) edition of the sonnets published in 1609. This edition is greatly enhanced by an original foreword written by Shakespeare and Renaissance literature scholar and Harvard University president (1991 to 2001) Dr.
