2016 saw the 400th Anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. A call went out from Oxford University's Bodleian Library for letterpress and fine press printers to create a newly envisioned and printed set of all 154 sonnets in celebration. I was delighted to be able to take part in this and chose Sonnet 91:
Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
Some in their wealth, some in their body's force,
Some in their garments, though new-fangled ill;
Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;
And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,
Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:
But these particulars are not my measure;
All these I better in one general best.
Thy love is better than high birth to me,
Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost,
Of more delight than hawks or horses be;
And having thee, of all men's pride I boast:
Wretched in this alone, that thou may'st take
All this away, and me most wretched make.
- Paper: Somerset Velvet 300gsm Soft White
- Type: Times 6pt and 1,114 ornaments in 6pt & 12pt
- Ink: Copper gold
