The tragedie of Hamlet prince of Denmark. Edited by J. Dover Wilson from the text of the second quarto printed in 1604-5 "according to the true and perfect coppie". With which are also printed the Hamlet stories from Saxo Grammaticus and Belleforest and English translations therefrom. Illustrated by Edward Gordon Craig. And printed by Count Harry Kessler [...].

Large 4to.

Red polished morocco signed O. Dorfner, Weimar, single gilt fillet on covers, gilt title and small tool on upper cover, spine with 5 giltruled raised bands, gilt inside double fillet, gilt top. Separately sewn booklet of notes in a separate pocket bound at the end. Modern grey cloth box (corners sl. rubbed). Beautiful copy.

A "flawless monument" according to Franklin and a splendid edition printed in black and red and illustrated with 80 expressionist woodcuts designed and cut by Edward Gordon Craig; title cut by Eric Gill, type designed by Edward Johnston "after that used by Fust and Schoeffer in their Mainz Psalter of 1457". Edition limited to 322 copies. One of the 300 on "pure hemp and linen paper by a process devised in joint research by Count Harry Kessler and Aristide and Gaspard Maillol" (n. 105). One of the most beautiful and sought-after productions of the private press of Count Harry Kessler (1868-1937), director of the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Weimar in a full morocco binding executed by Otto Dorfner (1885-1955) who owned his own studio but worked in close cooperation with the Bauhaus at Weimar.
Ref. C. Franklin, The Private Presses, pp. 163 sq.