Please note: this binding is currently part of the Binding the Bard exhibition at Palace Green Library in Durham. Delivery will occur after the book has been returned in the winter of 2025.

Printed by Ernest Benn Limited in 1924 with illustrations by Paul Nash. Limited edition, 305 of 550.

This binding explores the intersection of Shakespeare’s era and the modern day, drawing inspiration from the past to inform contemporary design. It incorporates a historical binding structure familiar to Elizabethan England—not as a strict recreation but as a modern adaptation of historically appropriate elements.  

This structural choice is not a gimmick or mere nod to history. Instead, it thoughtfully integrates the strengths of past techniques with modern bookbinding practices. Ideal for a large volume, the chosen structure is durable, protective, and allows the book to open fully and easily. This book aims to demonstrate that such a structure can also be refined and well-suited for a design binding.  

The design draws from embroidered gloves of the period, referencing both Shakespeare’s heritage as the son of a glove maker and the rich decorative arts of his time. It also incorporates the six plants Oberon mentions in his Act 2 monologue.  

The painted endpapers evoke sunset at the beginning and sunrise at the end, enclosing the book within the night. Sewn silk endbands match these colors. The rough edges are sprinkled with the same hues, along with 23.5k gold leaf for a subtle, fairy-like shimmer. This gold leaf is also used on the covers, both in surface gilding and traditional gold tooling. The wood is Scottish quarter sawn oak and was shaped entirely by hand.