Hughes, Ted (Translator); Le Brun, Christopher (Artist)

Shakespeare's Ovid [DeLuxe edition with separate etching, and with prospectus]

(London): Enitharmon Press [Printed by the Rampant Lions Press], 1995. Le Brun, Christopher. Limited Edition. Hardcover. No. 47 of 50 (plus 15 HC) of the deluxe edition, signed by translator and artist, folio size, 43 pp. Fine. Item #CNJL1257

Published "in aid of the Shakespeare Globe Trust and its appeal to rebuild the Globe Theatre, the setting for the first performances of William Shakespeare's plays, 1599-1613" (from Contents page). Ted Hughes (1930-1998) is considered "one of the giants of 20th century British poetry" (from web site of Poetry Foundation), serving as Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death. As Mr. Hughes wrote in this book's introduction, in a prior work he argued that "in one way or another this poem [Venus and Adonis] is also the nucleus of his [Shakespeare's] every separate work. One path through my [previous] book is an exploration of how far the myth of these two figures gave him the skeleton key to the treasure chests, the formative energies, not only of Western civilisation, but of human consciousness in general". Having previously considered making his own translation of this vitally important poem, he presents it here, along with another undoubted source of inspiration for Shakespeare, Salmacis and Hermaphroditus.

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full tan linen cloth boards, white paper label with tan and black lettering inset to front board, white paper label with black lettering on the spine, fore- and bottom edges uncut, plain endpapers, title page in tan and black, two reproductions of drawings by the artist, one each at the beginning of each poem; Perpetua and Golden Cockerel types on Arches Velin, the text pages designed and printed by Sebastian Carter of the Rampant Lions Press, folio size (approximately 12.5" tall), pagination: (i)-x, (1)-30, blanks (31-32), colophon (33); this no. 47 of 50 copies (plus 15 HC) of the deluxe edition (total edition 215), signed by both Ted Hughes and Christopher LeBrun at the colophon.

Accompanied by a separate etching, signed and numbered, printed on Sumerset TP at Hope Sufferance Press in London, tissue guarded in a separate heavy paper wallet, this also no. 47 of 50 made for the deluxe edition (plus the 15 HC and 20 AP copies). Prospectus loosly laid into book. Etching and book enclosed in a publisher's slipcase covered in matching tan linen cloth.

___CONDITION: Fine; clean, crisp, as new. Separate etching, prospectus, and slipcase all also fine and as new.

___POSTAGE: International customers please note that additional postage may apply, please inquire for details.

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Price: $800.00