Shakespeare, William — Alberto Sangorski [illuminator and calligrapher] | A sumptuously illuminated work, celebrating some of Shakespeare's best-loved verses

Shakespeare, William — Alberto Sangorski [illuminator and calligrapher] 

Selected Songs from the Plays of William Shakespeare. Colophon in MS: "Was designed, written out, and illuminated by Alberto Sangorski," [1920]

Illuminated manuscript on vellum (248 x 199 mm).  Four vellum leaves at front, illuminated title with Chandos portrait, 25 numbered pages, 2 unnumbered pages, the majority illuminated in gold and color, featuring 8 large miniatures within extraordinarily elaborate illuminated borders, 5 fine roundels, 4 large historiated initials (a portrait of a young woman, a leaping stag, a scull, and a landscape with a castle tower ), 25 illuminated initials all with burnished gold, 3 flyleaves at back, watered silk guards; some deterioration to guards. Contemporary green morocco bound by Charles J. Sawyer, cover elaborately stamped in gilt, green, and red, with central lyre device, spine with raised bands in six compartments, second gilt-lettered, others with repeat overall decoration in gilt and green, edges gilt, turn-ins elaborately ruled in gilt, with decorative cornerpieces stamped in green, red, and gilt, cream watered silk endleaves; some fading, one small scuff to edge.

Signed by Sagnorski in the colophon, following the statement: "This manuscript will not be duplicated"

This richly illuminated work was accomplished by Alberto Sangorski, who was relatively late to the world of calligraphy. At the 43, he began to work for his younger brother Francis, half of the famous Sangorski and Sutcliffe bookbinding firm. The present volume richly illustrates songs from some of Shakespeare's most famous plays, including: "Sea Dirge" from The Tempest; "The Hunter's Song" from As You Like It; "Lullaby" from A Midsummer Night's Dream, and many others.

A remarkable work, celebrating the Bard's best-loved verses