#Stanislas Ostoja Chrostowski

[uwmspeccoll]

Shakespeare Weekend!

This weekend we explore Shakespeare’s romantic drama, Pericles, Prince of Tyre, the twenty-eighth volume of the thirty-seven volume The Comedies Histories & Tragedies of William Shakespeare, published by the Limited Editions Club (LEC) from 1939-1940. It is widely acknowledged that Shakespeare was likely not the sole author of Pericles, Prince of Tyre and while it was published in quarto in 1609 by stationer Henry Gosson with Shakespeare’s name on the title page, it was not included in his works until the Third Folio of 1663. Most scholars believe that Pericles, Prince of Tyre was written in 1607 or early 1608 and co-authored by pamphleteer George Wilkins.  

This edition of Pericles, Prince of Tyre was illustrated with wood-engravings by Polish artist Stanislas Ostoja-Chrostowski (1900-1947). Chrostowski studied at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, received a bronze medal in the 1936 Summer Olympics Art Competition for commercial graphic art painting, and was active in the intelligence department of the World War II Polish resistance movement Home Army. He was regarded as the leading wood-engraver of his nation and was known for illustrating several Polish classics and numerous children’s books. The LEC writes of Chrostowski’s work that “whole textures are created by his tools, and the resulting prints seem to have more color than just the color of black ink.” Indeed, his precise and vivid engravings storm off the page to match the dramatic tenor of the play.  

The volume was printed in an edition of 1950 copies at the Press of A. Colish. Each of the LEC volumes of Shakespeare’s works are illustrated by a different artist, but the unifying factor is that all volumes were designed by famed book and type designer Bruce Rogers and edited by the British theatre professional and Shakespeare specialist Herbert Farjeon. Our copy is number 1113, the number for long-standing LEC member Austin Fredric Lutter of Waukesha, Wisconsin. 

View more Limited Edition Club posts. 

View more Shakespeare Weekend posts. 

View more posts with wood engravings!

-Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern 

#Shakespeare Weekend #William Shakespeare #Pericles Prince of Tyre #Stanislas Ostoja Chrostowski #LEC #Limited Editions Club #Press of A. Colish #Bruce Rogers #Herbert Farjeon #Wood Engraving #wood engravers #severed heads