LE stocks

Just got a brochure of the Aeneid, and with it a full list of all LEs currently available, together with the remaining amounts. I thought I'd post that here, in case anyone is interested (I know some people can see the remaining number on the site, but I cannot, and I assume there are others who cannot either)

Canterbury Tales - over 900 sold (out of 1,980)
Four Gospels - 125 remain (out of 2,750)
Mappa Mundi - over 360 sold (out of 1,000)
The Fitzwilliam Book of Hours - over 700 sold (out of 1,180)
Temple of Flora - over 400 sold (out of 1,980)
LesMis - over 1,050 sold (out of 1,750)
Moby Dick - over 875 sold (out of 1,750)
King Henry's Prayer Book - over 400 sold (out of 980)
King Henry's Map of the British Isles - over 850 sold (out of 2,750)
The Holkham Bible - 325 remain (out of 1,750)
Liber Bestiarum - 775 sold (out of 1,980)
Shakespeares - no availability info (btw, they have 20 plays in print already)
The Holy Land & Egypt and Nubia - over 500 sold (out of 1,000)
The Luttrell Psalter - fewer than 100 remain (out of 1,480)
The Queen Mary Atlas - over 600 sold (out of 1,000)
Night Thoughts - 130 remain (out of 1,000)
Metamorphoses - over 900 sold (out of 2,750)
The History of England - 100 sold (out of 500)
Alice's Adventures Underground - 1,365 remain (out of 3,750)

I'm wondering whether I should get the Four Gospels - the lowest price on abebooks is nearly £150 higher than the FS stock price. How much does it go for on eBay?

The numbers sold are also given on the order form, and this does include the Letterpress Shakespeare.
I list them here in the form limitation/number already sold.

Hamlet 3750/1695
King Lear 3750/1210
Macbeth 3750/1295
Othello 3750/1295
Romeo and Juliet 1000/430
Julius Caesar 3750/580
Anthony and Cleopatra 3750/555
Coriolanus 3750/530
Titus Andronicus 3750/530

The Tempest 3750/775
Midsummer Night's Dream 3750/755
Twelfth Night 3750/705
As You Like it 3750/700
Merchant of Venice 1000/370
Much Ado about Nothing 1000/360
Taming of the Shrew 1000/355

Henry IV Part 1 1000/450
Henry IV Part 2 1000/450
Henry V 1000/470
Richard III 1000/470

>1
If you're interested in the Four Gospels, I'm selling mine: http://www.librarything.com/topic/94112

Unbelievable, I remember when I became a member back in November 2009 after emailing FS about Moby Dick LE they said only a few were left and would not guarantee any left till Christmas but over 875 sold (out of 1,750). I also got a order statement from them where is said Moby Dick LE OUT OF STOCK.

it's kinda funny. Oh well it would not have changed anything I knew how many there were left, I am really happy with Moby Dick LE

> 4 With reference to the "out of Stock" message; they bind LEs in batches so it is quite possible that they didn't have one available to send to you at the time.

I think the numbers in the list may be a little out of date: in another thread we discussed The Four Gospels, and the feeling is that there are about 80 left. The limitation number on my copy suggests far fewer than 125 remaining.

> 6 I'm likewise surprised that sales of Moby Dick and The Canterbury Tales have stalled. I don't have the Chaucer but for Moby Dick, on the one hand it's a shame that more people haven't taken up the opportunity to own this magnificent edition, but on the other, those of us who do own it are an even more exclusive little group!

I had completely ignored the Holkham Bible until the recent mailing, and now I find myself hankering... The British Library version is probably the more pragmatic option though. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/holkham.html
(The video is very interesting)

Canterbury Tales was apparently "flying of the shelves" when it first appeared - according to those I spoke to at the Society. I imagine that when a LE first appears the initial take up is fast until saturation point is achieved and sales slow down. I think a number of these LE's will be around for a couple of years yet.

But there is also the example of the Pepys set, where a 100 odd remaining volumes lingered for some time and then, all of a sudden, were snatched up over a short period.

I really did want the Pepys set!! I cry to sleep so much :)

>9

With good reason, ironjaw--the Pepys set is summa qua non.

I agree Django, along with Night Thoughts. At least Night Thoughts is still available--I must say I'm surprised it has lasted this long. Wasn't Pepys published after Night Thoughts? I know, I know, get thee to Folio 60--but I don't have it at hand.

What does summa qua non mean? I'm assuming it is something positive but what is the translation exactly?

>11

Pepys 2003
Blake 2005

My Latin is atrocious, but I believe it means "without equal".

Thanks varielle...mine is non-exsistent although I did two intensive courses of it in university

varielle is right--a literal translation would be "none higher than"

> 10 et al. (Which means: and the rest :)
A wonderful page for reference checking or just browse

http://www.hkocher.info/minha_pagina/adagia/adagia.htm

Thanks HuxleyTheCat. It seems, then, that if Night Thoughts is on the same sales trajectory, it should sell out in the fall of 2011.

>7 If you don't need the slipcase, Ardis has a Holkham for L150.

Pretty neat to see the picture of all the LE's together, strange to see Night Thoughts as smaller than others.

> 19 Yes, indeed, I had noticed that and they have a few 'naked' Letterpress Shakespeares too. What's more they are just up the road which always raises the possibility of a deal for cash. Very tempting. On the other hand my book budget for this month has already gone on some LECs and the Folio sale. Plus, the Ardis volume doesn't have the commentary, which is a bit problematic, as I would definitely need everything explained to me. The BL facsimile has everything bound together and can be had for less then £40 so is probably the better option.

I've been lucky enough to see the Roberts' set in the Members' Room and it is absolutely huge and gorgeous.

I think Folio Society has noticed that the stock on Temple of Flora is still rather high, many years after the publication of this Limited Edition of 1980 prints. As one of the original purchasers of the book, I received a letter from FS today. In the letter, FS informs me that the limitation will be reduced to 600 (from the original 1980). The rest of the print run will not be bound as books, but will be sold as sets of seperate prints. The latter comes with a nicely printed certificate to keep with Temple of Flora informing one of the limitation reduction.

I think it's not a bad idea by the Society. This way, they preserve the "value" of the Limited Edition by not dumping it for a lower price (not acceptable imho), but at the same time find some kind of solution for not selling them that fast. I expect we'll see some kind of Temple of Flora prints-set on the website later this year...

I love this book by the way, one of the most beautiful L.E.'s they did, so I recommend not waiting untill the 600 bound books are sold out ;-)

>21

That's a nice bonus for those who already have it. It's a good solution to the problem. I'd be tempted to buy the book at say $400, but lowering the price would just aggravate those who already took the plunge.

Wow! Reducing it by over 2/3! It's a beautiful book, but so very expensive. Why does the FS think the print set will sell? Unless of course the print set is much much lower than the price of the book? As for $400 for the book, that sounds far too low. I think the book would sell much better if it was closer to $1000 rather than $1500.

>23

It probably is too low, but that's how low it would be to induce me to take the plunge. It's not really my thing, but it certainly is a well-produced beautiful book.

Thanks Friso, I've always been turned off by these huge limitation numbers...500 in my opinion is respectable and anything over 1000 is just plain tacky.

This reminds me of a conversation I had with my friend about the Letterpress Shakespeare. When I told him that the 'limitation' number was 3750 (I believe that's correct but forgive me if I'm wrong...I know it was over 3500) he said...

"Excuse me but did you say the book was limited to 3750?"

"Correct" I said.

"So you say 3750 is the limitation number?"

"Absolutely" I said.

"So this was marketed to you as a limited edition?"

"Indeed it was" I said.

"Limited?"

"Correct"

"To what you say?"

"Edition"

"I see" he said. "Listen my dear and please don't take this the wrong way cause it's a very lovely book, but if you choose to think that a limitation number of 3750 is legitimate for anything and especially a book, then there is no need for us to continue this conversation."

I said nothing, returned my beautiful book to its solandar box and my friend and I continued our conversation (over very fine wine) of things other than my books.

Indeed, 3750 is more than many actual print runs and hardly a limited edition. But I'm sure you knew that and didn't really care.

I'm more concerned about the Temple of Flora and FS's plans for it. I am planning on getting this at some point. Clearly, the demand is there, as the above comments have shown, but FS priced it too high to sell quickly. Not enough demand at that price point! This is precisely the reverse of what occurred with their Blake Candide and other signed volumes that sold out within weeks or months; very low or relatively low price points and high demand.

Since FS has the nasty habit of raising prices on LEs for the last couple hundred in stock, wouldn't it be nice to reverse this situation for an edition that obviously is not doing well? Sure, it would upset those who paid top dollar initially and perhaps create a poor precedent, but so does raising LE prices if one isn't able to jump in on the first bandwagon for some editions. Or, perhaps we the members could contact them directly and negotiate terms, as is done every day across the world with any variety of goods? Everyone wins, and the edition would sell, and they could always refer to the full retail price in future.

In my opinion, breaking ToF it into plates only creates an overpriced version of that produced by Taschen a while back. The beauty of the FS edition is that is a facsimile of the entire work, and the company should try to maintain that integrity.

The "Luttrell Psalter" is Out of Stock that means maybe Sold out. One temptation less.

On the other hand the plates from "The Temple of Flora" are available for £195.00

25: thanks for that anecdote :)
I do agree, once you get to over 1000, the "limited" part of the limited edition loses its thunder. Easton Press seems to have struck gold with their new line of "Deluxe Limited Editions". Most books have a limitation number of around 400. A signed Bradbury had limitation number of 700, and for a price of $195 quickly sold out. Their more expensive books, such as the limited King James Bible for $600, had a limitation number of 400 and is sold out. In fact, almost all of their DLEs are sold out! They know what they're doing...

28: I could have sold him the argument of worldwide distribution and such, but I don't think he would have bought it.

For most of its history LEC limited their books to 1500 copies, and they were quite expensive. Today you can buy many of those beautiful books on eBay for less than US$50. Books such as the Folio Limited Editions are great if you love the books and can afford them. Probably not great as an annuity investment.

Of all the vast number of books published, only a tiny proportion appreciate in value significantly over time and I would imagine that for most people, certainly for me, if they end up with a book that increases in value, it is a bit of good fortune. Very few people become rich buying books.

The people that do collect with an eye on future value are not buying what interests them, but buying something that they believe someone else will want to buy for more in the future - I can't imagine a typical FS member would fall into that category.

If your into making money from books by seeing their appreciation in the future then your in the wrong category here as celtic mentioned. I think the only books that do appreciate in value would be signed first edition, first printing by acclaimed authors especially those from the first half of the twentieth century. I don't think buying folio society books would be a great investment. Ebay provides a testament to that. I think the average FS member is here because the society provides better finely produced books with great illustrations than the average high street hardback.

I can't stand those high street flimsy hardbacks and refuse to buy them. I remember I was so furious when I bought a signed limited edtion of Carlos Ruis Zafon's Angel's Game because the spine was glued and the overall book was of such poor quality and flimsy that it could without much effort just fall apart from your hands. I am not angry anymore because the book wasn't a great read.

> 32

I agree. I don't think anyone here is going to make their fortune on FS LE's. I do think that a number of FS LE's are hanging around for a long time and perhaps they need to think about smaller LE runs.

> 32, 33

You are both right in your opinions and I agree. Most of us love our FS editions for their intrinsic beauty and not for any perceived present or future market value. And LEs should really be more limited, perhaps not more than 1000 copies.

While I agree that lower limitation numbers might be desirable, I fear that this would have a severe impact on the price. For example the FS Holkham Bible and the recently published Getty Apocalypse seem to be rather similar production with respect to size, page number, type of paper, binding etc; however the Holkham Bible sells for ₤245, while the Getty Apocalypse is offered for ₤445. I would expect that this price difference is, at least in part, due to the limitation number which is 1750 for the Holkham Bible and only 1000 for the Getty Apocalypse. Maybe a limitation of 1500, like for most LEC publications, is a good compromise between exclusivity while still being affordable for collectors with average income.

I can't see why a bigger print run would necessarily allow for a lower price if many of them don't get sold as they apparently are not. It's not the amount you print that matters, surely, but the number you sell.

I would expect that prices are based on some assumptions concerning sales volumes, and for a limited edition that should be reflected in the size of the print run. Even if some LE sell rather slow they will eventually sell completely like the Luttrell Psalter. Other examples that might sell out soon are the Fitzwilliam Book of hours (90 left) or Night Thoughts (93 left). According to the FS homepage even the Holkham Bible has already sold 1475 copies, which is far more than the whole print run of the Getty Apocalypse.

> 36
"It's not the amount you print that matters, surely, but the number you sell."
If, as sometimes seems to happen (The Temple of Flora?), the LE is not run off as a complete edition but bound up in batches in response to demand (or the likely demand over a given shortish period), the society can presumably ensure it doesn't end up with shelves of unsold books. Can there really be, say, over 1900 bound copies of King Henry's Map sitting in a warehouse somewhere? (If there are, I wish knew where it was...)

Whatever the limitation the FS set on individual LE's, they appear to have produced a hugely successful format.

Some books, at whatever price and format, will sell quicker than others and in the overall world of book publishing, a huge amount fail completely.

The only LE that the FS appear to have considered a slow seller (compared to its limitation number) is the Temple of Flora.

If that is the only LE out of all of the LE's they have published over the last 10 or so years that they have felt compelled to take action with, they have achieved a level of success beyond most publishers dreams.

When looking at an expensive LE from a financial perspective that looks to have sold over a longer period of time, I think that The Luttrell Psalter is a fair example.

This book was published in 2006 in a limitation of 1,480 copies at a price which has drifted (if memory serves) from £890 to £1,090 - so for the sake of simplicity I am going to say it is £1,000.

I am going to assume that the gross Margin on this book is around 40% (£400), therefore I am assuming that the cost of production is £600.

As the FS appear to print all of their flyers for LE's 'up-front', set-up the web-page and they charge for delivery, I am including those costs in the £600.

If my assumptions are close to reality the FS would have to sell 888 copies of the Psalter to cover all of their production and Marketing costs (excepting on-going storage and staffing).

It seems fair to assume that the initial 'take-up' of a LE is by those people that 'must have' a desirable copy of the particular book and in a case like the Lutterell Psalter I would reasonably assume that 1/3rd of the edition is sold early on (say 500).

Over the first year of publication a proportion of those people that really wanted it, but baulked at the price would buy it (a good reason for the installment plan) and others would discover it 'anew' during this period and some would find this forum and fall prey to the 'enablers'! I will assume that this takes up another 1/4 of the edition (say 370).

So in this scenario, about 870 copies have been sold in the first year or so, which just about covers the initial production and marketing costs (880 copies) and leaves 610 copies lying in storage (bound or un-bound) that have, at this point, theoretically become pure profit.

Now those copies (at £1,000 each!!!) do far more than 'tick over'. In fact they sell at a rate of around 3 a week for the next 5 years as the edition sells out and the postage and packing costs are met by the customer when they are purchased.

To put this in perspective, when you walk into an average bookshop (a far more expensive bookselling operation than the FS model), far more than 50% of the books you see (at£5 - £50 a book) will have been lying on those shelves for weeks and months without selling one copy and they will probably never have seen, never mind sold, a £1,000 book.

I know that this is a simplistic scenario, but I think it will not be far from reality.

If I am close on an 'average' seller in the 'very expensive' price bracket then the FS LE's taken as a whole are spectacularly successful and desired by enough people with the means to afford them to make them so.

I suppose the point that I am trying to get to is that if I was looking at this from the FS viewpoint I would be less worried about the size of the limitation numbers from a 'are they too high' perspective, with the Temple of Flora as my only real issue, and put my efforts into considering just how many of the 'Rubiayat', 'Wind on the Willows' and 'Candides' I could have sold whilst contemplating those LE's still lying in my stock-room, selling steadily with their production costs already covered by previous sales.

Just received (in Australia) an interesting letter from FS warning me that a number of LEs were almost sold out. The figures were:
- Night Thoughts - 55 copies remain
- Temple of Flora - fewer than 100 copies remain
- Holy Land, Egypt and Nubia - 120 copies remain
- Holkham Bible - fewer than 170 copies remain.
Anyone any ideas how many copies remain of other LEs?

Updated numbers - previous post did not like the "less than" symbol rather than words.

"Over two-thirds already sold" of Les Miserables, according to a letter I've just received promoting the book with reference to the 150th anniversary of its first appearance. Of course that leaves room for anything up to 500 or so copies to be still available.

I wonder whether any remaining copies of Night Thoughts will vanish quickly when members receive their lavish promotional packages for Blake's Gray, which has evidently been designed as very much a companion LE to the Young volumes.

If anyone is thinking of buying Night Thoughts, there is a copy on ebay.co.uk currently with one bid at £299.99. There is just 2 hours 30 minutes for anyone to succumb to temptation and put in a bid...

>43

Not that I'm in the market for it - one copy is enough here - but out of curiosity and for the sake of any prospective bidders, how did you find it? Searches for "night thoughts", "edward young", "william blake" and "folio society" in Books, Comics and Magazines all fail to turn it up!

It's here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WILLIAM-BLAKE-NIGHT-THOUGHTS-COLOUR-FINE-HUGE-FOLIO-SO...

Now it's £305.00 and 1 hr 35 mins to go. It says the seller will post to UK. If anyone outside the UK wants tobid for it - they can arrange for delivery to me and I will post it on at cost. Send it to me at the university. Since it's heaby, postage will be expensive outisd ethe UK - best looka t the Royal Mail website for costs. the seller says it weighs more than 13 kilos - best look for price at 15Kg.

Got it!!! As I assume this will arrive earlier than the Faulkner this will be my First LE.

Congratulations! It's good to know a member of this group got it - and at a good price.

Thanks for the congratulations. I just filled my basket on the Folio Society site with it yesterday to order it on Monday when I discovered it on eBay. Saved me a lot of money ;)

Sorry if I prompted other members of this group to bid against you but there's enough interest here for me to want to give people a chance to bid if they were unaware of it.

This book had been advertised 3 or 4 times previously with progressively lower starting prices. It's interesting to see what the market decided was the right price.

Just curious if any other member of this group actually bid on the item.

Although the solander box of the eBay offer looks kind of "used", I think it's still a good deal compared to the Night Thoughts copies offered at abebooks starting at 850 Pounds.

>50 Sorry Rainer, I was one of the last bidders. Didn't mean to make one of the group pay more. Just as well that I didn't win since I hadn't budgeted a purchase of that size and I just started paying off my FS Japan and Sound and Fury.

> 51

I've just been scrolling through your library on LT and think Night Thoughts would have extremely well fit in, Ken. So I'm partly sorry that I've overbid you.

BTW: You have a lot of Easton Press editions and I'm thinking about acquiring some of them for some time. Do you think that starting with a subscription to the 100 Greatest Books would be a good start?

#42 lavish promotional packages for Blake's Gray, which has evidently been designed as very much a companion LE to the Young volumes. ??????

>52

If you're interested in the 100 Greatest, I have a few that I have duplicates of that I'm willing to sell. Let me know privately...

(I live in Canada, though)

>53

Not yet, but the time must be getting close :)

http://www.foliosociety.com/joesblog/2011/12/friday-2-december-2011/

EDIT: I've only now read the comments on the article; "The book was planned for this year, but we felt (influenced by some members, I should add) that we were publishing our Limited Editions at too short intervals, so we decided to defer the Gray poems to the beginning of next year." Oh well, Night Thoughts may well have sold out without assistance by then.

>52 I'm glad it got a good home. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't purchase EP's 100 Greatest. Most of these books are reprints from the LEC and/or HP. LEC's can't be beat for quality and HP can't be beat for bang for the buck. Both the LEC and the HP did a much better job of printing (both text and illustrations). Also, many EP classics (as well as the LEC/HP volumes upon which they were based) use older/archaic translations. I'd buy EP editions of classics that were missed by the LEC/HP; e.g. Flatland, Silent Spring, Animal Farm, Siddhartha. Other classics you might want to choose by the translator; e.g. I'm not a big fan of the LEC/HP Illiad, Odyssey or Beowulf (I love the FS edition translated by Seamus Heaney. Part of the fun of being a book collector is mixing it up. Right now my EP collection appears to be static - I'm replacing EPs with LECs at about the same rate I'm purchasing EPs. Don't get me wrong, I still like EP and continue to purchase them, it's just that when I purchased most of them I wasn't aware of the other fine volumes made by the LEC/HP/FS. I bought them because they were so much nicer than standard trade hardbacks and they didn't cost a whole lot more.

>56

I couldn't agree more. If I had to rank them, they'd go in this order:

1. Franklin Library
2. Folio Society
3. Easton Press

I don't particularly like the Heritage Press editions - most of the paper used seems to be of low quality and the volumes aren't particularly attractive. I haven't seen a LEC volume ever in Canada, so they haven't been on my radar.

I'm in the midst of replacing my EP volumes with Franklins whenever I find something locally. In certain cases like Beowulf, I can't justify spending 5 times the amount on a Folio so I usually stick with my EP volumes in that case until I find something that isn't so cost prohibitive.

> 56, 57

Thanks for the explanation. Ken: I'll pm you.

Today on ebay.co.uk: Ulysses LE (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ULYSSES-Limited-Edition-Folio-Society-Illustrated-AS-N...) starting at 225 Pounds. Let's see if again one in our group will win it. Happy bidding!

> 57

I agree also. Franklin Press Books are generally excellent and their bindings were more imaginatively designed than those employed by EP. EP is sadly a shadow of its former self. The quality has gone right down on the 100 Greatest Series, although some of the LE's and non-series books can still be good.

Oxfam's online shop also has quite a few fs - a month or so ago they has letterpress shakespeare.

Just received a new limited edition prospectus with updated stock levels as follows.

Les Miserables 130 copies remaining
The Holy Land and Egypt and Nubia 50 copies remaining
The temple of Flora 70 copies remaining
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 180 copies remaining
The Holkham Bible 30 copies remaining
Night Thoughts 22 copies remaining

How long do we think it will take the remaining Night Thoughts to sell out? I've had my eye on that one for a while, but I need to wait as long as possible to purchase...

Hmm, there is a change that for some of the LEs the number of remaining books mentioned are the number of books actually bound and on stock ready to be sold, hence there could be more unbound copies remaining. Unfortunately, a known Folio marketing trick. For more details regarding this trick (at that time the Folio website had a section showing the four LEs with the lowest available stock levels) see http://www.librarything.com/topic/132026 - must warn that that topic got a little out of hand in the end.

>63

That's a good question; I'm sure you're not the only one wondering. Personally, if I knew I'd be getting it in a month I'd be comfortable. If I was waiting 3 months I probably wouldn't count on it being there when I went to order.

I was expecting the remaining copies would probably vanish once the FS sent out brochures for the companion book of Blake's illustrations to the poems of Gray. That's been put back to next year now, so supplies could be good for a few months yet. Then, it's hard to guess how many folks will see the figure of 22 copies left and decide they'd better not wait any longer.

>63

as of 28 March there were 55 copies of Night thoughts remaining, so I think you would be lucky if there were any copies left in six weeks time.

Egypt and Nubia 50 copies remaining... hmm still got some time.

I was trying to order John le carre trilogy just now. but found it OOP ! Why there is not a system telling us when some books are going to OOP soon ?

Hmmm... I'm hoping I can wait another 3-4 weeks before I order Night Thoughts. It's not an expense I was planning on just yet, but it's such an amazing edition, and I'm a huge Blake fan. If this one slips through my fingers I'd be heartbroken. Especially knowing that Poems of Thomas Gray is on the way as well!

>70 - Oh, this is very disappointing to hear. I have one of the three, and was counting on the other two being part of my renewal order!

>70 - I had the same disappointment with the John le carre trilogy! I ordered the first book about 6 months ago and just recently read it, loved it, and went to order the remaining two, only to find the OOP next to them. So frustrated!!

Alas it seems Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People (which is the one I'm missing) are gone for the foreseeable future. I rang FS and was told a reprint is possible but "not in the next membership year."

I made the awful mistake recently of going to the British Museum's website and looking at the Night Thoughts watercolours.

Very tempting. Even at that price. I'm actually hoping for it to sell out this week or next so that I don't have to think about it anymore.

>64 - That other thread made me nervous, so I emailed FS and asked for further clarification on exactly how many copies remain - I was able to confirm that there are indeed only 20 of the total 1,000 copies of Night Thoughts remaining.

In that case I would not wait too long. Buy now if you really want a copy :-) It may sell out quickly. I was in a similar situation with the Luttrell Psalter that showed 15 copies remaining for weeks on the site and I decided to wait just a bit longer (not sure why though). All of the sudden it showed "sold out" and I suspect that a reseller bought the remaining copies in one go. I felt very silly. Luckily I managed to find a nice used copy a lot cheaper.

I'm debating between purchasing either the Gill Canterbury Tales or the Letterpress Macbeth as compensation for not getting Night Thoughts.

Decisions decisions.

> 78

The Shakespeare volume stands to be available longer than the Chaucer.

>79

That's true. Ordering Macbeth might also start me down the dark path that is the Letterpress Shakespeare. Night Thoughts would look cheap by comparison!

> 80 you might consider ordering the highest priced copy of Night Thoughts from abebooks for only US $ 3500 and it would not look so cheap compared to the Letterpress Shakespeare ;)

I was so lucky to win a decent priced Night Thoughts at ebay and I am very, very happy with it. So (lucky me!) Night Thoughts was no option anymore when I received my LE voucher. I was torn between Eric Gill's Chaucer, Rime and the Ancient Mariner and a first volume of the Letterpress Shakespeare to spend my voucher on. Supposedly I will end up with Shakespeare but have not yet decided which one to choose.

Being now one of the long-term unemployed, Night Thoughts will be no more that just night thoughts for me for some considerable time. However, my plan is to save my pennies (dollars once employed) and then take advantage of someone's buyer's remorse in a year or three.

So, if you have second thoughts about buying Night Thoughts in a year or so, look me up. Perhaps I'll be in better shape by then. Meanwhile, I just look at the brochures when they arrive and put them in the stack.

Os.

>83 Os.

I am so sorry to hear about your employment status. I know what is like being there. I almost lost my apartment.

I took the plunge and have ordered the Gill Canterbury Tales.

I continue to wonder how much I'll regret not getting Night Thoughts. Perhaps someday in the future all 537 watercolors will be available elsewhere (in color, of course) and I'll have another chance. Maybe the British Museum will do what was done with The Holkham Bible, Liber Bestiarum, and The Getty Apocalypse and publish their own version.

> 85

I think you will like the Chaucer very much. It's a gorgeous edition.

>86

I'm definitely looking forward to receiving it! The Troilus & Criseyde was a gorgeous book as well--I had it for a couple of weeks before returning it because of some damage. I haven't ordered any books for about six months because of that experience...but I've finally caved in!

> 87

The book's illustrations made me start an investigation of Eric Gill. I recommend Eric Gill by Fiona MacCarthy if you haven't read it.

>88

I haven't read it, but if it's a good read I will track down a copy. I only know the very basics on Gill, including his...erm, colorful personal life.

> 89

In my opinion it's an absorbing read, not only for his highly unconventional life.

I have Canterbury Tales and it's really a stunning volume. Haven't ordered Troilus & Criseyde but it's on the to-bought-list

>84
Thanks, ironjaw. We had enough warning to build up a good rainy day fund, so all is fine - just no splurging on fine books for awhile, nor on LEs for quite awhile. But, wow, is my wishlist getting long!

Os.

>92 - I hope you soon get to the position of being able to order off that wish list.

I've been impressed with the Eric Gill woodcuts in the FS Troilus and Criseyde LE but I've bought the 1932 mass market edition from The Literary Guild (Random House) instead. Nice cloth cover with parchment spine. Nice printing but non acid free paper which has started to yellow a bit on the edges. For under $10, I'm very pleased.

>94 Ken will you be buying FS LE version in the near future. Yellowing non-acidic paper is just terrible a thought.

>92 Os,

I hope better times will come for you soon! I finished my PhD 14 years ago, at the height of unemployment in Germany. It took me more than a year and a change of country to get my first job. A couple of jobs and countries later I am now in the comfortable position that I can indulge in my book buying hobby, but I feel for everyone who has to go through a similar experience. I hope that your TBR list is long enough to carry you through this difficult period.

>96 I hope that your TBR list is long enough to carry you through this difficult period

Oh, yes. It's about 13 years long right now. Thanks.

Os.

>97

Mine's double that, Os. ;)

...it gives us both lots to do in unemployment. :)

> 92

My biggest Folio-related regret to date is missing out on the Candide LE. I wasn't unemployed at the time, but my benefits were so meager that it felt that way and I ended up having to really pinch pennies and we didn't have a nest egg built up to fall back on. I promised myself that the second I got a new job I would buy Candide, but the search took too long and the book sold too fast. Luckily my new situation is a significant improvement upon the old one, and I am free to indulge a bit. Best of luck to you in your search! It makes the eventual indulgence all the sweeter.

Hmm I wonder if the latest offer is enough to push me over the edge and get the Metamorphoses LE? A free copy of the National Gallery's Metamorphosis: Poems Inspired by Titian. I love Metamorphoses, but I am just not sure about the Golding translation (even though I know it is a classic in its own right), or whether I can justify the expense...

http://www.foliosociety.com/book/MTS/metamorphoses

>101

The Golding translation would be the edition's chief appeal to me. I suspect the limitation has erred a little on the high side at 2750 copies, and you might well be able to make a considerable saving on the second-hand market: a copy apparently in mint condition sold on eBay a few weeks ago for £127 inclusive of UK postage.

> 101
I was briefly tempted by this as well until I reaquainted myself with why I elected to pass on it previously. I am interested in the work, but on viewing it in Members' Room in 2010, I came away rather unimpressed. The binding is nice, though nothing special (to me), the paper and printing not exceptional, and the illustrations, apparently one of the chief appeals of this edition, are merely tipped in gatefold reproductions on glossy paper. For the price I decided I would rather spend my money on higher priority items rather than on something that feels more like a slightly finer edition than a high-end regular Folio Society offering (i.e. Selborne's Natural History).

I am also tempted by the LE for Les Miserables which is running to dangerously low stock, but I cannot abide the cover design and again, similar to the Aeneid (which I did ultimately purchase as I do like the cover design), the overall luxury level of the book production does not justify the price.

The Metamorphosis, Aeneid, and Les Miserable are all books I want nice editions of, but I think they are worthy of original artwork. I wish Folio had used a little more imagination presenting them. Nothing against Titian, I just don't like his illustrations in my LEs.

Does anyone have the current stock level for Moby Dick and/or Gulliver's Travels?

>103

You might want to check the standard 2 volume set of the Les Miserables - I decided that I like it more than the LE when I was looking at the LE - both the design and the illustrations looked nicer to me than the ones in the LE. It is OOP but it can be found...

> 106
Wasn't aware of this one so thanks for the suggestion. When was it published?

> 105

No need to worry about these 2, must be still over 100 left.

Here are items that are under 50 left.

The Holkham Bible 22 left
Night Thoughts 20 left
The Holy Land and Egypt and Nubia 42 left

>107 The nonLE Les Miserables was published in 1976 based on translation by Norman Denny and illustrated by Charles Keeping. I also prefer this edition over the more recent LE.



Picture is from a copy Ardis currently has for sale.

> 109
Thanks for posting the picture! I can't say I love the cover design, but I certainly prefer it to the abstract modern art of the LE!

>110

Someone already answered about when it was published. And the design actually grows on you - I liked it more than the LE and I liked it even more in person :)

Of the two Folio editions the 2 volume set is def. the nicer choice... however I still think that the Norman Denny translation is inferior to the other translations.

That's up to everyone to decide I suspect. I like it quite a lot. :)

>113 I am with you. It is clearly a matter of taste, but personally I think the Denny translation is excellent. As is the Julie Rose version which I also have in a nice hardback Vintage Classics edition. But the Denny has the clear edge for me. As for the 19th century translations by Wilbour and Hapgood, I haven't read them in full, but I have sampled them and they are, in my opinion, average at best. I haven't tried any other translations, but Denny and Rose are the only main modern English translations of which I am aware.

For those that have tried the Denny translation and don't like it, then fair enough. Tastes differ (thank god for diversity!). But if you haven't and are put of by the talk of it being an abridgment, don't be. It is hardly that. It runs to over a thousand pages (1184 in the FS LE edition), and the abridgement (if that really is the right description) is extremely light, mainly as a result of two rather tangential excerpts being moved to an annex to the main text (which frankly makes it more readable).

Just my opinion of course. Other opinions are equally valid (or in some cases, maybe more so) :-)

>112 But I seem to be the only one who also likes the LE edition so what do I know! :-)

>115 You're not the only one. The LE design grew on me, I absolutely love it!

I have the 1976 version - bought it in my very first year as a member, as I recall - and quite like it, even the translation.

There are 133 copies of The Rime left. I've been intrigued by it since its release but will probably force myself to sit this one out. If ever there were a binding or set of illustrations that would make me buy a title I didn't like, this would be it. I dislike Coleridge and yet it will still haunt me when it sells out.

> 118
That's interesting, because I like Coleridge but actually dislike these illustrations and the book design! Much too modern for my taste (which is equally true of many non-LE Folios, but when they get it right on an illustration, it can be superb!).

>115 You're not the only one! I have a copy of the LesMis LE, and love it. (> 110 And I'm not sure how the design on the LE is any more modern or abstract than the one on the earlier edition!). But we all have different tastes and likes.

Just ordered The Holkham Bible. The numbers were just getting too low for my liking and I had been putting it off for a while now. Only 18 copies left for those who are still interested in getting it.

> 121
You won't regret it! I received my replacement copy a few days ago and I am very very happy with it. The binding is just wonderful and the facsimile pages look just gorgeous. Actually I spent the last few days as soon as I returned from office looking through it and reading the commentary.

> 122
I'm also a "sucker" for blue as well. For some reason i'm naturally drawn to books and publications that are predominantly blue. Don't know why?

Is the companion/commentary volume worthwhile? Do you gain a lot from having it?

>123 Is the companion/commentary volume worthwhile? Do you gain a lot from having it?

If you don't read LatinOld French well in the script of the time, it's invaluable. A large part is a page by page description/transcription/translation/commentary.

Os.

Edited to correct as indicated.

RE: Holkham Bible - With my ongoing employment situation (as in, not employed), I'm willing to ship my nearly untouched copy of the FS Holkham Bible to any "FS Devotee" in the US for a large discount over the new price. Leave me a private message if interested. Due to shipping concerns, US addresses only, please.

I've leafed through it twice (the commentary once), but I can say honestly that it is exactly as received, other than that it's been removed from any packaging. I'm quite crazy careful with my books. Except for the few moments when I first leafed through it, it's been lying horizontal on a shelf in a room with no sunlight since I received it.

Let me know if interested,
Os.

> 123
First, as Os. wrote, the commentary is necessary to read the text (although it is not Latin, but old French). Second: The first chapter, where the author tries to discover who the author / illustrator was and where he came from is excellent investigative work. I recommend to read the commentary.

BTW: to wet your mouth a bit you might take a look at photos I took while unpacking my LE: link

>126 although it is not Latin, but old French
Ooops - oh yeah, I forgot that bit.

Os.

There's a video from the British Library about the Holkham Bible. It's their facsimile version, but apart from the binding and the separate commentary volume, it's the same inside. And if you don't want to splash out on what I admit is a beautiful binding on the Folio LE, the BL's version is only £50!

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/sacred/videoholkham.html

More info: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/holkham.html

> 125
Makes me wish I was in the States!

> 126 BTW: to wet your mouth a bit you might take a look at photos I took while unpacking my LE: link
Wow! Beautiful stuff, rainerc.

> 128
Nice video. Thanks for that.

>126

Very Nice pictures.

My copy of 'Night Thoughts' arrived yesterday. I can't believe how heavy it is! And I'm almost too afraid to admit this, but- opening the volumes and looking through all of Blake's illustrations almost brought me to tears - it's just THAT beautiful. A book's beauty has never made me feel like crying before, so I don't know what to think of myself now. Is this normal behavior??

>131

I think it is. I can't comment on Night Thoughts because I can't afford it, but the feeling is normal and possitive to me. Being profoundly touched by art or nature or something else is part of the beauty of life.

> Sand _Man - Let me assure you your behaviour is quite normal. And well done on your Night Thoughts.

I've never had a feeling where I have had a tear of joy when opening a book, although I remember my first FS LE being Moby Dick was close. I still feel it's a special book in my collection. Yesterday I looked at the Letterpress Shakespeare Macbeth (the only one I have) and did not feel anything special about it. I don't think I will persue to buying anymore of them. Actually my preference are smaller volumes, and would love FS to revert back to the sizes during post WWII i.e., the late 40s and 50s.

I have a wonderful custom bound copy of the 1948 FS version of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It was bound by Andrew Sims (The Sims Bindery). The book itself is such a right size I believe. I will upload some pictures this evening.

>131 I would cry if my eye caught sight of the receipt.

>135 HAH! You know, I was wondering if the price had a subconscious influence on my urge to cry. Honestly, during the countless days between placing the order and its grand arrival I did have serious moments of cold feet, wondering if I really ought to be spending that much on a LE. I came close to calling to cancel my order more than once. But when it finally came, and I opened it up saw just how amazing it is, it became quite obvious that it is indeed worth every single cent that I will be spending on it over the next 10 months. ;)

> 136 That monthly payment plan has a lot to answer for. I think I have 3 running concurrently at the moment. Soon I will have to ask my employer to just sign over my monthly salary to FS!

>137 I try to only have one order running at a monthly plan of 5 months. 10 months is just too long and way too risky I believe

>138 I agree. It hasn't stopped me having two 3 month plans and a 10 month plan running concurrently at the moment! Mind you, I only do it for psychological reasons. I never order anything I couldnt cover easily from my short term 'slush fund' savings.

Holkham Bible stocks now down to eleven. It says 12 on the website, but I just bought one (that's 1739 gone out of 1750). Beautifully illustrated and reasonably priced. Last cahnce!

>140

There are also 11 Night Thoughts left.

The sound and the Fury is down to 67 copies and for Les Misérables there are only 14 copies remaining. We will probably see several LEs finally sell out this year.

I'm still undecided by sound and the fury. I haven't read it so I'm not sure whether I should dip into a LE. In other words I'm secretly trying to receive some positive arguments or manipulation to press that order button!

Maybe you'll have to wait for busywine to do his review of the sound and the fury on the booksandvines site.

>143, 144 -- Ironjaw, I think you will like it. It is nicely done. Should have it posted in the next 7-10 days, with a bunch of pictures which should help you decide. Really comes down to if you like (or can tolerate) Faulkner!

I think buying the Sound and the Fury is also a pretty safe bet. It is still the only Sound and the Fury printed the way Faulkner envisioned his book to be published. If you do not like it, you can always sell this LE and perhaps even make a small win on it after the book goes out-of-print.

>143

It's a fantastic work, and the color does away with the most common complaint some readers have about it. It is arguably the greatest work of America's greatest writer.

>147
I don't know. I think Hemingway, Steinbeck and Fitzgerald are ahead of Faulkner...

I'm sure some would make a case for Salinger, too.

>147, 148
Melville? Moby Dick? Admittedly haven't read any Falkner or Steinbeck, but I'd definitely put it far above Hemingway or Fitzgerald (at least, above The Sun Also Rises and The Great Gatsby, which are the only ones I've read).

>148

I wouldn't put any of those writers ahead of Faulkner. Especially not Salinger. I think the depth, quality, and range of Faulkner's work puts him at the top of that list. Of course, there is no objective way to establish this. That said, I've always found Faulkner much more impressive and profound than, say, Hemingway or Fitzgerald.

>149

The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, and Absalom Absalom are a greater output than Moby Dick in my opinion. I have to admit that I've never read Typee.

In any case, I did say arguably. I think it's reasonable to put him in a pool of candidates along with Twain and Melville and perhaps Steinbeck.

>150
I would rate as follows:

Best American Writer of Dialogue: Hemingway
Best American Writer of the American Way of Life: Steinbeck
Best American Novel of All-Time: The Catcher in the Rye

I must caveat by saying that Moby Dick is sitting in my backpack, currently unread. And also, I realize this post will be controversial, but it's just my opinion.

If you haven't read "The Last Tycoon" or "The Love of the Last Tycoon" by Fitzgerald, I would recommend it. It's unfinished, but I have no doubt it would have been a masterpiece. I personally think it would have been better than 'The Great Gatsby"...

>151

I don't suppose it's controversial to have an opinion. In any event, dialogue is one of the things I really don't like about Hemingway's writing. It never sounds right to my ear.

>153
The dialogue generally has short sentences that seem to say more to me then with authors that are more wordy. There are a few quotable passages, but it's not Huxley-esque, where I'm reaching for a pen every 30 seconds. The dialogue on the whole seems to develop characters better than most writers I have come across, without explicitly stating much about them. I seem to be able to FEEL them before I SEE them, if that makes sense.

It's hard for me to describe, but that's my 2 minute attempt.

Les Miserables - Sold Out
Night Thoughts - 11 left
TSATF - 34 left
SPT - 90 left
The Holkam Bible - 11 left
The Temple of Flora - 65 left
The Holy Land - 29 left

Edited to correct spelling!

I caved and bought Moby Dick using my £50 voucher but there is mention in another thread that the price was £175 and £125 after applying the discount voucher. I bought mine at the current price of £195.00. Was it originally £175?

> 156 yes it was. The price increase happened only over the last week or so. I bought mine the same way a fe weeks ago - with the £50 voucher - and paid £125

I never thought that Les Miserables would sell out; I had serious doubts but still that's amazing

Just ordered TSATF. Only 13 left now.

There are only 4 copies of TSATF left. Looks like it will sell out today.

only 3 left now...

2 now

I brought it down to 2. I caved, I wasn't going to get it but you guys are enablers.

and now it's gone...

Once a countdown is taking place at LT...This thing usually happen. I love it.

Thank heavens for that. Even I was wavering, and I don't even like Faulkner! I have been saved from myself...

>166

Agreed - except I do like 'As I Lay Dying'. A weight has been lifted now that TSATF is gone.

That said, I will probably eventually regret it and buy it used somewhere. :P

I love Faulkner and this particular book, but I held off long enough and am relieved it's gone! Now I can go subscribe to The Bowler Press instead.

Or buy ten or so non-LEs.

Or use the money as my first payment on Night Thoughts.

Too many choices!

Hmm, TSATF now shows -2 copies left. *puts on surprised face*

Because after sold out, their website still allow it to be add into basket and checkout. obviously it has no machanism of transaction to prevent multiple checkout on the last volume.

Well then they will have to honour the transaction ;-)

>171

Perhaps more likely to send out an apology letter.

Yes with a mystery gift

I believe they have not count on Faulkner to sell out like lady gaga concert. with multiple online order for the last volume simultaneously, and therefore no gift is prepare for this .

Having say that, I admit to be one of them who fail to resist the enabler and click that button. I will tell you if they actually send me TSATF, or something else.

>155 The Holkam Bible - 11 left

In the US, you may find my post 125 of interest. I have someone interested, but he's taking a long time to decide - first come, first served.

Os.