Folio Archives 374: The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night – SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION 1973
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The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night – SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION 1973
The Folio Society’s edition of this book was initially published over four volumes in 1958. It had white endleaves and was quarter bound in white parchment with red paper boards patterned in gold and a mottled grey four-volume slipcase. It was then reprinted in 1973 with the only change being red endleaves and a plain grey slipcase. A photolithographic reprint of the 1958 edition was reprinted in 1980 under the Folio Press imprint.
But in 1973 the Folio Society also published a special four volume limited edition of this book that was bound in red goatskin with gilt blocked decorations on spine and covers, and gilt spine titling. This edition had gilt page tops and green endleaves and was housed in a four volume green cloth covered slipcase. It sold for the huge price of £38.50 (the standard edition was £16.50), and was limited to 500 copies, but it is not known how many of these 500 were actually bound-up and sold (I suspect far fewer than 500). The contents of the standard and limited editions were identical, and there is nothing in the LE version to indicate that it is a limited or special edition, although the binding does make it stand out. I am fortunate enough to own a copy of the limited edition, which is reviewed below.
From time to time between 1960 and 1995, The Folio Society bound other standard editions in special bindings and sold them at a premium. There were several different groups of these limited editions and they are listed in the Folio Society Devotees wiki here.
The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night was translated into French by Dr. J.C. Mardrus and then into English by Powys Mathers. Volumes I and III each contain 13 drawings by Eric Fraser; Volumes II and IV each contain 13 wood engravings by Frank Martin. Volume one has 644 pages, volume two 592 pages, volume three 569 pages and volume four 537 pages. All told there are 278 tales in the four volumes.
Different abbreviated editions of Arabian Nights were printed by the Folio Society in 1949 and 1999, a six volume edition was published in 2003, and a magnificent limited edition illustrated by Salvador Dali was published in 2016.
Standard edition 1978
Limited edition 1978
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
The Folio Society’s edition of this book was initially published over four volumes in 1958. It had white endleaves and was quarter bound in white parchment with red paper boards patterned in gold and a mottled grey four-volume slipcase. It was then reprinted in 1973 with the only change being red endleaves and a plain grey slipcase. A photolithographic reprint of the 1958 edition was reprinted in 1980 under the Folio Press imprint.
But in 1973 the Folio Society also published a special four volume limited edition of this book that was bound in red goatskin with gilt blocked decorations on spine and covers, and gilt spine titling. This edition had gilt page tops and green endleaves and was housed in a four volume green cloth covered slipcase. It sold for the huge price of £38.50 (the standard edition was £16.50), and was limited to 500 copies, but it is not known how many of these 500 were actually bound-up and sold (I suspect far fewer than 500). The contents of the standard and limited editions were identical, and there is nothing in the LE version to indicate that it is a limited or special edition, although the binding does make it stand out. I am fortunate enough to own a copy of the limited edition, which is reviewed below.
From time to time between 1960 and 1995, The Folio Society bound other standard editions in special bindings and sold them at a premium. There were several different groups of these limited editions and they are listed in the Folio Society Devotees wiki here.
The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night was translated into French by Dr. J.C. Mardrus and then into English by Powys Mathers. Volumes I and III each contain 13 drawings by Eric Fraser; Volumes II and IV each contain 13 wood engravings by Frank Martin. Volume one has 644 pages, volume two 592 pages, volume three 569 pages and volume four 537 pages. All told there are 278 tales in the four volumes.
Different abbreviated editions of Arabian Nights were printed by the Folio Society in 1949 and 1999, a six volume edition was published in 2003, and a magnificent limited edition illustrated by Salvador Dali was published in 2016.
Standard edition 1978
Limited edition 1978
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2folio_books
It's a beautiful set and looks outstanding on the shelves, surrounded by other beautiful Folios. It took me a long time to track down a copy at a reasonable price but I eventually managed it a few years ago thanks to the vigilance of another FSD member.
3assemblyman
This is a gorgeous looking set. It has been on my wish list for a while and I have come close to acquiring it a couple of times. One day hopefully.
