The Romance of King Arthur

Who is buying this? I am! This shall be my first LE.

I will probably be buying this, but as of yetI havent seen any real info on it. Does anyone have the details?

Here is the flyer:

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/images/2/21/King_Arthur2.jpg

I've ordered it, looks nice.

Would you happen to have the Media and Product code for it... I called to reserve but they cant find it one the system without the code apparently.

I'm going to get this one too,
I'll call EP on Monday and see if I can reserve it.

Thanks for posting this. Can someone tell me how much it is going for? (I couldn't see a price on the flyer.)

2671 The Romance of King Arthur: /800 4@$89.00 ($356.00)
http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=2671

Doesn't this link point to:
THE GUSTAVE DORÉ IDYLLS OF THE KING

Not the Romance?

It is dead right now, but should point to King Arthur once they post it to the site.

How long do these deluxe limited editions take to sell out? I really want this but doubt I can afford to start paying until the end of Feb.

11: if it's a popular edition, seems like it sells out in a month or two.

I spoke with an EP customer service rep on Friday. I was told that this book is not scheduled to ship until late March (which corroborates* the approximate shipping date of 3/21 in astropi's most recent table).

*Repeated corroboration are usually a good idea, since EP has often postponed the shipping dates of their deluxe editions.

King Arthur currently isn't slated to ship until approximately March 21st, so you should be good Lipstick. They won't start charging until it ships so go ahead and reserve it. They have been really very predictable on these expected ship dates and held to most that they have given me. Some previous books have delayed, but not shipped any sooner.

Okay, Silent beat me by seconds! :)

>14 hamletscamaro: Ha! We've clearly have different experiences with EP's shipping date estimates. I agree, however, that I've never seen them ship before their estimated shipping date.

One thing that you should be aware of, LipstickAndAviators -- especially if your budget is tight. Easton Press bills on a twenty-five day cycle, not a 30-day cycle. This means that, if you pay for this book with four "monthly" payments, they will actually be charged to your account slightly more frequently than you might have been expecting (this could be important if you are lining up your payments with paychecks).

When the book is delivered, you will be sent a statement listing all the upcoming payment dates. I've found this particularly helpful when budgeting these Deluxe Editions.

16> Argh that is annoying! I thought the folio 30 day one was annoying enough! When they say monthly, they should mean monthly.

Unfortunately I'm on quite a tight budget up til April as I'm saving to go to America mid April (stop buying books... stop buying books...) but I'm worried if i lveave it that long it will be sold out.

Maybe if I list my sister on ebay and stop buying food?

Maybe if I list my sister on ebay...

(*bites lip to refrain from commenting*)

Just to clarify, this is just a (very well) illustrated abridgement from Malory's Morte D'arthur isnt it? Or is there another Arthur Epic I'm not aware of?

> 19

That is my understanding.

You can actually sample some of it here -

http://www.kellscraft.com/KingArthur/KingArthurContentPage.html

Since I've already got an Aubrey Morte D'arthur on it's way, I might wait to splurge on a limited ed of something I don't already own a well illustrated version of (this is how I talked myself out of getting the Folio Rime of The Ancient Mariner too).

>16 SilentInAWay: I'm quickly getting acquainted with their 25-day billing cycle myself; at least they include a very politely-worded "if you've already sent payment" card with each bill (meant to lessen the pain, of course :-/ )

>21 LipstickAndAviators:: Are you getting an old copy, a facsimile or the Easton Press one from the Famous Editions collection?

I'm looking at the Studio Editions facsimile (c. 1990-1993ish from what I can tell) but can't find decent images of it and have never heard of Studio Editions. I'm also interested in the EP copy but the pictures on their website are so tiny and unhelpful. I'd love to hear what you think when your copy arrives!

>23 SpoonFed: I'm getting the Easton Press famous editions one (which in itself is a facsimile edition I guess). I managed to find a usedcopy in great condition for $50 so I'm pretty happy with it!

The studio editions one is fairly good, comes in a slipcase and has the same cover design as the Easton Press one (except normal hardback boards with a dustjacket rather than leather). I imagine it's pretty much the same as the Easton one except it lacks leather, archival paper and 3 edge gilt pages (but it does come in a slipcase and I think was limited to a run of 1500 copies).

I imagine both are more than adequate versions and I'd have been happy to end up with either.

I actually have 3 pictures of the studio editions one I could post here if you like? (I was looking at it myself and was sent the by a bookseller)

Yes, please! Thanks for all that information - I've been looking for quite some time at the various editions but haven't been able to find such a clear description before.

I've got a small but growing collections of books related to King Arthur and it's very tempting to buy every possible edition going!

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/images/e/e0/Studiomortedarthur1.JPG

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/images/1/16/Studiomortedarthur2.JPG

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/images/e/e0/Studiomortedarthur3.jpeg

Sorry they aren't the best pics ever, but they're all I've got!

EDIT: This is a very slightly different version by Dorset Press but I imagine it's much the same:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Le-Morte-DArthur-Sir-Thomas-Malory-MINT-Darthur-/30052206701...

No, those pictures are great - very helpful to get more of a feel of that edition. I live in the UK, so my choice of edition will probably be based on the Easton Press' postal charges. They all look beautiful (though I'm sure the leather adds a great deal to the feel of the book!).

Easton press were going to charge me around $90 I think for the book and postage to the UK. Liek I said I managed to get it for about $54 from elsewhere though, hopefully it's in nice condition!
AbeBooks has reasonably cheap versions of the above 2 morte d'arthurs.

> 27

If you are in or near London , Spoonfed, I saw a copy of that edition in Foyles a few weeks ago. Of course it maight be gone by now, but if not you will have a chance to physically size the book up.

>29 Quicksilver66: Which section of Foyles has stuff like that? I obv don't need a Morte D'arthur but wouldn't mind a browse through whatever else they've got like it.

26: the Dorset Press book is printed in Hong Kong. That doesn't necessarily mean it's "bad", but I'm picky about where my book is printed. I know that books printed here in the US by EP are archival, and of very high quality. Furthermore, I like to support what I consider "good" US companies :) Similarly, when I purchase a book from the FS, I know that it too is of top quality. For the record, the Dorset book does not claim to be archival.

> 30

I think I saw it in the mythology section, which is, if I remember correctly, on the second floor where history is. If you ask (or call before making a trip) they should be able to point you in the right direction. Foyles is always worth a rummage.

>29 Quicksilver66: Unfortunately, I'm in Edinburgh so not so very near that mecca of books! I keep meaning to schedule a trip to London though, so I might try to combine book buying with sightseeing sometime soon.

>32 Quicksilver66: I think my problemw ith Foyles is by the time I've rummaged through just the fiction and got to the classics I don't have time left to see any of the other genres! Not sure I've even been up to the second floor.

>33 SpoonFed: Don't make the mistake of buying too many books. I know most people in here woudl say there's 'no such thing as too many books', but when you;re stood on a train platform with an entire suitcae and a further box full of books you start to think differently! Glasgow was always good for (second hand) books and CDs whiel I lived up there, but alas I haven't spent much time in Edinburgh despite it being infinitely prettier than Glasgow (I've seen scrapyards more appealing than the building site of a location I used to work in in Glasgow).

>34 LipstickAndAviators: Ha! I quite like Glasgow for a quick trip or a night out, but I'm not sure I'd want to live and work there. Most of the western side of Britain is, in my experience, much too wet for my delicate American constitution.

Though I do know what you mean about suitcases full of books. I went to my first real archaeology conference in Lampeter almost 10 years ago and had to buy a suitcase at the local Spar (lucky they had 'em!) to carry all my book purchases back with me. There was a problem with the train and it took 17 and a half hours to get back to Edinburgh - including 4 train changes, which meant lugging the book suitcase up and down endless flights of stairs. Thank god I didn't have a box of books as well!

Just received my copy of The Romance of King Arthur. Quite a heavy tome. Nicely done but I'm not thrilled with the oversize margins, I'd prefer bigger type. Of course, this is a facsimile edition so EP had no say in the design.

How heavy is this book, quality of paper? Is it worth buying and near match to Chaucer?

> 36, 37

Everything is top notch on this volume and the leather and paper feel top quality. The limitation page describes the paper as Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Finish and the leather as Cowhide imported from Italy. It's a lovely volume and ranks as one of my favourite EP/FS Limited Editions to date. The margins are very wide and at first I found that quite disconcerting - but now I like it. I think wide margins somehow make a page more relaxing to the eye and less busy. It certainly adds to the luxurious feel of the book. Another nice touch is that the interior of the slipcase is lined with a soft foam-like material to protect the leather sides of the book (FS take note please!). The leather is very smooth and has a beautiful aroma to it (for those of you who like smelling books as I do).The production values show attention to detail on the part of EP and overall this is a very worthy volume that EP should feel proud of.

Here are some some pictures.

Thank you QS. Been waiting to see it for a while. The board edges are beveled like Crusades and Kelmscott, very happy to see that, it makes me think the boards are much thicker than other editions. And of course the aroma is very important, I love coming into my office every morning after the door was closed overnight, the leather smell is very powerful.

Mentioning slipcases, anyone that owns the 1611 KJB, take a look inside the slipcase and what do you see? Something new to me, but makes sense.

>39 Wootle:: "Mentioning slipcases, anyone that owns the 1611 KJB, take a look inside the slipcase and what do you see? Something new to me, but makes sense."

A dead spider?

>40 wailofatail:

Hopefully not!! --except figuratively, perhaps? :-/

Hmm...let's take a look -- damn, this book's heavy -- ok, I'm looking...the interior's covered with dark material, so I really can't make anything out (and shaking doesn't produce wailo's spider) -- I'll have to examine this more closely under better light. Ok, now I'm directly beside a lamp and I still can't see anything unusual except...wait a second...let me stick my hand inside to make sure...yes...wow...how unusual: the far end of the slipcase is curved!! It's been molded into a shape that supports the text block while still leaving room for those massive boards. So, if I ever decide to store the book with its spine facing upward...

>39 Wootle:, 42

Spine facing up? Surely you jest!! But that does make sense, as Wootle says...I wonder why they didn't design the slipcases for the other weighty LE's that way? -or maybe they did and EP mavens haven't investigated thoroughly enough? NAH!!

>36 kdweber:, 37, 38

Just got my copy today, number 313 (of 400); a really nice, hefty, well-made volume, as Quicksilver says. Whether it's comparable with the Kelmscott or Crusades is a matter of opinion I suppose.

Would one of the lucky owners of this volume provide a list illustrations? I know about the 16 color plates, but what was not made clear by Easton's advertisement and item description is the number of B&W illustrations. I'm trying to decide whether to purchase this volume, and the number of illustrations is a major factor. Thank you in advance.

For whatever reason, I just don't like white or cream colored books (or much of anything else lacking color for that matter.) Just too plain and one dimensional for my taste. But to each his own. Don't like small print with huge margins either. Just more white, empty space to stare at. I'd rather have larger print.

46: we each have our preferences of course :)
I will say that it's a large book, and the print is larger than it looks in the pics. I think the overall package is very pleasing to the eye, but again it's a matter of taste of course. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the book sells out fairly soon. It's a beauty!

> 47

Indeed it is and has rapidly become one of my most admired books. The EP edition is a facsimile of the oversized LE signed edition produced by Macmillan in 1917. I had a look at an original at Peter Harrington (the best antiquarian bookseller in London). It can be seen at this link -

http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/store/autographs-signed-books/product/unknown-p...

Kudos to EP for their current series of LE books. They are showing good taste in the volumes they are choosing to reproduce. I think of these LE's as a far superior version of EP's Famous Editions series.

> 45

There are 7 full page colour black and white illustrations. There are numerous small b& w illustrations throughout the book as well.

> 47

Indeed it is and has rapidly become one of my most admired books. The EP edition is a facsimile of the oversized LE signed edition produced by Macmillan in 1917. I had a look at an original at Peter Harrington (the best and most beautiful antiquarian bookseller in London - if you are ever in London you must go there). It can be seen at this link -

http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/store/autographs-signed-books/product/unknown-p...

Kudos to EP for their current series of LE books. They are showing good taste in the volumes they are choosing to reproduce. I think of these LE's as a far superior version of EP's Famous Editions series.

> 45

There are 7 full page colour black and white illustrations. There are numerous small b& w illustrations throughout the book as well.

Thanks Quicksilver for the link to the original. It would of course be wonderful to own an edition signed by Rackham, but then again who has thousands of dollars to spend on a book? And it does not even come with a slipcase! Also, to be honest, I would rather have a reproduction that is in better condition (no foxing, etc) than a signed original. Also, were books produced back then using acid-free paper?

> 50

I agree, astropi. On a tactile level it is far nicer to own an EP facsimile in perfect and beautiful condition. First editions are often inferior in this respect - I suppose for their owners the pleasure comes from the knowledge that they have a first edition. This would never be enough for me - and not enough to make me spend that kind of money.

True, there is something charming about an original and it has historical significance for the collector - but they are nicer if they have been rebound in leather with the sides guided. Peter Harrington has lots of such rebound first editions including this amazing first edition Hobbit I actually had in my hands (which considering the astronomical price was quite a terrifying experience) - http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/store/childrens-books/product/the-hobbit-5/

51: I seem to recall looking at some website which had an original Hobbit, but the cover was rebound in gold and jewels (I can't quite remember if they were genuine rare jewels) and the price I believe was on the order of $100,000 or so. I can't be quite certain about the specifics, but it was interesting!

Edit:
ah yes, here:

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/894-Hobbit_auction_PBA_galleries.php

I have to say, the rear cover looks pretty horrendous in my opinion!

I just finally received my copy in the mail today- #385. If you're going to order one, order soon! They're just about gone! This is an amazingly beautiful book.. I'm blown away by it's size, weight, and craftsmanship. Easton Press, you've finally won me over.

They may be about out, but don't assume so because of the number you received. They generally send them out in random order.

It is a beautiful book though isn't it.

Anyone who has bought this also have the EP Famous Editions version with illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley? I am very tempted by the LE, though the FE is nice in itself....is this worth spending another $400 (I know worth is in the eye of the beholder), but curious as to the relative additional value over the FE version. I am sure it is nicer, but is it worth having both?

The Famous Edition is the original Le Morte d'Arthur. Romance is an edited version (so to speak) of the original. Both are very much worth owning in my opinion, although if I could only have one it would definitely be Romance.

> 55

I own both and, budget allowing, that's the way to go. The Beardsley is the complete text and is a wonderfully illustrated edition in its own right. The Romance is more readable - as Astropi says, Mallory's digressions have been edited out for greater dramatic impact. But if you have to get one make it Romance.