DLE: David Copperfield

Looks like the Deluxe Limited Editions are going to be a weekly thing. Here's the latest:

David Copperfield

"An Exclusive Leather-bound Deluxe Limited Edition. Recreating the rare original parts from 1849 and 1850 in which the novel first appeared.

Of all his great works, Dickens loved David Copperfield the most. Here are the beautifully illustrated covers... the classic illustrations by "Phiz," Dickens' favorite illustrator... the vintage advertisements from Victorian England... and the complete text of one of the greatest novels ever written." -- Easton Press

Looks pretty nice.

Wow, that would be tempting Wail, if only I had faith in the quality of Easton Press DLEs. Sadly, I no longer do.

4: well, since I've yet to receive even one defective DLE, I still have faith :)

Yes, it's tempting, much more so than the DLE 3 Musketeers! I also like this:

A handsome volume, bound in an elegant seven-piece case of premium leather over printed marble board.

The leather over printed marble board looks interesting, although from the pic on the website the marble board and color of the leather seem to clash...

Well, as a lover of Dickens, Copperfield and Victoriana I have tentatively ordered this. I like the design and the marbled boards. I am worried about quality. If there are issues on this I will just return it for a refund rather than wait for a replacement.

The order confirmation I received from Lana said the book was not yet available. I wonder when shipping is slated for? It looks like a holiday season book (everyone loves Dickens at Christmas) so I hope it will ship shortly.

There is no mention of a limitation number.

Good to hear this David, do indeed post pictures and keep us updated :-)

I have decided to cancel my order. With all the quality issues I am not confident. I think I will wait until it has been released and see if anyone reports any quality issues with it and perhaps re-order then if I am still interested. Are there any guinea pigs who are going to give this a try?

I am going to get it. It is in my favorite style with quarter leather and marbled papered covers.

Thanks Wootle. Please post some pictures when you receive it.

I will, but I think it will be a while before they ship.

The paper sides don't appear to be hand-marbled. For the price you're paying I would have expected something along the lines of Ann Muir marbling.

In any event, someone at EP is going to be fired once word gets out that there is an edition bound in something other than full-leather. I for one love the half-leather look, but I'm shocked EP has strayed into that territory.

One is a xeroxed copy, the other is dipped into the paints etc.. by hand, making each a one of a kind.

I'm sure there are several different ways. One way is to feel the surface, on a hand marbled page, you can usually feel the ridges and low areas made from the paint.

The easiest way is to compare two copies side by side. If they are absolutely identical they cannot be hand marbled. I fell into this trap with the EP DLE end pages. I noticed that the endpapers in the front are identical to the endpapers in the back. Also due to quality issues I have needed up with more than one copy briefly of certain DLE titles. Both books "hand-marbled" design endpapers were absolutely identical. I was so disappointed I immediately ran to my computer to re-read the EP list of features for the book. I was saddened to discover that it was very carefully phrased as "marbled end sheets" which is not the same thing as hand marbled pages.

Hand marbled is certainly better. But even if not individually hand marbled it should still be beautiful. I have a number of recent and old books bound in print marble which are still beautiful. For me the real issue is how well this book is constructed - are there any production defects and can it be read without the spine cracking and bits of paper falling out from the spine. I am still on the fence about this book. I know it’s not the most expensive EP LE but for the price it should still be exceptional.

I've slogged about two-thirds of the way through D. C. and though I'm liking it better than when I was "bastinado'd" into reading Dickens in high school, I'm reminded of why he isn't one of my favored authors (Let's just say I'm having no problem putting the book down).

As for the DLE itself, no problems. It does the job it's supposed to do, being a replication of the original printing, although I wonder if the dimensions are the same, and whether the original also included those little tipped-in half or quarter page advertising slips? The PRINTED marbling is alright, and the leather holds together with the boards pretty closely. A minor quibble would be the reproductions of the "Phiz" illustrations at the beginning of each part. They're not very impressively printed but I suppose EP had to put them out there as a selling point since they were original to the first printings.

Overall, a good solid DLE. Nothing exceptional or flashy and the "price point" could be lower for what you get.

Thanks iluvbeckett. Pleased that its well constructed.

Can anyone post any photos to help push me over the edge on this one. Someone tempt me, please !!!

I wish the EP site had better photos. It could only increase their sales.

I wish I had this to post -- if someone has a bunch of pictures I would be glad to put on Books and Vines...

> 22

Thanks. I’m getting tempted.

I'll see if I can convince him to snap a few with his camera, but he's quite busy and he already does that a lot with all the books I get sent to him, so no promises :)

> 24

Thank you tag.

>19 iluvbeckett:

The multicolor half page thingies are the same as the ones that the original had - expect that the original ones were usually not attached. Not sure on the size - my old notes are back home so cannot check.

> 21 and the rest

OK - I need to get my camera and snap a few I guess... As soon as I manage to be home before dark so I do not snap them with the lights on. :)

20 > 23>

I don't know if you've read my description of the Copperfield DLE in message #28 of this thread.

(I can't resist a chance to contribute to one's temptation)

27> ...um, dumb comment on my part. You responded to my posting over in that thread -- mea culpa.

DLE Sold. Thanks!

>30 the_bb: you might do better with a wider market, listing on eBay. One just sold for $635 and two others are $600+

>32 the_bb: pictures would help. Not sure what this serialized reprint looks like nor quality of illustrations since listing only shows one illustration. Most people are just showing a box!

I'm very interested in your David Copperfield DLE.

>32 the_bb: thanks for sharing. My that is an impressive DLE. This is the way to collect Dickens!

Wondering if EP has put out any other Dickens books in this style (very thick quarter bound leather ... multiple parts in a single binding)?

Or have they put out any other authors in this style of book?