Easton Press Deluxe Limited Editions (7)

01 -- 2290 -- The Kelmscott Press’s The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: /425, 6@$99.00 ($594.00)
Announced: 9/2009 Shipped: 10/2009 Sold Out: 12/2009, 2/2010
EP Site: Kelmscott
LT Discussion: Kelmscott
-------------------------
02 -- 2537 -- The King James Bible The Classic 1611 Edition: /400, 4@$149.00 ($596.00)
Announced: 3/2010 Shipped: 7/2010 Sold Out: 2/2011
EP Site: 1611 KJB
LT Discussion: 1611 KJB
------------------------
03 -- 2289 -- William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: /250, 5@$99.00 ($495.00)
Announced: 3/2010 Shipped: 5/2010 Sold Out: 3/2012
EP Site: Midsummer
LT Discussion: Midsummer
-------------------------
04 -- 2563 -- Joseph-Francois Michaud’s History of the Crusades: /600, 4@$125.00, ($500.00)
Announced: 3/2010 Shipped: 8/2010 Sold Out: 10/2010
EP Site: Crusades
LT Discussion: Crusades
-------------------------
05 -- 2548 -- The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: /500, 4@$49.95 ($199.80)
Announced: 7/2010 Shipped: 12/2010 Sold Out: 5/2011
EP Site: Meditations
LT Discussion: Meditations
-------------------------
06 -- 2550 -- Leonardo Da Vinci: The Notebooks: /600, 6@$75.00 ($450.00)
Announced: Shipped: 12/2010 Sold Out: 5/2011
EP Site: Da Vinci
LT Discussion: Da Vinci
-------------------------
07 -- 2597 -- History of the Indian Tribes of North America by McKenney and Hall: /400, 6@$99.50 ($597.00)
Announced: 10/2010 Shipped: 11/2010 Sold Out: 12/2010
EP Site: Indian Tribes
LT Discussion: Indian Tribes
-------------------------
08 -- 2564 -- The Holy Bible Cassell’s Illustrated Family Edition: /600, 4@$99.00 ($396.00)
Announced: 9/2010 Shipped: 1/2011 Sold Out: 9/2011
EP Site: Cassell's
LT Discussion: Cassell's
-------------------------
09 -- 2671 -- The Romance of King Arthur: /400 4@$89.00 ($356.00)
Announced: 10/2010 Shipped: 3/2011 Sold Out:
EP Site: King Arthur
LT Discussion: King Arthur
-------------------------
10 -- 2630 -- Dante Alighieri The Divine Comedy: /400, 4@$99.00 ($396.00)
Announced: 10/2010 Shipped: 2/2011 Sold Out: 6/2011
EP Site: Divine Comedy
LT Discussion: Divine Comedy, Divine Comedy
-------------------------
11 -- 2725 -- Lincoln A History by Nicolay and Hay: /400, 4@$249.75 ($999.00)
Announced: 1/2011 Shipped: 7/2011 Sold Out: 12/2012
EP Site: Lincoln
LT Discussion: Lincoln
-------------------------
12 -- 2708 -- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: /700, 3@$65.00 ($195.00)
Announced: 1/2011 Shipped: 1/2011 Sold Out: 3/2011
EP Site: 451
LT Discussion: 451
-------------------------
13 -- 2747 -- Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels: /500 4@$49.95 ($199.80)
Announced: 2/2011 Shipped: 8/2011 Sold Out: 4/2012
EP Site: Gulliver
LT Discussion: Gulliver
-------------------------
14 -- 2721 -- The Fables of Aesop: /300 4@$125.00 ($500.00)
Announced: 2/2011 Shipped: 8/2011 Sold Out: 12/2011
EP Site: Aesop
LT Discussion: Aesop
-------------------------
15 -- 2767 -- The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer: /300 6@$125.00 ($750.00)
Announced: 3/2011 Shipped: 9/2011 Sold Out: 3/2013
EP Site: Canterbury
LT Discussion:
-------------------------
16 -- 2710 -- Ovid’s Metamorphoses: /400, 4@$125.00 ($500.00)
Announced: 5/2011 Shipped: 6/2011 Sold Out: 1/2012
EP Site: Metamorphoses
LT Discussion: Metamorphoses
-------------------------
17 -- 2784 -- The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain: /600, 3@$95.00 ($285.00)
Announced: 6/2011 Shipped: 11/2011 Sold Out: 6/2012
EP Site: Prince and Pauper
LT Discussion: Prince and Pauper
-------------------------
18 -- 2777 -- London by Gustave Dore and Blanchard Jerrold: /400, 4@$124.00 ($496.00)
Announced: 6/2011 Shipped: 1/2012 Sold Out: 7/2013
EP Site: London
LT Discussion: London
-------------------------
19 -- 2719 -- Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr: /850, 3@$89.00 ($267.00)
Announced: 6/2011 Shipped: 7/2011 Sold Out: 6/2012
EP Site: Slaughterhouse-Five
LT Discussion: Slaughterhouse-Five
-------------------------
20 -- 1276 -- The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: /400, 4@$125.00 ($500.00)
Announced: 11/2011 Shipped: 12/2011 Sold Out: 7/2013
EP Site: Three Musketeers
LT Discussion: Three Musketeers
-------------------------
21 -- 2801 -- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens: /400, 4@$85.00 ($340.00)
Announced: 11/2011 Shipped: 12/2011 Sold Out: 6/2012
EP Site: David Copperfield
LT Discussion: David Copperfield, David Copperfield
-------------------------
22 -- 2819 -- The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte: /400, 4@149.00 ($596.00)
Announced: 12/2011 Shipped: 4/2012 Sold Out: 1/2014
EP Site: Napoleon
LT Discussion: Napoleon
-------------------------
23 -- 2815 -- Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne: /400, 3@$89.00 ($267.00)
Announced: 1/2012 Shipped: 2/2012 Sold Out: 5/2012
EP Site: Leagues
LT Discussion: Leagues
-------------------------
24 -- 2853 -- Hans Christian Andersen: /400, 4@$115.00 ($460.00)
Announced: 2/2012 Shipped: 3/2012 Sold Out: 1/2013
EP Site: Andersen
LT Discussion: Andersen
-------------------------
25 -- 2800 -- Night by Elie Wiesel: /850, 3@$89.00 ($267.00)
Announced: 2/2012 Shipped: 3/2012 Sold Out: Sold Out
EP Site: Night
LT Discussion: Night
-------------------------
26 -- 2848 -- The Holy Bible with Dore Illustrations: /800, 4@$249.00 ($996.00)
Announced: 4/2012 Shipped: 8/2012 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Holy Bible
LT Discussion:
-------------------------
27 -- 2849 -- Picturesque America: /400, 4@$145.00 ($580.00)
Announced: 5/2012 Shipped: 6/2012 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: America
LT Discussion: America
-------------------------
28 -- 1303 -- The Outline of History by H G Wells: /400, 4@$119.00 ($476.00)
Announced: 6/2012 Shipped: 7/2012 Sold Out: 12/2013
EP Site: Outline of History
LT Discussion: Outline of History
-------------------------
29 -- 2419 -- Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving: /400, 4@$99.00 ($396.00)
Announced: 8/2012 Shipped: 10/2012 Sold Out: 6/2013
EP Site: Rip Van Winkle
LT Discussion: Rip Van Winkle
------------------------
30 -- 2335 -- Tarzan of the Apes by Burroughs /800, 3@$89.00 ($267.00)
Announced: 10/2012 Shipped: 12/2012 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Tarzan
LT Discussion: Tarzan
------------------------
31 -- 2609 -- A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthurs Court /300, 3@$99.00 ($297.00)
Announced: 10/2012 Shipped: 12/2012 Sold Out: 4/2013
EP Site: Yankee
LT Discussion: Yankee
-------------------------
32 -- 2579 -- A History of the Civil War /1865, 3@$75.00 ($225.00)
Announced: 11/2012 Shipped: 12/2012 Sold Out: 3/2013
EP Site: Civil War
LT Discussion:
------------------------
33 -- 2526 -- The North American Indians /400, 4@$135.00 ($540.00)
Announced: 12/2012 Shipped: Sold Out: 4/2013
EP Site: NA Indians
LT Discussion:
-------------------------
34 -- 2403 -- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings /800, 3@$79.00 ($237.00)
Anounced: 1/2013 Shipped: 3/2013 Sold Out: 12/2013
EP Site: Caged Bird
LT Discussion:
-------------------------
35 -- 1644 -- The Iliad & The Odyssey /400, 4@$89.00 ($356.00)
Announced: 2/2013 Shipped: 5/2013 Sold Out: 12/2014
EP Site: Iliad Odyssey
LT Discussion:
-------------------------
36 -- 2863 -- The Tempest /400, 4@$99.00 ($396.00)
Announced: 3/2013 Shipped: 5/2013 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Tempest
LT Discussion:
-------------------------
37 -- 1846 -- Flowers for Algernon /600, 3@$75.00 ($225.00)
Announced: 4/2013 Shipped: Sold Out: 11/2013
EP Site: Algernon
LT Discussion:
------------------------
38 -- 2752 -- A Journey to the Centre of the Earth /300, 3@$89.00 ($267.00)
Announced: 5/2013 Shipped: 6/2013 Sold Out: 10/2013
EP Site: Journey
LT Discussion:
------------------------
39 -- 2032 -- Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the South China Seas and Japan /400, 4@$99.00 ($396.00)
Announced: 6/2013 Shipped: 8/2013 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Japan Expedition
LT Discussion:
-------------------------
40 -- 2028 -- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf /600, 3@$79.00 ($237.00)
Announced: 7/2013 Shipped: 7/2013 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Virginia Woolf
LT Discussion:
------------------------
41 -- 2782 -- The Hunchback of Notre Dame /400, 4@$99.00 ($396.00)
Announced: Shipped: Sold Out: 11/2013
EP Site: Hunchback
LT Discussion:
-----------------------
42 -- 2888 -- De Humani Corporis Fabrica /400, 4@$124.00 ($496.00)
Announced: 8/2013 Shipped: 11/2013 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Humani
LT Discussion:
-----------------------
43 -- 2770 -- A Christmas Carol /800, 3@$89.00 ($267.00)
Announced: 8/2013 Shipped: 8/2013 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Carol
LT Discussion:
------------------------
44 -- 2875 -- Don Quixote with Dore Illustrations /600, 3@$125.00 ($375.00)
Announced: 9/2013 Shipped: 10/2013 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Quixote
LT Discussion:
------------------------
45 -- 2880 -- Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut /500, 4@$69.00 ($276.00)
Announced: 10/2013 Shipped: 12/2013 Sold Out: 12/2013
EP Site: Cat's Cradle
LT Discussion:
------------------------
46 -- 2872 -- The 1717 Book of Common Prayer /800, 4@$74.00 ($296.00O
Announced: 10/2013 Shipped: 4/2014 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Prayer
LT Discussion:
------------------------
47 -- 2871 -- The Hound of the Baskervilles /1200, 4@$89.00 ($356.00)
Announced: 10/2013 Shipped: 12/2013 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Baskervilles
LT Discussion:
-----------------------
48 -- 2788 -- A Tale of Two Cities /800, 4@$75.00 ($300.00)
Announced: 11/2013 Shipped: 11/2013 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Two Cities
LT Discussion:
----------------------
49 -- 2894 -- The Pilgrim's Progress /800, 3@$90.00 ($270.00)
Announced: 1/2014 Shipped: 1/2014 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Pilgrim's Progress
LT Discussion: Pilgrim's Progress
-----------------------
50 -- 2918 -- Robinson Crusoe /400, 3@$80.00 ($240.00)
Announced: 1/2014 Shipped: 2/2014 Sold Out: Available
EP Site: Crusoe
LT Discussion:
----------------------

I'll keep this updated until Astropi decides to rejoin us. As you can see I am missing a few dates, so if anyone can accurately suggest appropriate times, I'll add those in, and any other info I may have incorrect that needs to be adjusted.

RIP astropi...

The Kelmscott was actually announced several months before it shipped (I even received the infamous due-to-circumstances-beyond-our-control-shipping-has-been-delayed letter for this book). Unfortunately, I can't tell you exactly when I received the brochure. I'm pretty sure it was after the one for A Midsummer Night's Dream, but at least three months before October...

BTW: very nicely done, Wootle.

Thanks. I went through a lot of threads here on LT, and looked at all of my own information to get the dates as close as I could. Anyone that bought them at first announcement and can enlighten me on those earlier titles, would be appreciated. I pretty much pre-ordered the middle 20 or so, but the earlier ones I did not. I like being able to see the dates and how long it takes between announcement and shipping and being sold out.

I'll add some HTML when I have more time.

By the way, we still need a LT thread for Canterbury Tales with pics, anyone that has it and would like to contribute.

Thanks for picking up the torch Wootle. I like this thread, even if I have really slowed purchase on these LE's. Although, I may have to pick up the Hans Christian Anderson. UK's review makes it a bit more appealing, and my resistance may be crumbling...

I think we have more dates on here. Maybe this weekend I'll do some more combing and see if we can't complete some of these timeframes.

The 1611 King James Bible was announced in March 2010 (it shipped in July 2010).
I posted the brochure and offered my first impressions in messages 6, 11 and 18 in this thread.

9-Very good. Keep them coming and we'll have them all up to date. Should each one have a thumbnail? Or is the link good enough to their own thread with the pics? Might as well make it look good.

Cassell's was announced in September 2010 (it shipped in January 2011).

Gulliver's appears to be sold out.

Well that would be 80% sold and 20% returned based on my experience.

So it is actually limited to 400 instead of the published 500. I do wonder how many were returned in total. Hopefully it got their attention and they took steps to improve the leather dye and binding problems they had.

Has anyone pre-ordered Napoleon and received word on shipping time frames? It is a set I want, but I have to wait a couple more months before ordering to get some others paid off.

>13 UK_History_Fan:, then that makes Gulliver's even MORE of an exclusive limited edition!

We will start the bidding on my copy at $10,000.

Upon opening my copy of Gullivers, a crease was found on a corner of the title page, otherwise was fine. I decided it was too small to return for a replacement.

Looks like Napoleon is shipping, as a seller has it on ebay now.

The Holy Bible with Dore Illustrations

Holy Bible

>19 Wootle:

Wow, all you need is a single g and you've got it!

Looks wonderful but ... $1000!!! I'm not going down that path.

Proverbs 21:5
"The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty."

Wow!! No slipcase?...and not a numbered edition? $1000 seems a little steep...

It will be numbered, 400 at most, maybe only 250-300. But $1k does seem a little excessive. I wish they had done this one first, then I could have skipped the other two.

On the other hand Luxury Bibles are something that seem to sell well - there are way too many of them all over the place :) Not interested in the least though... which should help my bank account to recover a bit.

Dumb question, but the Dore Bible, what text is it, not King James?

I'm kind of tempted, but I think this one will do me. It's apparently missing the Apocrypha and the illustrations he did for those books, but I'm not too bothered by that.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barnes-noble-leatherbound-classics-the-holy-bibl...

Skipping this Bible edition for sure, way to expensive for me to consider it, even if I had any interest in it initially as well, which I do not.

>27 johni92: According the the ad:

•The complete text of the Holy Bible, including the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha.

>29 Tom41:
Really? I didn't really look at it thoroughly; I was going by a comment I remember reading in the thread for these Barnes And Noble leatherbound collection. Of course, I could be misremembering that as well.

Or are you talking about the EP one? because I realise that one has it; I was saying that it's missing from the B&N one.

>21 EclecticIndulgence:: You mean a massive "tome", of course...though King Solomon's (-or David's) tomb could theoretically have been massive (I'm no archaeologist).

23- Limited to 800 per the new catalog. I bet it gets chopped down before publication.

Anyone receive Napoleon yet? I know some of you ordered it.

Yes, I received mine about 4 weeks ago.

> 35
Thoughts? Pictures?

It is a really nice set, with lots of pull-out pages (color pictures, etc..).
So far, I can’t find any issues with any of the volumes, all are in an excellent condition.
For the price, it is one of the best deals I've seen for a long time.
Here are some pics

Thanks for the pictures and the first impressions. They definitively look better in your pics than on the Easton press web site. What are your thoughts about the page ends (marbled rather than gilt edged?) Honestly I don't like them from the pics. I am wondering If maybe this is a design effect better viewed in person. They just make me think that the book has been damaged somehow when viewed quickly.

Yes, my thoughts are exactly the same in regards to the marbled page ends.
After opening up the box and first looking at it, my first impression was that the book has some water-damage/mold or something... actually it looks just like that.
I also prefer the usual gold-coating of the edges.

But in my opinion, despite this issue, the rest of the books are really well done, especially with the color pull-out pages.

In my opinion, for the price they are being sold, it is definitely worth buying it.

> 39
"In my opinion, for the price they are being sold, it is definitely worth buying it"

You may be one of the very few who consider $596 for 4 books ($149 per volume) a bargain!

But as one who has frequently succumbed to the siren song of fine leather books, I do understand that one cannot think about it in those terms. It is more an emotional rather than a rational decision.

Yes, I completely agree with you HistoryFan, when I was referring to the price being a "good deal" I was speaking within the context of other DLE books.

Very true, purchasing these books is mostly an emotional decision for most of us.
Still, my upper limit that I willing to spend on these DLEs is about $600, no matter how much I would like something, my rational thinking usually takes over.

Speaking of which, the new Doré/Bible DLE, has been very tempting, but luckily every time I was actually considering to place an order, my rational sense kicked in just in time, and I managed to put away my credit card and the phone. :-)

> 42
I struggled a little initially with the Dore Bible. I generally collect anything EP publishes with his illustrations, though I did miss out on the DLE Crusades. To demonstrate just how much of a completist I am, despite all the negative reviews (mostly accurate I would say), I even bought the much maligned Raven. But $1,000 for a Bible I will not read (being an atheist) combined with illustrations that are actually not among my favorites of his work, did not provide enough emotional appeal to overcome my rational side.

Unfortunately I am also a member of the "Easton Press Completist" species. :-)

In fact, my latest quest is to have a complete (as much as possible) collection of the EP Signed First Edition Science Fiction series.
I only buy books that I will (or would eventually) read, and being a huge S/F fan(natic), this series really is a great interest to me.
The complete list is about 300 books, and I already manged to get together about 100 of them.

Unfortunately it is a hugely expensive quest, so because of this I had to slow down with my other EP book purchases with the exception of some DLE ones.
(The ones I just can't resist to buy....)..

Judging strictly from catalog pics, I find the Rembrandt Bible the more attractive (at least on the outside), and at a quarter the price, I would be going for that one, (if I were in the market for either, which presently, I'm not.)

For myself, I haven't been enamored with any of the DLE's, and haven't purchased any. (I understand many folks seem to love them, though.) For me, they just seem very large books done up a little more than usual, and at the prices charged, I'm just not interested in spending $400 or more on a single big book that I find a degree more fancy than your average EP offering. Sorry if I've rained on anyone's parade, (If you love 'em, more power to you.)

I don't need to get right with Jesus badly enough to spend 1K on the good word.

Being adamantly resistant to the persuasions of any organized religion, I can understand and empathize with all the posters above who have indicated that The Bible wouldn't interest them, no matter who illustrated it or how it was bound. I can only say that my favorite edition is the Limited Editions Club 5 volume KJV, designed for reading in a clear paragraph layout and without all the diacritical marks that hamper one's enjoyment of the stories--and many of them are damned good stories, and, in the KJV, expressed in some of the most beautiful English prose ever written. The LEC edition was designed for readers who wanted to enjoy the work "without benefit of clergy," and I highly recommend this approach--I doubt, however, that either of these Easton Press Bibles follow that lead.

There is a good chance the Bible set may be canceled, actual purchases will not be confirmed until August. $500 per volume is narrowly limited to the public who believe it is a must have, and can afford it.

>46 Django6924:

I agree about the Bible being a good read no matter your creed. I think some who've never picked up the thing might be surprised at some of the lasciviousness and passion incorporated into the Old Testament. I also adore Revelation and its powerfully dark imagery. I found a good way to absorb the Bible as literature is through the publisher Zondervan, who've issued a 4 different translation edition, side-by-side.

>48 Dill_the_Collector:
That sounds great and I would be very interested in getting an edition like that. Which translations are included?

This edition has the KJV, NIV, New Living, and the New American. I purchased mine about 10 years ago new on eBay -don't know about current availability. It's wrapped in a soft leather binding and entitled "Today's Parallel Bible" c.2000

Thanks. I might have to see if I can find one. I find it very interesting comparing the different translations (although from memory, the New Living seems to be beginning to get more into the realm of a paraphrase rather than direct translation)

Should have done a Geneva Bible.

http://tinyurl.com/cbg6xur

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/GenevaBible.JPG

http://www.fromoldbooks.org/Geneva/pages/cimg0738-geneva-bible-new-testament-tit...

>52 DanMat: You can get a facsimile of the Geneva Bible from here:

http://greatsite.com/facsimile-reproductions/geneva-1560.html

They also have facsimiles of the 1611 KJV, 1536 Tyndale, 1535 Coverdale etc.

However I am not so sure about the quality of the facsimiles since they use a commercial grade flatbed scanner to produce the reproductions, whereas specialized facsimile publishers usually use more advanced methods.

I've seen that. And there's this:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Geneva-Bible-Facsimile-Edition/dp/1598562126/ref=sr_1_...

http://greatsite.com/facsimile-reproductions/hexapla-1841.html

This one would be great as well, but I don't want to go spending $249 without knowing what the quality is like. Maybe EP should do a facsimile of it.

The Hendrickson people have something similar, but that one is pretty cat's pajamas, the one you linked to, except for the size maybe, which seems a tad smallish.

For the New Testament, I like the Oxford University Press The Precise Parallel New Testament with 8 parallel translations.

There is a translation called The Unvarnished New Testament by Andy Gaus I love.

I found Robert Crumbs The Book Of Genesis the best for any Bible you can have which would be great if Easton Press made a Deluxe edition out of that. The illustrations are perfect for those who want to point out the blind ignorance those story's carry with it. It might make believers cringe but it will also make them think.

Not I, wailed the tail.

20K Leagues sold out.

>53 Stephan68:
>52 DanMat:

Here's the page with the 1611:

http://www.greatsite.com/facsimile-reproductions/kingjames-1611.html

Impressive, but the "400th Anniversary Edition" plastered across the spine kinda ruins it for me.

Here's a new DLE: No. 2849

William Cullen Bryant's Picturesque America in two volumes, four payments of $145.

Regarding the DLE Dore illustrated Bible, interestingly, Easton Press previously published a single volume Dore Illustrated Bible. Granted, it wasn't marketed as limited to 800 copies, but the price was a reasonable $156.00, which, I recall, at the time seemed like steep price escalation relative to the books I was used to buying. Doubling the price to account for two volumes only brings things to $312.00 ... so throw in a bit for inflation and say $400. So where does this $996.00 come from?

Personally, I think E/P is simply capitalizing on the collector mentality, the threat of limited supply, and most importantly in this case, the popularity of Dore illustrations to escalate the price of this offering even more drastically than they have for their other DLEs.

Picturesque America looks tempting too, but I'm having as hard a time justifying $580.00 for two books as I am $996.00.

I hereby move that the 'Deluxe Limited Editions' collection be renamed 'The Millionaires Library' collection.

>65 wailofatail:

Easton Press has every right to offer extensive, large books or sets at high prices. Publishing companies cannot survive without capitalism, EP has evolved over the past decade looking more into printings most have not ventured into. The larger or more unusual a book is, the more expensive it will be. For considering 'Deluxe Limited Editions' as your term 'The Millionaires Library', you can simply look the other way and find other series you haven't completed in your den.

Thank you EastonQuality for your always predictable, trite, drivel that, when comprehensible is never more than regurgitation of the obvious and generalizations that add nothing of value or relevance to my posts.

>67 wailofatail:
Bravo.

>67 wailofatail:: OUCH!!! (but thanks, Tom41, for notifying us of new DLEs)

66> Publishing companies cannot survive without capitalism

You tell him, EQ. Shame, shame on you wailo!! You...you...you anti-capitalist, you.

Anyone else think EP should dial back on the frequency of DLE releases (or at least give more thought to the titles chosen)?

Think it's ridiculous for wail to complain so much now about the publisher itself. If you can't afford it, DON'T BUY IT! Plain and simple.

>70 SilentInAWay:

I see Michael as a small capitalist, the amount of item he bids on yearly with private fb seems obvious there is something he is hiding. To alert the public at first notice multiple times he missed a set...

> 71

It's more of an opinion of the ratio for DLEs, perhaps so.

Decided on The Prince and the Pauper as my keeper for high quality DLE which since I like Mark twain and the story is great in that Mark twain gives his wit and sarcasm of those superstitious times. And it also has all of the 192 illustrations in the book and the design is high quality leather.

>65 wailofatail:

Noone makes you buy them. If you do not like something or cannot afford it, skip it.

EP is a business. As much as I wish they were more collector-oriented (our type of collectors and not the ones that would buy anything new and shiny), this model cannot exist and be profitable. So if they want to cater to another clientele and that allows them to publish some books that the actual readers will like, well.. more power to them.

I don't feel that I should own any DLE they produce - I buy the ones I like - if I had never thought of owning a book, chances of buying it as a DLE are slim to none.

Don't get me wrong - I won't refuse almost any of those if someone gifts them to me. But everyone has their limit and as I collect books because of the books themselves and not because they are DLEs/can be sold later on, I really don't care what EP will produce as long as they produce a few books that I like now and again.

... And on a related note.. just when I thought that my finances could recover somewhat, the new PICTURESQUE AMERICA DLE has just been announced. :-)

Outline of History

> 77

Way overpriced! And yet probably irresistible damn it!!

Prince and Pauper sold out.

David Copperfield sold out.

Looks like Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five is sold out

Impossible to resist the HG Wells set. I love Wells - he is one of my favourite writers, and I have always had a soft spot for his massive synthesis of world history - it is not accurate and Wells displays his usual bias, but it is a great read. I quite like the book design as well - and it's in red leather. Looks like I will be getting this.

In fact - I have now ordered it. I have not been as excited by an EP LE for some time.

I know these are harder to find than some of the others, but still: $27.5k

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Easton-Press-McKenney-Halls-HISTORY-OF-INDIAN-TRIBES-OF-...

>83 Wootle:: Plus shipping. =)

> 83

Has to be an error. Surely ?

>85 Quicksilver66:: Noting the seller, I would say not.

It is what it is.. at least the best offer is mentioned..

How much would you be willing to pay for this set (since the only sets available seem to be priced exorbitantly, I seriously doubt that your answers would adversely affect prices)?

wailo? EQ?

As for me, I intentionally let this one go -- so I should say that I'd only pick up the set if it were offerred for less than the original selling price. I am, however, intrigued my the relative scarcity of this set...which would result in maybe a 10% or 20% premium (if I had the cash). Needless to say, I don't anticipate ever finding a set at that price...

88: I wouldn't pay more than 800

I'd be willing to pay $27,499.

SOLD!!!, to the gentleman with pie on his face.

90-- I've got a set you can buy for half that.

Is anyone going to post any pictures of Picturesque America? I've been looking at Google Earth, but it simply doesn't have that classic etched look that I need.

>83 Wootle:-92: I see Engineer-69 declined ONE (and only one) bid @ his BIN price; I wonder if it's still on offer? -s/he might want to consider shaving off about 90% of the asking price!!

Some of Rackham's work is unsurpassed: I'm particularly enamored of his two LEC commissions, A Midsummer's Night Dream and The Wind in the Willows. His Peter Pan illustrations are justly regarded as classics. Should I win the lottery (I keep saying that more often these days!), I would buy the finest edition of his Rip van Winkle I could get. I've only seen a few of his illustrations for Grimm, and they are indeed wonderful.

That said, a lot of his work bears the stamp of a wildly successful illustrator doing projects which were not suited to his genius: for all their charm, his illustrations for the Wagner Nibelungen plays just seem wildly inappropriate to the material (which I feel would have been better suited to someone like Frank Frazetta). And his Vicar of Wakefield illustrations are too coy for the good-hearted simplicity of Goldsmith's tale. They come off second-best to John Austen's for the Heritage Press edition, or Thomas Rowlandson's for Chiswick, and a distant third to V.A. Poirson's illustrations, which perfectly evoke the Georgian setting. Yet, Rackham's illustrations are the Gold Standard for this novel in most people's opinion, and signed copies fetch thousands of dollars--in fact anything signed by Rackham is stratospherically priced.

2537 -- The King James Bible The Classic 1611 Edition has been re offered today, a few extra have been found in their inventory.

And "A Midsummer Nights Dream".

1611 Didn't last long. Anyone here grab one?

Nope. Wanted to, but couldn't afford it at the moment.

I grabbed a copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I kicked myself for letting it get away the first time so was very happy to see a few more copies come available. It's a beautiful book.

>101 wrenegade:, glad you were able to pick up a copy. It is indeed a beautiful book. One of my favorites of the DLEs.

Large spread in the new catalog with the available DLEs.

Another one already? Somewhat more tempted by this one though...

>104 Wootle:, 105: Kudos to Samuel L. Clemens, with two DLEs to his credit (and counting). Any guesses on which of his works will be next?

This one is a must have for me.

I would think a two vol Tom and Huck.

not interested

History of the Civil War

Not going to put this up on the list until they say for sure it is a DLE. For now it is on the DLE list on the EP site, but so was Atlas Shrugged when it first went up.

For you browsing pleasure:

http://books.google.com/books?id=fbLmMtz79eIC&dq=history%20civil%20war%20bra...

Lincoln sold out after almost two years.

Maybe it was all the excitement about the movie.

Perhaps, I hadn't thought of that.

Connecticut Yankee ships end of next week.

still waiting on A Connecticut Yankee. :(

118> Hmmmm? Just what I need.

110> Any clarity yet on whether A History of the Civil War is a 'Deluxe Limited Edition' or a 'Deluxe Edition'? The link on the Homepage refers to it as a 'Deluxe Limited Edition' but it is no longer included in the 'Deluxe Limited Edition' category on E/P's website nor does the actual item description refer to it as limited ... just that it comes w/ a slipcase.

The paper catalog gives the limitation number of 1865 copies but doesn't classify it as a DLE. So I don't know, what do you think? I believe they originally had it on the DLE list, but it got removed. This happened to the Atlas Shrugged edition as well and we decided it wasn't a DLE. Maybe wait and see what the colophon says once someone receives it.

Another set for January, this time named as a 'Commemorative' Edition for Victor Hugo - Les Miserables

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=1519

Hmm.. it is a bit too pricey for my taste.. (and wallet..)

Not to mention it is deliberately cryptic with info and pictures. Who is the translator? What do the other 4 volumes look like? Are there any special features beyond a standard EP book?

Based on the date they specify I believe the translator would be Wilbour.

Oh so that is one of the translators you recommended in an earlier thread?

It was the first I read, it is an overall good translation. I find it slightly dated.

The Civil War History DLE is beautiful. Received in mail today. Highly recommend to any history buffs. Very dense. Full of Brady photos. The red slip case is a nice contrast to the dark red/maroon leather book.

I completely agree, this is one of their best work in a while. And for the $220 price, it is very reasonable compared to some of the other overpriced books lately.

Hans Christian Andersen sold out.

From the period when the quality of the Easton Press offerings was much higher, they did an excellent job reproducing the 39 volumes of the LEC Complete Shakespeare. I bought that set and within a week of it arriving, a bookseller in Chicago responded to a year-old search query I had put out for the LEC original set. I bought that set, and put the Easton set in storage as I didn't have shelf space for both.

Although I hate to use LibraryThing for this purpose (and if any members here request me to I will delete this post), I am planning to put the Easton set up on e-Bay, but I felt it would be unfair to the members here who have been so generous in sharing their knowledge to not give notice here first in case any EP Collectors have been looking for a set in As New condition. If you are interested or if you object to this sales pitch, please PM me.

> 130
I sent you a PM on a related subject.

>132 Wootle:: That's nice - but when you click to enlarge the image, it shows "Redemption: The Baltimore Ravens' 2012 Championship Season". Uh-oh, EP, "there you go again!!" :-/

So far, from the small picture available (I too get the wrong book when I click on it), it doesn't look that impressive. Nothing nearly as nice as the proposed and mysteriously dropped Gibbon DLE.

>132 Wootle:

I'm guessing this is your man:

http://www.samgattenobooks.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=767

http://www.ebay.com/itm/works-Homer-celebrated-Grecian-poet-/130852591015?pt=Ant...

http://www.worldcat.org/title/works-of-homer-the-celebrated-grecian-poet-includi...

No online version that I can yet find...

*Ah, it's the Pope translation (from a zoom on the ebay pictures):

http://www.bartleby.com/203/195.html

>132 Wootle:

The link worked for me. I don't think I've been so tempted to get a deluxe edition since the Chaucer.

I think they just fixed it.

I don't have the Pope translation. The notes look interesting. And the orthogrpahy. I too am tempted...

(Re the website): EP might want to consider getting their HTML bits and pieces together before they "go public" with new releases (-or else fire their webmaster). They DO know they're running an online business, don't they?!!

> 138
That's just it, they are not "running an online business." They are running a mail order business for knock-off collectibles that only has a web presence out of some sense of 21st century obligation.

>139 UK_History_Fan:: You've "hit the nail on the head" :-(

135 > 137 > The Pope translation? Really? I believe that the two editions of Homer in the 100 Greatest series feature the Pope translation. For those who buy books to actually read, would it be worth this investment just to immerse yourself in 18th-century English orthography?

The whole thing strikes me as underwhelming but I'll reserve final judgement until I see better pics in a catalogue or brochure. The web sit is certainly worthless.

The DLE program seems to have settled on too frequent a publication schedule at too high a price for too little quality distinction over their standard book offering. I have been diaappointed with the last several purchases on that basis, but kept them because I desired the content. In this case I truly don't need yet another (fifth or sixth) copy of the two books attributed to Homer and the production and translation don't make this a must have. Though unlike many people, I actually admire the Pope interpretation (one can hardly call it a translation), but I would never want it to be my only version.

I own the Franklin Library / Oxford University Press editions of the Iliad & Odyssey, which are top of the line productions. Looking at the picture on the website and reading the description, I am underwhelmed. I'll make a final decision when I see a sample of the 40 illustrations. If they are not eye catching (meaning more than merely pleasing), I'll pass.

>143 ultrarightist:
I have been quite happy with my Franklin Library I&O, but was disappointed in the translation they chose for the Aenied (James Rhoades); so much so that I put it in my 'to sell' stack and bought a trade pb of the Robert Fitzgerald translation to read. When I see an EP, FS, or other quality edition that I like of the Fitzgerald translation, I'll probably buy it to replace the trade pb.

Os.

> 142. "too frequent a publication schedule at too high a price for too little quality distinction over their standard book offering"

I agree. The standard Easton book blows *any book* you find in a Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-a-Million, etc out of the water. Now, i don't own any of the DLE's yet, I haven't seen or held any in person, and have no plans to obtain any. Compared to their standard product, the DLEs strike me as an underwhelming improvement for an extraordinary cost increase. I might be impressed if they found some sort of invisible "scratch and scuff-proof" technology to coat the leather, or waterproof paper. Something that really says "holy crap this is different and impressive". FS's letterplate Shakespeares are along that line of thought, minus the advanced technology part.

I also tend to read my books, so adding a bit of "normal wear" to a $400-$1000 DLE just doesn't make any sense to me, either. Does anyone here actually finger through and read their DLE's or are they just for collecting?

> 146
I have not, as of yet, actually sat down and read one of mine cover to cover yet, but I have certainly looked at all the illustrations in a few of them. This may change, however, time permitting, as I would like to read Dore's London prior to my next trip there in May should I finish my other trip-themed readng list titles before then. They are all on my TBR list, but unlike say a Folio, Franklin, or standard edition Easton, I will not take one out of the house and most of my reading time is during my two hour round trip daily commute and one hour on the elliptical, neither of which would work for one of these DLE titles, so that limits me to weekends, the odd weekday evening at home, or retirement!

> 146

To be fair I should probably add that, compared to other fine press and high-end books like LE's and such, DLEs do seem to be a bargain.

>146 treereader:, 147: I've read about half the DLE's I own, so far. The others are either too heavy and unwieldy for reading comfort, or have typography/style/language that would bog me down, or both.

>146 treereader:

Why would you buy a book that you won't read? I have a few DLEs and they are just like my other books - if the fancy strikes me, I read them...

Very tempted by the new LE Homer. Yes, its the Pope translation and therefore a challenging read. This translation is as much Pope (if not more Pope) than Homer. If you love Pope and/or 18th century Britain then this is a must have.

Anyone notice when Night sold out?

There is another book, not mentioned as a DLE but it is slipcased and Limited; Wonderful Wizard of Oz

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=1985

>155 EastonQuality:, Anyone know if the Oz book is just a slipcased and recovered edition of EPs other offering for the Wizard of Oz?

>154 Wootle:, and thanks for further depleting my bank account, Wootle. The DLE Midsummer Night's dream is one of my favorite DLEs, so I will have to order this one as well, although I'm not expecting it to be as good. Should be a nice addition, however.

(Deleted due to duplication)

(Deleted due to duplication)

> 153
This appears to be a reprint at about six times the cost of a Collector's Library of Famous Editions version of the The Tempest. Though I don't think the non-limited version has as many as 40 illustrations. I will have to check when I get home.

>156 hamletscamaro:, 158
Again, without seeing more illustrations or pictures, it is difficult to know for sure, but it certainly looks like the old "Wizard of Oz" dressed up in multi-colored leather cover, slipcased and heavily price inflated.

Is this their new DLE trend? Simply repackage the old catalogue at multiples of the former price point? If so that would be both unsurprising and hugely disappointing and lose whatever cachet and appeal the DLE program once had, which was mostly gone anyway by the frequency of nearly monthly new releases.

>156 hamletscamaro:, 160
The Wizard of Oz is taller, change of color, and more decorated on the cover, it should be very similar to the Atlas Shrugged edition.
Can anyone tell us how many are to be printed?

>160 UK_History_Fan:,161, I would agree this appears to be like their Atlas Shrugged offering. EP is not claiming that the Wizard of Oz is a DLE. It looks as though they are just trying to benefit from the new movie, as they do with other books (I.e. Les Miserables). After looking at my previous copy this does appear to be a recovered printing.

> 160
I can also confirm that I just checked my Collector's Library of Famous Editions copy of The Tempest and 40 illustrations are listed in the table of contents. So this new DLE appears to be a duplicate in terms of content. It remains to be seen if the illustration reproduction is of any better quality in the $400 book because they are abysmally muddy in the $65 CLFE edition. But I may have to keep the CLFE edition since the illustrations would need to be pretty stunning to justify a $350 "upgrade" charge.

Actually I might benefit if this recycling of old editions in a DLE upcharge format is their new business model as it will be easier to resist the new releases!

>160 UK_History_Fan:, 163: I'm with you on the loss of prestige/specialness thing, UK. I've thought since they started pounding these DLEs out with increasing frequency in the past year to year-and-a-half or so that they'd be better served by limiting the releases to, say, no more than two per year and concentrating on quality, workmanship and picking more esoteric titles and subjects, in terms of keeping customers like us happy. But that would go against their business model of making as much $$$ as they can (and who can blame them for wanting that?).

One thing I find comical is their use of the qualifying "only" in the title ads (e.g. "4 payments of ONLY $99"); I guess it's supposed to make it look like customers are getting a good deal. Maybe a deal compared to The Folio Society? :-O

>164 iluvbeckett:, because saying "Four payments of only $150!" is a lot easier than stating "You really don't have the $600 that this DLE will cost you!"

As long as the majority of DLEs continue to sell out (eventually, if not immediately), I don't see EP deviating from this (no doubt) profitable business plan.

I imagine that it would be hard to convince EP that people don't like these books, since someone is clearly buying them. If the buyers are collectors, then it would be particularly difficult to dissuade EP from publishing these high-priced knock-offs (I never thought that I would ever write that!!). If the majority of the DLEs are being gobbled up by resellers, then I suppose the after-market for DLEs would have to crash (enough, at least, so that the resellers stop buying these books in bulk), before EP begins to realize losses...

I really don't know who's buying what, though....

I confess that I (for one) keep chasing the dragon, hoping that if I keep buying these DLEs, eventually I will receive a book that impresses me as much as the Kelmscott...(sigh)...It's hopeless.

What made the Kelmscott so impressive for me was everything, so good I bet the quality tops the original. Paper seemed to be a high quality with cotton line impressions (different than other titles published) Designs inside perfect. As for the leather it seems to be very durable, to top it off with a cherry, the impressions on the leather are fantastic, not seen often with other DLEs. Most others are stamped with gild, no additional craftsmanship to make each volume a masterpiece. As for recent printings I do hope special publications are perfected. It is a matter of opinion for anyone to grade the book by its value, whether one buys a paperback or the most expensive on the web.

>167 EastonQuality:: Dammit, Quality!! -I cringe at every mention of the Kelmscott on these threads, since I was too late to the party to get one. What I do note (I don't know whether this is significant or not) is that only the very first two DLEs (the Kelmscott and Midsummer Night's Dream), came in "solander" boxes, whereas EP has chosen to use either slipcases or nothing at all for the ones that followed. As a box can't add a tremendous amount to the production costs for any DLE, should we derive any conclusions therefrom?

>168 iluvbeckett: As a box can't add a tremendous amount to the production costs

Actually Solander boxes tend to add quite a bit to production costs.

>168 iluvbeckett: I was not the first one to bring the book up... If you do want a copy I am certain you can find one for less than $1k, not too much over the original cost considering it was offered in 09'. As for Midsummer Night's Dream it was too expensive for me personally. One third of the DLEs appear to be very popular and sell out within months.

>169 AnnieMod: A box does add a lot of cost, I can only guess what EP charges. There is a professional case I have seen with a leather side for more expensive books offered on the secondary market by a different producer. It was $275, very expensive but worth it considering the books value and the appearance. As for a normal green slipcase box, it will be much cheaper. A smaller case I can imagine adds $50 to the price on their site. I am curious on what type of cardboard is used and what type of cotton production quality. Can anyone refer to an example on the web with the same appearance for what EP offers at a low buy it now?

Looks like A History of the Civil War has sold out --2579 --

And The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer looks to be sold out as well -- 2767 --

The Easton website now shows The North American Indians (2526) as no longer in stock.

> 174
Thank god, something I can pass on without any twinge of regret or guilt.

Good thing they chose the novel and not the novella... or I would have probably been unable to resist...

Yes, get ready for most of them to appear on Ebay for a hefty profit margin.
In fact I just did a search, there is one for $975 already.. well I guess human greed is the major driving force for this economy of ours..

Cliff Robertson was so good in the movie version.

- 2609 - Mark Twain's A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT looks to be sold out.

I didn't think Mark Twain's A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT would last to long with only 300 copies available glad I was able to get a copy.

>181 Wootle:: Yet another DLE I have no interest in...*SIGH*

Looking at the product page, the book's dimensions are listed as 5 1/4" x 7 3/4".
I am wondering if the height is a misprint, since it seems way to small compared to the others.
Most of the similar DLE's have the height of 9 1/2".

Or could just be that EP is moving into the miniature book market :-)

183: EP DLE reprints have the same dimensions as the originals. Hence some are very large (such as Ovid) while others are much smaller.

>182 iluvbeckett:: Yet another Easton Press book I can't afford.

Has anyone here purchased/received The Iliad & The Odyssey DLE? What are your thoughts on the overall quality and style?

I received my copy of the DLE edition of The Tempest. Unfortunately, as per usual lately with EP, there were quality issues. The slipcase was dinged up during shipping (on the edges of the opening), enough to be too distracting to keep, and quite frankly for $400 we should expect something close to perfection. In addition there was a bit of extra gold gilt spattering on the cover nowhere near the area it was supposed to be (do they spray paint it on?). I ordered this primarily to see how it would compare with the old Collector's Library of Famous Editions version, of which it is a rather overpriced reproduction. Well actually, they are both reproductions of an earlier edition, but my point is that this DLE merely duplicates a much cheaper edition also available from EP. All the illustrations are present in both editions and the text is identical with the primary difference being the creamy leather binding, slipcase, and size. The text print quality does not seem any improved over the "photocopy" look of the CLFE. But this is typical of the print quality of DLEs unfortunately. That being said, I would have just returned the damaged copy for a full refund rather than a replacement if it wasn't for the comparison I made on the quality of the illustrations. This is where the DLE really shines with much better color reproduction and higher quality "art paper" tipped in illustrations compared to the darker, more muted version of the illustrations in the CLFE edition. Though I still think it is grossly overpriced, I at least feel there is enough of a quality improvement in the DLE over the CLFE to keep it (or get it replaced).

I am posting this to continue the feedback on the quality decline of Easton Press but also to provide my opinion of how the DLE Tempest compares to the earlier Collector's Library of Famous Editions.

186: magnificent edition. Absolutely beautiful plates. Keep in mind these plates are from 1780, therefore they are B&W (were originally copper plates) and were done about 100 years before the Golden Age of Illustration. In other words, make sure you like vintage illustrations, which I personally feel are a great match to such a classical work. Also, this is very readable, but you will have to deal with the old fashioned way of writing "s" which looks like "f". The notes on the text (as per the original 1780 edition) are truly wonderful, and I find them to be very enjoyable. I have no idea how rare is the original 1780 edition, but I can't find a copy anywhere for sale, so I can only imagine the $360 EP is charging for the facsimile is peanuts compared to how much an original would cost (and good luck finding one in fine condition). Lastly, this edition is roughly 8.5"x11", and very thick. Thus, it is very readable in bed. Some of the huge facsimiles (I'm thinking Ovid here) are magnificent, but certainly impossible to read in bed. Those are my impressions, hope it helps.

-187

Sorry to hear this Sean. A good EP book seems to be a fluke these days. An exception to the rule. I have written EP off as irredeemable. Which, following on Astropi's post gives me a dilemma. I really like the sound of the LE of Pope's Homer but frankly I don't have the confidence to place an order for it.

186, 189 - I received a charge on my credit card for this DLE today. I expect it will take 3-4 weeks to reach me (Australia) but will upload some photos when it does. That is, unless astropi beats me to it :)

188: how is the quality of the leather and the tooling/gilding? Is there depth to the latter or is it just sprayed on? Also, are the illustrations on separate pages (perhaps on thicker paper stock)?

Just noticed this new DLE:

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=2032

191: I think the quality of the leather and cover is excellent. Of course, I may not be as picky as some people, and frankly I feel that a few love to harangue EP whenever possible. However, I'm very happy with the quality here. The paper is definitely nice and thick as well. Overall, it's not as high quality as Arion Press nor the Yolla Bolly Press, but it certainly is high quality nonetheless, and such a volume produced by Arion or similar publishers would be in the thousands and out of reach for most of us. I will also add that the quality of the slipcase is top-notch.

>192 geiles:

And a new Hunchback
http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=2782

Is it just me, or does it seem that EP has hit their sweet spot since most of their recent DLE offerings have been single volume, $400 books?

195: I personally think some of their best DLEs have been the recent and cheaper-priced (but very high quality) books, such as

Tarzan - $267
I know Why the Caged Bird Sings -$237

I hope EP continues with such volumes that are both affordable and beautifully illustrated -not to mention in the case of Angelou book, also signed by the author.

How about a DLE with holographic marbled gilding and a nice hydrophobic nanofilm coated onto the leather?

Woven stainless steel moire fabric on the inner boards? Titanium boards?

Embedded memory chip and speaker with a custom message recorded by the author? Ex: "Dear valued reader. Thanks for suggesting the voice recorder idea. My hand has been so very cramped signing all of these inserts. Your friend, Jimmy Carter".

Embedded lcd screen with animated illustrator's signature that turns into a sketch?

Copyright page that explicitly states "not 1st edition, even if great shark hunt tells you otherwise"?

Sorry...can't sleep. But still, it's like EP isn't even trying to use their imagination!

>192 geiles:

About this "Commodore Matthew Perry's: JAPAN EXPEDITION"

I wonder if the illustration in this volume is in color. The website says it's a re-creation of the first edition. I got a email from Easton Press yesterday and it showed some of the illustrations in colors. So I guess this one is not a black and white edition?

Does anyone know if the original 19th century first edition is in color?

> 198
It must have been, EP would certainly never have improved upon an original illustration!

>198 PetioleYu:-199, yes, I agree. EP is all about not intruding on the integrity of the original.

Example: PICTURESQUE AMERICA originally included black and white sketches that were hand painted by the publisher, much to the original artist's surprise and dismay. However, with EP's DLE they believed in the integrity of the artist and left them black and white, per the artist's original intent. Since this was a DLE set and EP charges $600 for the pair, I'm sure cost did not play into that decision at all! Bravo EP!

(snark...)

> 198
Replying to my previous post about Japan Expedition.

I found this from some website. Published in 1856 and being scanned to put online. I am not sure if it's the first edition, though.
http://archive.org/stream/narrativeofexped0156perr#page/n5/mode/2up

Some of the original illustration are in color.
http://archive.org/stream/narrativeofexped0156perr#page/112/mode/2up
http://archive.org/stream/narrativeofexped0156perr#page/n311/mode/2up
http://archive.org/stream/narrativeofexped0156perr#page/n317/mode/2up
http://archive.org/stream/narrativeofexped0156perr#page/226/mode/2up
http://archive.org/stream/narrativeofexped0156perr#page/462/mode/2up
http://archive.org/stream/narrativeofexped0156perr#page/n657/mode/2up
http://archive.org/stream/narrativeofexped0156perr#page/n697/mode/2up

Looks like an interesting book. I'll probably order this one. Maybe.

Received my copy of The Illiad and The Odyssey today. If someone could tell me how to upload photos I'll take a few for anyone who's interested.

Here's a quick and dirty site with no registration. Not sure how great it is for long term storage...but you get a link right after you upload and you can post that link in a message.

http://picturepush.com/upa

http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/13396883/img/Anonymous/4357344434-0a718a93a5...

But it looks like you have room on your profile page for pictures...look for "add a picture", you should have space for 25.

If you want to embed a picture just type img src="webaddressgoeshere" into a message but add a less than sign on the left and a greater than sign on the right to encapsulate it (I can't do it to the example above unfortuantely or it obeys the command and thinks there's an actual picture there to post). And the address has to be in a picture format at the end like .jpg instead of .com

So if I put this: http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2012/10/isolated-cat.jpg inbetween those quotes (in lieu of the webaddressgoeshere part) we get an actual picture as is seen below:



Or you could use a picture hosting site like flickr or picassa or photobucket...

PM me if you have questions or if you want me to embed the image links you have...

You might also find messages 21, 23, 24 & 28 in the Gulliver DLE thread useful (if you are time-challenged, message 28 summarizes the process).

BTW: I upload all images that I display on LT to the LibraryThing Wiki, WikiThing. There's a Upload File link on the left-hand side of the page. I am hoping that this ensures that the pics will be available for the duration of the site. If you want to upload something large, though, you'll have to enable the "Ignore any warnings" checkbox...

Wow, I didn't realize it was that easy! Very cool, makes for a nice place to browse as well...

Easton's website is now showing Rip Van Winkle (2419) as currently out of stock.

Thank's Dan and Silent. I have uploaded the photos to the LibraryThing Wiki; I will endeavour to get some shots of the text/illustrations itself.

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Illiad%26Odyssey.jpg

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Illiad%26Odyssey1.JPG

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Illiad%26Odyssey2.JPG

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Illiad%26Odyssey3.JPG

Thanks for the photos. Anxious to see the inside pics with both text and illustrations. How is the paper and print quality? I know in the past there have been issues with text blocks appearing too "xeoroxed"

Gaaah!!! Cat dander! Quick! Hide the books!

(or at least, that was my first thought upon seeing the cat photo)

Looks good - thanks for posting those photographsMuselife. I am still interested in this book but I would also like to see some more interior shots.

HAve any of you received Dore's LE London? Got mine this week and all I can say is WOW. I love it and am very imppressed....

Yes, I got mine about 6 months ago, it is really a beautiful book.
Actually I am surprised that it hasn't sold out yet.

>212 geiles:, Dore's London sold out? Why? Small city which no one really cares about. Obscure artist that no one really cares about. I doubt they have sold more than two copies.

Just kidding. I do love my copy as well; delivered as soon as they shipped. I don't know why it hasn't sold out.

>212 geiles: "Actually I am surprised that it hasn't sold out yet."

$500! You could buy another facsimile (e.g. from the Arno Press) for less than $50 and have it rebound in higher quality leather than EP uses for under $300.

214: I don't know how much it costs to rebind a book, but considering that for their DLEs they typically use soft leather imported from Italy, I would be surprised if you could do it for less. Not to mention you'll spend a few hundred dollars to get a custom slipcase built, and in the end you end up with a more expensive and inferior product. By the way, I owned the Arno Press edition of London before purchasing the EP edition. No comparison in terms of quality. However, if you just want a cheap reading copy, Arno is the way to go.

Another Deluxe edition just released here it is WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? http://www.theeastonpress.com/prod/E0E/Edward-Albee--WHO-S-AFRAID-OF-VIRGINIA-WO...

The DLE's that are not reprints of old editions are starting to all look the same - Flowers for Algernon, Now I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, this one. The cover design is not particularly exciting and follows the same formula. They also all have 8-10 color illustrations of similar style. WTF? I really want the Flowers for Algernon one, but I feel cheated. If I'm going to pay $200+ for a book, I'd like it to be done with a bit more creativity. This is just "DLE" by the numbers... With this approach, they can start issuing a new one every week.

Yes, I completely agree with you. I too, already stopped buying these "DLEs", because in my opinion they are overpriced considering their design, artwork ,etc..

Why buy a DLE when you can buy 10 standard EP books instead? And the quality will still be roughly 80% as good as a DLE, too.

A major deciding factor for me are the illustrations. For example, The Three Musketeers DLE comes with the 250 Leloir illustrations vs. the "regular" Three Musketeers, which has just a B&W version of the Legrand plates (the original LEC Legrand illustrations are colored).

I think that's the fairest reason/explanation for DLE's I've heard. :-)

I just got "Flowers for Algernon" and it's a gorgeous book! I'm honestly not really sure it's a DLE. It's listed as a DLE on the website, but the book itself just claims it's a limited edition. Regardless, it's really a beauty.

*Signed by the Author (also numbered)
*Original illustrations
*High-quality slipcase
*Beautiful design

It appears that EP is producing a number of high-quality classic books signed by the author (others include Farenheit 451, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?). I really hope they continue with this trend, and frankly I'm more excited about these books than the facsimiles.

By the way, for those who have been lamenting the cover design, I think it's fantastic. The pictures on the website don't do justice. However, if you look closely you'll notice that the design is based around a mouse, flowers, and a maze. All of which are of course perfect for the novel. The illustrations are by a new illustrator, by the way. Overall though, I will agree that in terms of logistics (size, signature, original illustrations, etc) this is similar to the books I mentioned above, and I really hope we see many more such books.

Thanks for sharing. Maybe I'll order it after all...

Question about the upcoming Hunchback of Notre Dame DLE: does anybody know how many illustrations it would have? I guess you can only answer this question if you know which edition it is a reprint of...

I emailed Easton with a question a couple of days ago, but they uncharacteristically ignored me. Maybe they don't know either? :)

>224 nstanev:: "Maybe they don't know either? :)" Not in the least surprising :-/

Just found out "GUSTAVE DORÉ'S LONDON: A PILGRIMAGE" is sold out.

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=2777

As well as Three Musketeers. Both were in stock for a long time. Glad to see they finally sold out.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth sold out this week.

Are you sure?

Now accepting orders. This product will be available November 19, 2013 and will ship 1-2 weeks thereafter.

Funny how it is, received the new catalog today with the book being advertised on page 20. I called to check up on the availability and was told it sold out. As for the date of shipment, it actually was shipped out a month or two earlier. This would explain how a few members post copies of rare titles online far earlier than the availability date.

Hmmm. Wonder which it is then, sold out or not. Since you spoke to a person, I would think they would know for sure over the site. I suppose this new site is probably no better than the old about updating quantity.

The website and phone call today makes me puzzled, two sources with two different answers. As for contact by phone or their new website, direct contact checking for updates I trust the most.

Customer service has been really spotty the past couple of months. I've sent emails only to never have them answered and last week I ordered the DLE of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. EP's web site says that book will be available on Sept. 16 but my credit card has already been charged.

Did you talk to the generic MBI customer support department or the Easton Press customer support department? The MBI one has far longer hours of operation and doesn't have quite as much information as the Easton Press department does. For instance, the MBI department can't pull up specific information about your account but can take orders - or at least, that's what I ran into about a year or so ago.

There were less than a quarter of the books remaining in the beginning of August. As for the call, customer support read the count at zero August 27th. Can only confirm the numbers remaining tomorrow morning. It likely was the generic customer support.

>233 wrenegade:; As for your credit card, if there has been a charge then the book is likely in process of being delivered. I heard before they only charge when an order is being shipped. Expect an early delivery.. Purchased one of the Centre of the Earth when first offered months ago and received it quickly long before the expected shipping time.

Called once again this morning, there are three available before the volume is sold out. This would explain why the website is still online for the volume.

Limited quantities available for Flowers for Algernon and Homer's the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Also limited quanties remaining of Robin Hood and Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Anyone seen this one? Gustave Doré's DON QUIXOTE

http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/DA2/Gustave-Dor%C3%A9-s-DON-QUIXOTE_2875.aspx

239: Yowza! I love Dore, and it looks like EP is determined to reprint all his great illustrations (we are lucky)!

>239 JDZwiers: & 240 Looks interesting but is it another Chartwell edition with an Easton leather cover slapped on or did they do the whole thing?

241: since it's a DLE, it absolutely should be (and I'm quite certain it is) an actual EP book. If it ends up being a Chartwell edition with an EP cover, I would certainly return it.

242> ditto

Doré's illustrations are great, but how well are they reproduced? I suspect it being reproduced via photo-offset from the original edition (which, incidentally can be found online at the same or lower price with letterpress text and the illustrations pulled from wood engravings of Doré's original art).

If it's the 1870 edition they are reproducing, that means the translation is either that of Jarvis or Motteux. I wish someone could explain to me why people seem to be willing to pay $375 for an edition with this inadequate translation and balk at paying $200--300 for either LEC, with much better printing and illustration reproduction, and in Ormsby's translation, which even later translators such as Putnam and Cohen have acknowledged to be the standard by which all others must be judged.

If the EP DLE had actually wood engravings (or even electroplates), that might be one thing. But the Doré illustrations can be found in books utilizing offset printing for much less.

Incidentally, the Franklin Library offered DQ with the Doré illustrations in their fine quality period and these can be found online for under $100 (for those who have to have leather and gilt). Does anyone here know who the translator was for that edition?

244: thanks for the notes. In terms of the Franklin edition, do you know if they include all the illustrations? As for why someone would rather pay for this production than a less expensive LEC: Dore. Can you find the Dore illustrations with the Ormsby translation? By the way, did Arion Press use the Ormsby translation in their (amazing) edition? I really don't know the quality of the illustrations, but I do know that the illustrations for the other Dore DLEs were fantastic. That said, we'll wait and see (I might send EP an email and ask).

Arion Press used the brand-new translation by Edith Grossman, which I haven't read but which has been highly regarded. The Arion Press edition would be more desirable except for the $4000 price tag and the fact i find the illustrations not even in the same league with Legrand, Ricart, or Doré.

Not having the Franklin DQ, I have no way of knowing if it has all the illustrations from the 1880 edition. Franklin brought out at least 3 different versions of DQ, with the work of 2 other illustrators, and one of these versions used J.M. Cohen's modern (relatively) translation.

Good points. I just ordered the 1870 original for under $100. Hopefully this copy will live up to the seller's description.

>239 JDZwiers:

Update: My apologies...the comments below are off topic (DLEs). I only meant to add to the "look what's new" part of JDZwiers' comment.

There's a new Tolkien, too: http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/30F/J-R-R--Tolkien-s-THE-FALL-OF-ARTHUR_2883.asp...

And, they seem to be reprinting (or un-burying) a bunch of titles that used to be in the 100 Grreatest (George Eliot books, Tristam Shandy, Birds and Frogs, Rousseau Confessions, Bacon Essays, and probably more that I don't recognize. In addition, nearly all of the original Greatest Shakespeare set is available.

The plot thickens!

I own a copy of the 2004 Easton Collector's Edition of Don Quixote, and the DLE appears to be an exact duplicate except for the slipcase and the design on the spine. The reproduction appears to be excellent.

There is no reference to Chartwell on the copyright page, but only a reference to Cassell, the 1870 publisher. The only acknowledgement of the translator appears in a footnote of a brief biography of Cervantes. It says the text was adopted from Jarvis "with occasional corrections from Motteau's translation." It goes on to say that a few objectionable words and sentences have been omitted.

I too have been disappointed by Easton's selection of translators, especially of the French authors Dumas, Hugo, and Jules Verne. I suspect it is because they don't want the trouble and expense of designing a new page layout, but many of us buy these nice editions to read as well as to look at. The price seems excessive considering that they only had to copy a book they published 9 years ago.

> 244
"If it's the 1870 edition they are reproducing, that means the translation is either that of Jarvis or Motteux. I wish someone could explain to me why people seem to be willing to pay $375 for an edition with this inadequate translation and balk at paying $200--300 for either LEC, with much better printing and illustration reproduction, and in Ormsby's translation, which even later translators such as Putnam and Cohen have acknowledged to be the standard by which all others must be judged."

So while I've not been inclined to purchase any DLEs yet, I can still offer one answer to your question: Ignorance.

I think I can count on one hand all of the college courses I've taken that relate to English, literature, or the like. It's simply not what I studied in school. In high school I avoided book reading assignments like the plague because I absolutely despise over-analyzing story lines and "what the author was really trying to say", especially when the teacher's opinion was the only right answer, etc... Books are far more enjoyable without the pressure of essays and exams on them, and I think most authors would simply be happy that I read and enjoyed their works.

Anyway, until I joined this newsgroup I never really thought about books having multiple translators. It's not that I thought there was only ever one translation - I just never gave it any thought. So present me any book and I'll have no idea who translated it. If you told me who it was, you'd get a blank stare. If you said one translation is better than the other, I pretty much take your word for it (appreciatively). I would indeed want the most favorable translation for any given text but I'm not sure I can invest the kind of time required to research translations for every book I intend to purchase. I'm willing to learn, though; How does one learn who the best / most preferred translators are?

The "Don Quixote" entry in Wikipedia contains a subsection headed "Publication," in which the various translations are discussed. I'm sure there are other sources on the Web too, but keep in mind that even the experts will often disagree among themselves. The only way to determine your personal favorite translation would be to read several of them, and most of us don't have that much available time.

>251 treereader:, 252

I personally think too many people get carried away seeking "the best (perfect) translation" of a literary classic--as if such a thing could exist. I believe this because since I fell in love with Homer at a very early age, and have never tired of reading him, I have read at least six translations of The Iliad and a dozen of The Odyssey. I found all of them eminently satisfactory for telling the story and creating the sense of wonder that hearing a really good story well told engenders (I have to say that the one exception to this is the Penguin translation of The Iliad by E.V. Rieu, which sounded jarringly anachronistic and off tone to my ears.) That said, I have my favorites and were I forced to narrow my library down to one each, I know which ones I would pick.

When it comes to DQ, the task is a little trickier due to the immensity of the work. I read Ormsby's when I was still in high school, and then as an undergraduate I read Putnam's. I still have both, and when I compare passages side by side, I come away feeling that the differences are on the magnitude of "to-may-to" and "to-mah-to" (as Gershwin would have it). I get the exact same story from each, both are just as easy to read, but Ormsby's seems to have a bit more Spanish flavor. I have read snippets of Cohen's, and it seems just as reliable and readable. I confess I don't feel that the Grossman translation would be so vast an improvement that I would re-read DQ in its entirety again. As great as it is, it doesn't hold my interest sufficiently to merit the month-long commitment it would take to read it in toto. I'm aware that the fault is mine and not Grossman's nor Cervantes', but there's a bunch of reading still left to do, and, like the song says, "the days dwindle down to a precious few." Perhaps if my Spanish were much better, I might think differently (though I would probably just read it in the original).

But even though I am less fussy about translations than many, I draw the line when it comes to a translation that is patently wrong--as is the Motteux from all accounts. If a translation misses the tone or corrupts the meaning of the original, then it better be a masterpiece in its own right--as is Fitzgerald's Rubaiyat which is apparently more Fitzgerald than Omar Khayyam. (Or Pope's Iliad, about which a contemporary remarked with devastating accuracy, "a very pretty poem, Mr. Pope, but you must not call it Homer.")

The one example I can think of where I can say, without hesitation, that one translation of a major canonical work is "the best" is the King James Bible. But even then, I read parts of it with Monsignor Knox's translation at my side when the beautiful language of the KJV fails to convey the meaning in a way that makes sense to me.

> 253

Of course, which translation of the Bible is the best depends on what you want to use it for. For any sort of in-depth bible study, the KJV is far from the best, as it contains some inaccuracies and mistranslations. I'm rather partial to the English Standard Version, myself.

For anyone who loves beautiful English, there is no comparison to the KJV. For those who are interested in more historical or theological matters, I doubt a single translation is enough.

As a Catholic I'm partial to the Douay-Rheims. Also a beautiful old English translation. Not quite as beautiful as the KJV but more accurate as it is not as far removed from the original Greek. The KJV borrowed from it quite a bit during its assembly. The Knox bible is also nice. RSV and NRSV are very good literal translations for study purposes.

If EP made a Douay-Rheims bible I would be all over it. Instead EP offers us Catholic customers the NAB. (shudder)

Who wants to join my petition to EP to have them publish a two volume DLE Douay-Rheims / Clementine Vulgate bible? Anyone? (chirp chirp)

I spoke with EP about the illustrations. They did confirm that the illustrations for Don Quixote are produced by photo offset from the original, using "high resolution digital technology". OK, that last bit did make me smile, but assuming they did the same thing for Dore's rendition of Dante and History of the Crusades, well then I have no issues. The illustrations look fantastic in those two editions. I hope they will also be as good in Don Quixote.

By the way, what are people's thoughts on the new limited edition "A Christmas Carol"?

"The book is (typo) offered here in a stunning Deluxe Limited Edition, featuring 13 new full-color works of art and several ornamentation illustrations by award-winning artist Caniglia, commissioned especially for this volume. Each book is personally signed by the artist."

I am a fan of Jeremy Caniglia's work. It's typically surreal and frightening. I know there have been numerous limited editions of a Christmas Carol, but I've yet to bother reading the book. I think I will this time.

The issues I have are paying several hundred dollars for leather binding and gilded page edges for a book which without those features can probably be found for a lot less. Of course one would have to pay several hundred dollars to have that book rebound in leather, so I suppose it makes some sense for those who have to have leather, though to go back to my original posting, I would rather pay $200 for an LEC with great illustrations which are original art prints, with letterpress printing and in an excellent translation with very good footnotes and still have enough money left to buy a book which reproduced Doré's art. Essentially, my issue is that paying a premium for Motteux's translation is a waste. Surely for the money they are charging, they could have reproduced Doré's art with Ormsby's translation (both are in the public domain). Once they had scanned the original 1870 pages, it is no big deal in these days of computer page-layout to have replaced the Motteux text.

>259 Django6924: I think EP's point is that it's a facsimile edition. If they were just reusing Dore's illustrations why not go with a more modern translation such as Grossman or even that college staple Putnam? Okay, Grossman is clearly not in the public domain and EP doesn't like paying for rights but most people, myself included, would just be buying this edition (or the original) for Doe's illustrations.

>260 kdweber:

I understand that EP is providing a facsimile--what I don't understand is why, just to get the Doré illustrations, people would spend as much as EP is charging. I understand EP's rationale very well--it's called Profit Motive. :-)

261: So in my case, the reason I like these EP reprints is because the quality is "very good". I admit, it's not LEC quality, it's not Arion Press quality, but it's still much higher quality than most books out there. While I would love to get a letterpress edition with the Dore illustrations, such a book today would cost far too much. As for older editions with the Dore illustrations, there certainly are some, some of which are also letterpress, but those almost always are in "poor" condition. To get an old edition which is in NF or thereabouts is far more expensive than the EP reprints.

I wonder what it would cost to repair the binding on this? It is letterpress and steel engravings:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/circa-1880-BEAUTIFUL-Don-Quixote-Illustrated-by-Gustave-...

263: The thing is, at least for me, I don't want to purchase a book that has foxing. Most books this old have quite a bit of foxing (as you can see from the title page), and if they do not they tend to be extremely expensive. Personally, I would rather have the EP reprint. However, I admit that letterpress is just glorious, and if you don't mind foxing and some damage (such as the cover, although overall it looks very good) then books such as this are a nice alternative to the EP reprints. Robert, if you do purchase this book, please post pics!

No, I have no intention o buying another DQ!

This book is done in a style I admire, but would not want to own. The great book designers of the early 20th century totally rejected this style in favor of a classic style originated by Renaissance printers such as Aldus Manutius and that is the style I prefer.

Recently got the e-mail advertising this:

http://www.eastonpress.com/Literature/prod/F0B/THE-KING-JAMES-BIBLE-The-Classic-...

-So, how does this differ from the DLE, aside from a reduced size (and price), and without the slipcase?

Recently got the e-mail advertising this:

http://www.eastonpress.com/Literature/prod/F0B/THE-KING-JAMES-BIBLE-The-Classic-...

-So, how does this differ from the DLE, apart from a dumbed-down cover, smaller size without slipcase and at a lower price?

(sorry for inadvertently repeating myself, but it's still a good question!!)

Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle DLE announced:

http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/04A/Vonnegut-s-CAT-S-CRADLE_2880.aspx

Book of Common Prayer DLE:

http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/9E1/THE-1717-BOOK-OF-COMMON-PRAYER_2872.aspx

>269 jroger1:: This once again begs the question: how did EP get Vonnegut's signature? Recall the "Slaughterhouse-Five" DLE - he must have signed enough sheets to include in both DLEs (1,250) plus his other signed EP editions, all years before publication and his death. Be that as it may, "Cat's Cradle" is a pretty good read, quirky and nonsensical but good.

(make that 1,350 signed DLE copies; sorry, "it's been a long day")

I can bet Easton Press requested Vonnegut to sign 5 or 10 thousand blank pages.

271: that's exactly what they did. I'm personally thankful they did, otherwise we would not get the opportunity to own these beautiful limited editions by one of America's greatest authors (arguably someone deserving of a Nobel). By the way, I recall reading that EP also pays quite well for every signature. I do have to wonder if perhaps they have other signatures around to be used for DLEs later (I hope so)! By the way, Vonnegut on the Nobel Prize:

VONNEGUT: Of course, a lot of people ask me how come you never got a Nobel Prize?

BRANCACCIO: Well, why not?

VONNEGUT: Huh? Because I spoke so ill of the Swedish car Saab which was a stinker back then. And now, of course, it's-- there's a convertible. I guess is the ultimate yuppie canoe.

The full interview:
http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcriptNOW140_full.html

Quote ---"I own a copy of the 2004 Easton Collector's Edition of Don Quixote, and the DLE appears to be an exact duplicate except for the slipcase and the design on the spine. The reproduction appears to be excellent.

There is no reference to Chartwell on the copyright page, but only a reference to Cassell, the 1870 publisher. The only acknowledgement of the translator appears in a footnote of a brief biography of Cervantes. It says the text was adopted from Jarvis "with occasional corrections from Motteau's translation." It goes on to say that a few objectionable words and sentences have been omitted.

I too have been disappointed by Easton's selection of translators, especially of the French authors Dumas, Hugo, and Jules Verne. I suspect it is because they don't want the trouble and expense of designing a new page layout, but many of us buy these nice editions to read as well as to look at. The price seems excessive considering that they only had to copy a book they published 9 years ago."--- End Quote

----------

I too have the 2004 Easton Collector's Edition and it says it was reproduced from the 1863 edition. The only thing I could find from the Cassell publisher in 1870 is a young adult version. So I am a little confused with Easton saying the DLE is the 1870 version when it looks like the 2004 Collectors edition which says it is based on the 1863 version. Anybody have any insight on the differences between the 1863 and 1870 versions?

>275 prinmac:. Just a guess - the 2004 Easton edition says on the copyright page that it is based on the Cassell edition "first published" in 1863. Perhaps, though, it was reprinted in 1870. Advanced Book Exchange (abe.com) lists a few 1870 copies for sale and one from 1863.

Anyone have A Christmas Carol as of yet? They changed the limitation and I want to make sure what the book actually says.

I had promised myself not to buy any more overpriced DLE's, but they are tempting me with that illustrated Hound of the Baskervilles. I'd rather buy a deluxe, UNlimited edition that costs less. It does look nice, though.

> 279
Agreed, I'm torn by this one. $356 is incredibly steep for a 250 page book that is basically just a short story. The design is gorgeous and I do like the illustrations, but the signature of this artist isn't that compelling and a limitation of 1,200 copies suggests this won't appreciate greatly in value. Still, I really like the illustration on the slipcase. I'll probably do what I usually do and order a copy with the intent of "inspecting" it, mentally preparing myself to simply return it for a full refund. Realistically, I almost never do this and end up with an entire DLE library of overpriced books!

As fun as the Sherlock Holmes stories are, it's really hard to justify buying a super-duper extra expensive version of a single story already present in the Later Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (it's the last story in that volume).

For such low printing volumes of these DLE books, why don't they just offer one-off upgrades for any existing regular EP books? It would cost more but for those who really want fancy versions of their favorite books...

>278 Wootle:
Changed the limitation? To what?

It was announced at 800 and now the site says 1200.

>283 Wootle:: Isn't that false advertising, or something along those lines, with regard to everyone who ordered the book when the limitation stated only 800 copies? After all, two-thirds of the value of these books is their limited status; increase the supply = decrease the value. Or is E/P's idea of limited mean 'limited to as many as we finally decide to print to fulfill all orders received?,' which would explain not printing these Deluxe Limited Editions for several months after they are announced and advertised.

I smell marketing scam genius!

Personally, I don't see a limitation of 1200 as really being limited at all. To me, limited is say 500 max, but really 100-200. 1200 copies is probably just another normal edition for EP, that just so happens to be numbered.

>285 Wootle:: My thoughts, exactly.

Well I have to admit, as one of EP's biggest critics, they got one right. I just received my copy of the DLE Don Quixote with Gustav Dore illustrations and it is stupendous. It is much bigger than I was expecting (yes, I know but I didn't check the dimensions before ordering) and very well produced illustrations which are copious. It is these occasional "hits" that keep me coming back for more..much to my wallet's chagrin.

>285 Wootle:: In the past, EP has had several DLEs with printings as low as the 200-300 copy range, but they've moved away from that now - profit margins aren't big enough from print runs of less than about 400, or else they'd have to charge around $700-900 per title, and even EP isn't that stupid (or greedy).

288- I agree that the price point for truly limited runs are much higher than most people would want to spend. But that is the nature of being limited and special, only a few people will be able to acquire them. EP is already approaching those prices anyway on much higher runs. I haven't bought a DLE for a while now, I'm waiting for them to return to the Kelmscott level of quality.

Just noticed this new book:
http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/4A9/THE-BUDDHISM-OF-TIBET_2897.aspx



In my opinion, it is a much better deal compared to the over-priced THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.

> 290
If you look at the blown up images on their website, it is clear that this is another in that long line of poorly reproduced text and illustrations which just look like a really crappy photocopy job. Fortunately, my recently arrived Dore-illustrated Don Quixote does not seem to suffer from this, at least not on initial perusal. I find it interesting that EP would feature such clearly inferior reproduction so proudly on their website. It doesn't exactly scream out "buy me."

Yes I think EP's business model is that once in a while, they release a really nice product (like Don Quixote), but between these "good-ones" they just push out a bunch of lesser quality, overpriced ones.
I am sure that the profit margins on the "good-ones" are probably pretty low (even at a small loss), but they still need to release them occasionally to keep us coming back.

The challenge for us is to try to figure out which of these books are worthwhile to purchase.

> 292
"The challenge for us is to try to figure out which of these books are worthwhile to purchase."

Which is why member feedback is so important and why I was so quick to post my very favorable impressions of the Don Quixote.

>293 UK_History_Fan:: El senor de la Mancha...photos, UK, photos por favor!! (If you're able.)

Has anyone else noticed that the 2-volume slipcased DLE of Hunchback of Notre Dame has gone missing from the EP website? Does anyone know why?

It seems to be sold out.

http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/35A/Victor-Hugo-s-THE-HUNCHBACK-OF-NOTRE-DAME_27...

Thanks. Strange that it is not listed as sold out on the website.

> 294
Request duly noted. I had planned to take some photos this weekend but got distracted with other projects. Perhaps next weekend. I cannot do it effectively during the week since it is dark when I get up in the morning before work and dark when I come home. Welcome to winter! So I need afternoon natural light for the best photos.

EP customer service confirmed that DLE Hunchback is sold out.

> 300
Yawn

Also agreed, $300 for this work seems to be a bit too much. It seems that lately EP is coming out with too many so-so quality overpriced products, I haven't ordered anything for about 2 months already. There haven't been anything really interesting at all to get.

Yep, to many overpriced mediocre books. The only thing I've ordered in the last six months is the new Alchemist edition since I missed it ten years ago.

I have seen this on some listings:

Now accepting orders. This product will be available May 1, 1900 and will ship 1-2 weeks thereafter.

Can't really understand why it would be so hard to get the correct year on these listings.

Hmm it looks like they got hit by the old Y2K software bug again :-)

Not to mention that a product is not exactly available if it can't ship until a week or two afterwards.

I wonder who writes this stuff...

I can bet it is a cubicle office of employees with no double check on spelling or pricing miscalculations.
Many businesses today are a pack of monkeys and trained within one week or perhaps 24 hours on the spot.
A big plus when corrections are made immediately.

Cat's Cradle Limited Deluxe Edition sold out. http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/04A/Kurt-Vonnegut-s-CAT-S-CRADLE_2880.aspx

>310 Carl64:: No fewer than five currently available on eBay:

familyman01 - Min.: $299.00 or 'Buy It Now': $389.00 plus s/h.
rentras - Min.: $.99 (currently @ $228.50) plus s/h.
gabrielac - 'Buy It Now': $495.00 or 'Best Offer' (Try $276.00) plus s/h.
gabrielac - Min.: $.99 (currently $305.00) plus s/h.
gilded-legacy-books - 'Buy It Now': $419.00 plus s/h.

not to mention the non-deluxe edition for sale:

gildedbooks - 'Buy It Now': $1,213.95 plus s/h.

or the previously sold Deluxe Limited Edition:

wrenegade_books - Sold: $250.00 plus s/h, surprisingly less than retail.

I expect we will see many more to come.

Given the historically high price for the previous non-deluxe edition I anticipated re-sellers would jump all over this one and, consequently, that it would sell out fairly quickly.

Give it a rest, wailofatail
As the saying is spoken, it takes one to know one.

>312 EastonQuality:: So predictable. How about this EastonQuality? You don't respond to my posts and I won't respond to yours. That way we don't disrupt every other user's experience with back and forth bickering that, quite frankly, is old and accomplishes little, if anything. Numerous times now users have asked that we both give it a rest.

Agreed?

>311 wailofatail: Yes, I sold my copy for $250 with the buy it now option. I ordered a copy right after it was announced. Unfortunately, financial issues have forced me to sell many of my books, including this one. I wasn't out to gouge anyone or rip anyone off. Just wanted a fair price, which I think I got considering the book was still available from the publisher at the time. (wrenegade_books)

>313 wailofatail:: Predictable? How ironic..
I have been waiting for your reply from my request to remove the messages you posted last year, which were the most cowardly and the ugliest postings I've ever heard of on LT.
They were unacceptable in every way.
Please send me a response to my profile so we can agree to terms in removing messages on one thread earlier last year to eliminate unnecessary badgering for false rumors and accusations.

>315 EastonQuality:: EQ, you do realize that wailo's comments in that thread were over-the-top sarcasm and were recognized as such by nearly everybody. Readers, I think, were not so much shocked at wailo's harshness as amused that you seemed to take it literally. That is, if you really were as insulted as you claim. At the time, it felt like an Andy Kaufman moment, with nothing perhaps being quite what it seemed...

>316 wailofatail:: Now that really is insulting (and don't you tell me that you didn't realize that the sarcasm of your opening image would be overshadowed by the harshness of your closing injunction). Shame on you, wailo...you big bully. Why don't you pick on someone whose collection is as big as yours!

Was tired of comments about the so called 'flipping resellers' by spec. There are so many online who post books with the idea of a quick turn around. Posting ONE sentence as we see now can be blown out of proportion.

I did watch Nelson Mandela books with ended bids this month, prices between $2600-4000. Noticed wail purchased two of them, I cannot imagine it is for 'just' a hobby, and not what he is so much against in threads.

As for his accusations this year and last, I assure to everyone I've never had a criminal record of any kind, nor have I been accused of. Have asked repeatedly for the defamation comments to be removed, he refused to reply.

>317 SilentInAWay:: RE: "EQ, you do realize that wailo's comments in that thread were over-the-top sarcasm ...

I'm glad that you and nearly everybody reading these threads has the literary intellect to recognize that I was making a point; using gross exaggeration as a mechanism to make it more poignantly. Hence, no defamation ... nor need to retract comments intended to express the simple point that just because someone says it's so doesn't make it so, as EastonQuality's logic suggests.

RE: Now that really is insulting (and don't you tell me that you didn't realize that the sarcasm of your opening image would be overshadowed by the harshness of your closing injunction.) ... Why don't you pick on someone whose collection is as big as yours!

I guess that would be you, then, Silent … though me picking on you would be like EastonQuality picking on me; I wouldn't be able to keep up. ”... the sarcasm of your opening image would be overshadowed by the harshness of your closing injunction ...”? I'm already lost! As I interpret your remark, my truce offer was sarcastic and my reply to EQ's self-righteous lecture and demands to negotiate terms was not really intended to be insulting. Quite the opposite is the truth.

It looks like The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte DLE is no longer available on the Easton website.

And a new DLE, Daniel Defoe's ROBINSON CRUSOE, has just been added.

> 320
Hopefully the length of time it required for that one to sell out has convinced EP that the marbled page edges, while nice in theory, had a horrible execution. I know from the pictures members posted on here that I lost all interest in the title once I saw how they looked in actual photographs. Rather than enhancing the perceptional quality of the book it just made it look like someone had spilled something all over the page edges.

I bought the set and at first thought the end pages were an error in the quality/manufacturing. I actually looked up pics of the books on EP's website to confirm.

I can honestly say I'm not a fan but it isn't enough to make me send them back. I sent EP an email just to give them input. I'm still happy... That and I bought it for 20% off 😉😉

Just saw this new one:
Sir Richard Francis Burton: PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF A PILGRIMAGE TO AL-MADINAH AND MECCAH

http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/198/Sir-Richard-Francis-Burton--PERSONAL-NARRATI...

> 324

Would love to get it but am strapped for cash. That and I've already read the cheap Dover reprint(plates in black and white). Not sure if there's enough value here to get the deluxe.

Any thoughts regarding the set of six for Indian Tribes of the United States? $200 each volume.

http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/228/Schoolcraft-s-HISTORICAL-AND-STATISTICAL-INF...

I agree with you History Fan. It is an emotional decision. I resisted the DLE's for too long, and now I'm trying to play catch-up, which is expensive. However, I would pay many times the price of a DLE for a Chanel jacket or a fabulous handbag. I had to straighten out my priorities. I just bought Picturesque America, London, DaVinci's Notebooks, and Ovid. I bought an original Crusades, since it was actually less expensive than the premium on Ebay!

>326 EastonQuality:: Looks like one for hard-core Native American history/culture buffs, but very pricey for what it is (SURPRISE!!). How would it compare to the "History of the Indian Tribes..." DLE of a few years ago?

>326 EastonQuality: and >328 iluvbeckett:

I would point out that much cheaper reprints do exist(actual reprints not photocopied/scanned). As far as I can tell, the only advantage to the Easton version is the leather binding.

HIROSHIGE: ONE HUNDRED FAMOUS VIEW OF EDO.

http://www.eastonpress.com/books/prod/9B2/HIROSHIGE--ONE-HUNDRED-FAMOUS-VIEW-OF-...

>330 JustinTChan: I highly recommend the Taschen edition which sell for ~$30.

Oh yeah, I love Taschen. I have their Emile Prisse elephant folio 'Arab Art'. Fantastic quality for the price.

330: looks like a beautiful book, and very nice cover. That said, I don't believe this is a DLE.

> 330

Yeah, unfortunately Easton seems intent on releasing expensive non limited books with DLE prices.

I notice that this thread has been dormant for almost 2 months despite the increasing number of DLEs from Easton, and I am curious as to the reason for this lack of activity. Is it because of the price, the quality, or some other factor? I see that the Folio Society's forum is still strong.

I think the main reasons are simple.
EP has saturated the market with DLEs, and considering that it is a very limited market, and the current sluggish economic situation, I am not really that much surprised.
I myself have purchased many DLEs in the past, but I too have cut back on any more purchases, unless there is something really spectacular comes along.

Most of the DLEs have been getting their own thread instead of being posted here.

I haven't had time to update the op. If someone else wants to take the time to do so, just start a new thread with the updated information and keep it going. I'll turn the torch over.

>336 geiles:: Indeed. Too many DLEs in the past couple of years, most of them nothing to "write home about" (excuse me). Result = less activity on this thread :-(

EP's idea of 'deluxe' is not usually any different than that of their standard product. Just observing people's reactions and comments here it would seem that only about 6-8 DLE's have been universally celebrated as truly awesome and significantly above normal quality. The rest are simply debated. It would seem that the primary factor in valuation is their limited production count.

339: It depends on what you mean by "truly awesome". For example, I love "Flowers for Algernon" because it is signed by Daniel Keyes and has eight specially commissioned full-color pieces of art. That said, the book is what most would consider "normal size" and probably does not have that "WOW" factor that a large book like History of the Crusades does. Of course, the book was less than half the price of Crusades and also limited to 600 copies and is now out of print and will never be printed again. In my mind, Flowers for Algernon is definitely a deluxe edition that is worth treasuring. I consider it akin to the Limited Editions Club books, except that it's not letterpress of course (if you want a letterpress book today, you'll need to go to Arion Press or something of that nature and easily pay 2-3 times the price for an EP Deluxe edition). Yes, people can debate about books till time's end. However, I do think many of the less glamorous deluxe editions are gems.

There are multiple reasons why few are interested in keeping an updated list of the Deluxe Limited Editions. There have been a flood of DLE books in the last few years, the demand has been met on many of them with buyers attempting to accumulate a vast collection of Easton Press. One third of the DLEs were considered greater in demand than the supply. With the number of new releases, quality is in question on how superb each printing will be. From previous threads, it is apparent that a heated argument can dilute ones desire to talk about a specific subject. One can only wish there was a delete button with useless information. As for the updated list, the interest has dropped considerably and can be time consuming.

331>

The Easton Press edition of the Hiroshige volume is the same book offered by Taschen (as I deduced from the word "TASCHEN" in big letters on the first page of text). The text block is string-bound (by Taschen) in the traditional style found in Japan and China. EP has constructed a beautiful leather version of the box that encloses the Taschen text. This deep red cover (into which the cover image of a tree has been deeply embossed in black and gold) isn't attached to the text, but rather wraps around it snuggly and folds back over the top. There are two silk ribbons with bamboo hooks that emerge from the flap. These hooks fit into two ribbon loops that emerge from the main cover. The cover is lined with an enlarged excerpt from one of Hiroshige's works.

All in all, this is one of the more beautiful volumes I've received from EP in a long while (DLE's included). The photos on the EP web site don't do this volume justice -- the stamping on the cover is much nicer than I thought it would be from these pictures. Very high quality workmanship by both Taschen and EP!

So, yeah, you can get the same book from Taschen for less than a sixth of the price, but its not really the same at all...

342: I'm glad you're happy! I know EP does do this for some of their books, particularly their coffee-table books. Myself, I prefer it when the book is bound and printed in the USA. I do like to support the US economy, but I know that there are very high-quality books being produced in Europe as well. I wonder if EP would ever do letterpress? That, would be amazing, assuming they could keep the price within reason.

343> Yeah, I agree with you. Generally speaking, I too prefer Easton Books that are actually published by EP (as opposed to a text printed by some other published and then bound up in an EP cover). On the one hand, I cringe when I think of the Chartwell books that I have either mistakenly purchased or have been dangerously close to buying. On the other hand, I have previously purchased an EP-bound volume that was printed by Dorling Kindersley (DK) -- and now this one from Taschen -- and have found them to be really nice. I'm always left wondering how satisfied I would have been with the editions produced directly from those publishers, however -- and whether I have paid too much to own a book that's merely been pimped by our Connecticut connection. So, yeah, I too keep away from these books, generally speaking -- especially the coffee-table volumes. In the case of the Hiroshige, however, I'm glad I was tempted (even though I probably would have been really happy with Taschen's own boxed edition).

Just reviving this thread for the overview in >1 Wootle: above

Thanks ironjaw, why don't you take it over if you have the time. My work is keeping me to busy to stay on top of it these days.

Bump

I'm reviving this thread because there have been some questions lately about some of the early DLEs. The first post in the thread gives the dates they became available, when they sold out, and the price. subsequent posts contain a lot of good commentary from members.

It is a very long thread, though, so I am also posting a new DLE thread where we can continue some of these discussions if we want to.

>348 jroger1: great source. Please note Hunchback is not sold out. I found 10 new copies at Danbury Mint UK selling for under original retail due to decline of British pound relative to $$. 219 pounds right now. I posted on this in another thread. My copy is in the mail!

There is a lot of good information in this thread if you have the time to read it. At least for the early DLEs.

I tried to find someone to take over the thread when I ran out of time. It takes a surprising amount of time to keep something like this thread up to date.

This is such a great resource

Unfortunately some of the links are no longer valid. I would update them, but some of these DLE no longer have a page on the Easton site.

> 130 Belated reply. I think this is a great potential benefit to someone who might want the set. No need to apologize.

Only problem is that it takes 5 mins to get to the bottom of the thread 🤣

Perhaps this weekend I'll find a couple of hours to do some research and start a new thread with some of the newer books on it.

>355 GOBOGIE: There's a link at the top of each thread that will take you directly to the first unread post or to the bottom of the thread if there are no new posts!

No joke? All this time...

> 357

My browser does this automatically but it's still problematic for threads with lots of embedded pictures because it takes forever to load the thread.

:-O (Oh, crap! I just did that and found lots of unread posts that I don't have time to go through right now...but each of them too interesting not to read. Oh well, another time I guess.)