Les Miserables limited edition

I'm curious if anyone has purchased this limited edition or received it and has any opinions on it (quality, illustrations, etc.) and the translation. I'm tempted despite the price but need more information before I make a final decision.

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=1519&c=4

I prefer the more recent Norman Denny translation as opposed to Isabel F. Hapgood's slightly archaic translation used in this edition.

The book has not shipped yet, so it may be a month or two before any of us could tell you anything...

Oh man. If you want to use an out of copyright translation why not use the Wilbour???

* It was probably easier to use Hapgood's...

It's a facsimile edition so they had no choice on the translation.

Except a facsimile of Charles E. Wilbour's translation.

http://books.google.com/books?id=F4mqJ91Fj-8C&lpg=PA202&dq=charles%20Wil...

>6 DanMat: Hmmm, I figured that the EP was selling a facsimile of the 5 volume Thomas Crowell edition from 1887. Now I'm not sure - I guess we need to actually ask EP. I've read the Hapgood (a late 19th century copy in 3 volumes based upon a 5 volume 1887 edition) and Denny (FS LE) translations but not Wilbour's effort.

One possible reason is that the Hapgood has the famous Émile Bayard illustrations (at least the one of Cosette is famous) and I don't see any edition of Wilbour's having them...they did publish a one volume edition of Wilbour and you could probably include Bayard's illustrations somehow but it wouldn't necessarily be a facsimile at that point...

I didn't notice many problems with Hapgood's translation of Toilers of the Sea, maybe it's not so bad.

This edition is delayed. It will be available from May.

Yeah, they sent out a letter a few weeks back announcing this to those who had already pre-ordered. You were supposed to notify them (sometime this last week) if you still wanted them to respect your order (otherwise they'd cancel it).

Actually, I seem to remember the letter saying that this edition would be delayed until June...I'll have to double-check when I get home.

The letter, dated February 13, begins:

"Thank you for your reservation for the exclusive leather bound Collector's Edition of LES MISERABLES. Due to unforseen production issues, we are unable to ship your set to you by the date we had originally planned. However, we expect to have your custom-bound volumes ready for shipment on June 21, 2013."

and later states:

"Please note that if we do not hear from you by March 8, 2013 federal regulations require us to cancel the order and refund any payment made."

Delays in shipment have not been uncommon for EP's limited editions (they were particularly prevalent among the early DLEs--I believe shipment was delayed for the first five or six books to receive that designation). No objections here, though. I can't easily imagine a scenario in which I wouldn't desire that EP solve any and all "issues" that arise during the production of a purchase of this magnitude--a purchase that, although it has not been described as a Deluxe Limited Edition, will certainly have a similar impact upon my monthly budget.

It is common for letters to be sent out for orders that were requested months in advance before production.
As a safety measure under law, considering production is estimated and usually takes longer than expected.

considering production is estimated and usually takes longer than expected

I doubt that the executives at LP have this cavalier an attitude toward these delays. Few businesses can afford to blow production deadlines on major products as often as EP has. Although these delays may not result in cancelled orders, they inevitably affect overall throughput (which ultimately impacts total sales).

At any rate, my main point was not that these delays have been a problem (on the contrary, they are less common than they were four years ago), but rather that there have been conflicting estimates of the new release date for this particular edition -- mirexx was told (recently, I presume) that the books are delayed until May; last month's letter said they would be ready to ship in June.

I'm interested in this set, although it is rather expensive. Regardless, does anyone know how many illustrations it will have? I noticed that the release date is June 28th, so can someone explain this to me??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Les-Miserables-5-Volume-Hand-Numbered-Set-Victor-Hugo-Ea...

It's from Gabrielac, one of the more infamous EP reseller-vultures (before there's even anything to resell, in this case; he must have used his evil powers to get hold of a set before the release date). Mystery solved!!

He's a real Javert that one!

I just received the set also yesterday, I think I ordered it when it was first announced on the EP site, about 4 months ago. So I guess the people who ordered them early on, got them first.
I haven't removed the plastic wrap just yet, so I don't know what serial number mine is.
But even with the wrap still on, it is a really beautiful set.

17: I would love to see some pics and hear your impressions once you open a volume. Also, if you know how many illustrations it would be great to get some statistics.

Received my Les Mis set last week from danbury mint in UK. Very heavy books and many many illustrations. Quality-wise like a standard DLE with a special paper, cowhide from Italy and all put together by our friends in BindTech.