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1boddhidharma
http://www.eastonpress.com/CoffeeTable/prod/6FD/THE-COUNT-OF-MONTE-CRISTO_2787.a...
This was just listed in an email as a Coffee Table book but at $135 each that's pretty pricy.
This was just listed in an email as a Coffee Table book but at $135 each that's pretty pricy.
3UK_History_Fan
Well it is lavishly illustrated, but like the recent multi-volume Les Miserables, completely overpriced since the quality of the illustrations will be questionable at best and the quality of the text will be the usual EP "faded photocopy" look which has lately dominated quite disappointingly all of their really high-end DLE books. I will pass.
4astropi
I strongly question UK_History_Fan's statement:
"like the recent multi-volume Les Miserables, completely overpriced since the quality of the illustrations will be questionable at best and the quality of the text will be the usual EP "faded photocopy" look"
If UK_History_Fan did indeed purchase the Limited Edition Les Miserables, I would like him to POST PICTURES showing and explaining the "questionable at best" quality of the text and illustrations. If this is indeed the case, that the quality is poor, he would be doing everyone a favor. However, I have not seen any pictures of this set which sold out very quickly, and the very few reviews I read second-hand (no pics) said it was a very impressive and beautiful set.
"like the recent multi-volume Les Miserables, completely overpriced since the quality of the illustrations will be questionable at best and the quality of the text will be the usual EP "faded photocopy" look"
If UK_History_Fan did indeed purchase the Limited Edition Les Miserables, I would like him to POST PICTURES showing and explaining the "questionable at best" quality of the text and illustrations. If this is indeed the case, that the quality is poor, he would be doing everyone a favor. However, I have not seen any pictures of this set which sold out very quickly, and the very few reviews I read second-hand (no pics) said it was a very impressive and beautiful set.
5UK_History_Fan
> 4
Of course you take issue with my statement since you brook no criticism of Easton Press since it would hurt your eBay and private sales. Moreover, as the owner of 30 DLE titles, I consider myself to have a very strong basis for assessing the quality of these overpriced publications. Quite frankly, your recent statement that the DLE editions Easton Press is releasing ad nauseum with increasing frequency (more like once or twice a month rather than "a few every year" as expressed in http://www.librarything.com/topic/158876) are on par or equal to Limited Edition Club volumes makes me question your judgement altogether. You are certainly entitled to that mistaken opinion, but to demand I must post pictures simply to support a statement which aligns with what so many others on LT have stated, namely the muddy quality of illustration reproduction and text which appears to be photocopied on a machine about to run out of toner, is needlessly petulant and puerile. Just because something sells out, doesn't mean it is high quality. According to Easton Press emails, the Love Story of William and Kate is almost sold out (good riddance). Plus I would question how many copies of Les Miserables actually reached genuine collectors rather than profiteering resellers.
Don't even get me started on the tacklessness of the recent EP email trying to recapitalize on the anniversary of a national tragedy with yet another schlepping of their coffee table book on the fall of the twin towers.
Of course you take issue with my statement since you brook no criticism of Easton Press since it would hurt your eBay and private sales. Moreover, as the owner of 30 DLE titles, I consider myself to have a very strong basis for assessing the quality of these overpriced publications. Quite frankly, your recent statement that the DLE editions Easton Press is releasing ad nauseum with increasing frequency (more like once or twice a month rather than "a few every year" as expressed in http://www.librarything.com/topic/158876) are on par or equal to Limited Edition Club volumes makes me question your judgement altogether. You are certainly entitled to that mistaken opinion, but to demand I must post pictures simply to support a statement which aligns with what so many others on LT have stated, namely the muddy quality of illustration reproduction and text which appears to be photocopied on a machine about to run out of toner, is needlessly petulant and puerile. Just because something sells out, doesn't mean it is high quality. According to Easton Press emails, the Love Story of William and Kate is almost sold out (good riddance). Plus I would question how many copies of Les Miserables actually reached genuine collectors rather than profiteering resellers.
Don't even get me started on the tacklessness of the recent EP email trying to recapitalize on the anniversary of a national tragedy with yet another schlepping of their coffee table book on the fall of the twin towers.
6EastonQuality
Not all Easton Press books I consider to be the finest quality, there are many quality factors to consider. Leather, binding style, paper design, engravings or printings, gild/photo patterns on leather. Some volumes have been known to crack at the binding, moire fabric to fade, book gild transfer, etc. For everything to be tied together perfectly is a challenging task. As for price $600+ is steep for any set of books, the ratio of value and past printings can help determine what is fair for pricing. It is up to the readers to determine if one wants to fork up the payment on any title offered. Size and shape does not always matter for desirability.
The online orders have been many times not updated for the inventory available, not always up to par with titles. Currently there are volumes recently offered online and in the catalog that are not available, why do they not remove pages on their site within days of selling out is puzzling.
The online orders have been many times not updated for the inventory available, not always up to par with titles. Currently there are volumes recently offered online and in the catalog that are not available, why do they not remove pages on their site within days of selling out is puzzling.
7astropi
5: Ah yes, as I expected, a private attack on my reputability rather than an acknowledgement that you do NOT own a copy of the DLE Les Miserables! You said that the recent DLE Les Miserables is:
"completely overpriced since the quality of the illustrations will be questionable at best and the quality of the text will be the usual EP "faded photocopy" look"
If this is really the case, I would like to see some pics along with your claim. In fact, you would be doing myself and others a favor, since I have not seen any pics posted, and I am interested in this set. I know others are interested as well, but of course the price is super high now that it has sold out. Be that as it may, if you really did purchase this set, post pics and show us where the quality lags in box illustration and text. Otherwise, I believe you are just being your usual anti-Easton Press. However, I'm willing to retract my claim and in fact thank you, *if* you can back-up your statement. So how about it? Please post some pics, and you will in fact be doing myself and others a favor.
"completely overpriced since the quality of the illustrations will be questionable at best and the quality of the text will be the usual EP "faded photocopy" look"
If this is really the case, I would like to see some pics along with your claim. In fact, you would be doing myself and others a favor, since I have not seen any pics posted, and I am interested in this set. I know others are interested as well, but of course the price is super high now that it has sold out. Be that as it may, if you really did purchase this set, post pics and show us where the quality lags in box illustration and text. Otherwise, I believe you are just being your usual anti-Easton Press. However, I'm willing to retract my claim and in fact thank you, *if* you can back-up your statement. So how about it? Please post some pics, and you will in fact be doing myself and others a favor.
8Django6924
Not that I want to get into a debate over the merits of Easton Press, but I would like to point out that UK_History_Fan's comment "the quality of the illustrations will be questionable at best and the quality of the text will be the usual EP 'faded photocopy' look" is in the subjunctive--"used to express situations that are hypothetical or not yet realized and is typically used for what is imagined, hoped for, demanded or expected." I never thought for a minute that he was claiming to own this DLE, and on the contrary, was stating his reason, based on expectations of what he has seen in the past of other EP books, why he was not going to buy it.
9UK_History_Fan
> 8
Thanks Robert, that is exactly right. I do not have to own the DLE Les Miserables to guess at its likely quality, based on my 30 DLE sets that mostly adhere to the muddy illustration, cheap photocopy look. My reasons for purchasing these were in spite of these unfortunate features rather than because of them. Of course I was pretty far along in my payment plans before I started realizing just how inferior the quality was. That and the simultaneous purchase of many LEC titles just made the EP quality suffer in comparison.
Thanks Robert, that is exactly right. I do not have to own the DLE Les Miserables to guess at its likely quality, based on my 30 DLE sets that mostly adhere to the muddy illustration, cheap photocopy look. My reasons for purchasing these were in spite of these unfortunate features rather than because of them. Of course I was pretty far along in my payment plans before I started realizing just how inferior the quality was. That and the simultaneous purchase of many LEC titles just made the EP quality suffer in comparison.
10ironjaw
Astropi, there is no reason for all of this; let's all just calm down. Sean's made a very reasonable point and has impeccable taste and I do not doubt for one second his judgement.
I am not saying that we are anti-Easton, we're saying that given their history, the examples already published, and the availability of other publishers' that in reality have better quality - even if defunct - provide if available some thought for an alternative purchase than from Easton.
I am just not comfortable spending $600 on Easton to be honest. However, if you are I'm fine with it. We are all entitled to our opinion. No need to upset oneself.
I am not saying that we are anti-Easton, we're saying that given their history, the examples already published, and the availability of other publishers' that in reality have better quality - even if defunct - provide if available some thought for an alternative purchase than from Easton.
I am just not comfortable spending $600 on Easton to be honest. However, if you are I'm fine with it. We are all entitled to our opinion. No need to upset oneself.
11UK_History_Fan
Thanks, Faisel :-). I'm glad you trust my taste, could it be because ours overlaps so much? I ended up making the same value judgement you did which is why I call the DLE Les Miserables overpriced and ultimately decided not to purchase it. For $600+ I would expect a better job with illustrations and text reproduction. I don't like it, but can tolerate the EP treatment more in a lower-cost book such as the recent Robin Hood.
12iluvbeckett
>8 Django6924:-11: What y'all said.
13astropi
10: yes, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion of course. I also think I misread the posting in (4), and probably came off harsher than I meant to (apologies). Note that I certainly agree there are alternatives to Easton Press. Also, if someone does not like EP, that is fine too. That said, it does seem like a few people actually enjoy finding any possible fault with every single EP publication. We all know EP is not Arion Press nor the LEC, but some of us enjoy their publications so why not let us enjoy it in peace.
Oh, and I'm certainly not directing criticism at you iron. I respect your opinion, and Robert's, and many others as well.
Oh, and I'm certainly not directing criticism at you iron. I respect your opinion, and Robert's, and many others as well.
14kdweber
>13 astropi: I don't know about others but I feel disappointment with the EP. I started collecting EP's before I found out about the FS, HP and LEC. I own over 200 EP books including a number of DLEs but at this point my EP collection is decreasing rather than increasing. EP reprints of HP and LEC editions have nice bindings and decent but not great paper but inferior text (gray and fuzzy) and poorly reproduced illustrations. Sometimes the illustrations from a George Macy edition are almost entirely removed leaving only a single frontis (e.g. Szyk's illustrated Canterbury Tales). Other times color illustrations are reproduced in a single tone (e.g. Tess of the d'Ubervilles or The House of Seven Gables). Engravings are almost always muddy and lack sharpness. I'm still sometimes enticed by new EP offerings such as Picturesque America but now I'm reticent to buy. I own original editions of Picturesque Europe and I worry about how sharply EP will reproduce similar steel engravings. I'll probably just buy original editions at the same cost point in partial leather or cloth instead. I'm still tempted by the Commodore Perry report on Japan as originals cost a small fortune.
15Goran
Damn. I was just speaking to my wife last week about hoping to find a deluxe edition of the Count of Monte Cristo. $600 is pretty steep.
16Django6924
>15 Goran:
This is a most elusive title in the 4 volume LEC edition. Few sets ever show up online and the ones that do are seldom in really "Fine" condition yet still seem to average a $400--600 asking price. Even the single volume Heritage edition is rather scarce and expensive.
This is a most elusive title in the 4 volume LEC edition. Few sets ever show up online and the ones that do are seldom in really "Fine" condition yet still seem to average a $400--600 asking price. Even the single volume Heritage edition is rather scarce and expensive.
17Goran
>16 Django6924:
Well this one seems to be a 5 volume set so I'm wondering if its comparable to the LEC edition. Still, I got the Chaucer when it was 600.00. Haven't felt a terrible need to buy another DLE till now.
Well this one seems to be a 5 volume set so I'm wondering if its comparable to the LEC edition. Still, I got the Chaucer when it was 600.00. Haven't felt a terrible need to buy another DLE till now.
18UK_History_Fan
> 16, 17
The LEC set is completely different both in illustrations and typography, perhaps even in translator too. The EP is a reproduction of an 1887 edition whereas the LEC was newly typeset in 1941 and illustrated by Lynd Ward. The LEC would be printed letterpress which will make it much more clear and easy to read than the expected photo-copy look of the EP edition, copied from the original text. Still given these differences, a case could certainly be made for owning both. The Lynd Ward illustrations are not his best work, IMHO, so the trade off would be more attractive illustrations or more attractive text? Leather vs. durable cloth? While I concur with Robert that the normal range for the LEC in fine condition is $400 to $600, I will say I was able to pick up a set of the LEC for considerably less. Excellent condition, just sans original slipcase. So again, the trade off might be based on price. Or perhaps you prefer something newly produced and theoretically more perfect than a book set that is already over 70 years old. It really will depend on what you want.
The LEC set is completely different both in illustrations and typography, perhaps even in translator too. The EP is a reproduction of an 1887 edition whereas the LEC was newly typeset in 1941 and illustrated by Lynd Ward. The LEC would be printed letterpress which will make it much more clear and easy to read than the expected photo-copy look of the EP edition, copied from the original text. Still given these differences, a case could certainly be made for owning both. The Lynd Ward illustrations are not his best work, IMHO, so the trade off would be more attractive illustrations or more attractive text? Leather vs. durable cloth? While I concur with Robert that the normal range for the LEC in fine condition is $400 to $600, I will say I was able to pick up a set of the LEC for considerably less. Excellent condition, just sans original slipcase. So again, the trade off might be based on price. Or perhaps you prefer something newly produced and theoretically more perfect than a book set that is already over 70 years old. It really will depend on what you want.
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