1wcarter
I have just purchased a brand new copy of Heinrich Harrer's "Seven Years in Tibet" from the Limited Editions Club in New York.
It is a magnificent limited edition of 300 copies and my copy is number 300 (not sure if this means I bought the last one).
It comes encased in two wooden boards, the front one carved by monks of the Tibetan Refugee Center in Darjeeling with a Tibetan good‑luck charm.
It is then wrapped in a large maroon (with one yellow corner0 cotton sheet known as a "pi-chu" in Tibet.
Once this is removed you have a beautiful pure white volume bound in bure silk. There is no title on the spine or cover, but the same Tibetan good luck symbol is impressed in the cover.
Inside the paper is luxuriously thick, the type is letterpress with deep impressions made by the type in the paper.
A map of Harrer's journeys is loosely inlaid, as is a copy of the LEC Newsletter advertising the publication.
There are a few photos tipped into the book.
After the title page comes a copy of a letter from the Dalai Lama supporting the publication of the book.
The colophon at the back of the book is signed by Heinrich Harrer.
It is a truly beautiful and magnificent publication, and my photos will not do it justice.
Unfortunately the LEC has been reduced to a one person office in a New York apartment, the one person being Jeanne Schiff, with whom I dealt when making the purchase. The LEC has not published anything for five years and is now effectively moribund.
The fact that Seven Years in Tibet was published in 1993, and 22 years later copies from the limited edition of 300 are still available from the publisher, demonstrates that there is now sadly virtually no demand for such superb but expensive (US$1500) books.
EDIT: 2017 - now sold out
It is a magnificent limited edition of 300 copies and my copy is number 300 (not sure if this means I bought the last one).
It comes encased in two wooden boards, the front one carved by monks of the Tibetan Refugee Center in Darjeeling with a Tibetan good‑luck charm.
It is then wrapped in a large maroon (with one yellow corner0 cotton sheet known as a "pi-chu" in Tibet.
Once this is removed you have a beautiful pure white volume bound in bure silk. There is no title on the spine or cover, but the same Tibetan good luck symbol is impressed in the cover.
Inside the paper is luxuriously thick, the type is letterpress with deep impressions made by the type in the paper.
A map of Harrer's journeys is loosely inlaid, as is a copy of the LEC Newsletter advertising the publication.
There are a few photos tipped into the book.
After the title page comes a copy of a letter from the Dalai Lama supporting the publication of the book.
The colophon at the back of the book is signed by Heinrich Harrer.
It is a truly beautiful and magnificent publication, and my photos will not do it justice.
Unfortunately the LEC has been reduced to a one person office in a New York apartment, the one person being Jeanne Schiff, with whom I dealt when making the purchase. The LEC has not published anything for five years and is now effectively moribund.
The fact that Seven Years in Tibet was published in 1993, and 22 years later copies from the limited edition of 300 are still available from the publisher, demonstrates that there is now sadly virtually no demand for such superb but expensive (US$1500) books.
EDIT: 2017 - now sold out
3dlphcoracl
>1 wcarter:
Congratulation on your new acquisition!
Even amidst the remarkable bibliography of deluxe livres d'artiste books and cutting edge private press books designed and published by the Shiffs (effectively, from 1983 to 2010 as they transitioned away from the traditional George Macy LEC model) this book is a standout. The market and demand for expensive, superbly crafted private press books is indeed small but steadily growing.
One unfortunate problem unique to the Shiff-era LEC books is that they are under appreciated and undervalued in the current market for reasons that escape me, especially when compared to the vast majority of private press books currently being published. It is not that today's private press offering are poorly done; rather, it is that the Shiffs produced an extraordinary number of books to the highest standard and I think their work is taken for granted. Of the 85 books they published between 1980 to 2010 there are approximately 33 or 34 that are produced to the highest standard (imho), any one of which would now be a major publication for nearly all of the small dedicated private presses in current operation.
If this is your first purchase of one of the major Shiff LEC books, you are about to embark upon a wonderful journey of discovery.
Congratulation on your new acquisition!
Even amidst the remarkable bibliography of deluxe livres d'artiste books and cutting edge private press books designed and published by the Shiffs (effectively, from 1983 to 2010 as they transitioned away from the traditional George Macy LEC model) this book is a standout. The market and demand for expensive, superbly crafted private press books is indeed small but steadily growing.
One unfortunate problem unique to the Shiff-era LEC books is that they are under appreciated and undervalued in the current market for reasons that escape me, especially when compared to the vast majority of private press books currently being published. It is not that today's private press offering are poorly done; rather, it is that the Shiffs produced an extraordinary number of books to the highest standard and I think their work is taken for granted. Of the 85 books they published between 1980 to 2010 there are approximately 33 or 34 that are produced to the highest standard (imho), any one of which would now be a major publication for nearly all of the small dedicated private presses in current operation.
If this is your first purchase of one of the major Shiff LEC books, you are about to embark upon a wonderful journey of discovery.
5busywine
>1 wcarter:, this is certainly one that falls under the category I referred to on the other thread a few days ago. It is truly a fine book, one of my favorites. I eventually had a large solander made to protect the wood and book. As dlphcoracl mentions, There are many others also very nice that one can save for! Jeanne has some other truly amazing works still available.
6leccol
I recently procured a copy of this beautiful book, and am now attempting to get Brad Pitt's signature on the colophon alongside that of Harrer.
7parchment.redux
>1 wcarter: Didn’t you get the cast Tibetan bronze or brass clasps that should belong to this book?
I regret that I didn’t buy this book when it was up for auction in Stockholm. I was so overwhelmed by Wuthering Heights and Sight and Touch, that when I looked at Seven Years in Tibet, it felt like an anticlimax. A stupid mistake, because I really want this book.
>6 leccol: I hope that you get Brad Pitt’s signature. If I ever get a copy of the book, I would prefer to try to have The Dalai Lama sign it for me.
I regret that I didn’t buy this book when it was up for auction in Stockholm. I was so overwhelmed by Wuthering Heights and Sight and Touch, that when I looked at Seven Years in Tibet, it felt like an anticlimax. A stupid mistake, because I really want this book.
>6 leccol: I hope that you get Brad Pitt’s signature. If I ever get a copy of the book, I would prefer to try to have The Dalai Lama sign it for me.
8wcarter
>7 parchment.redux:
No clasps on my copy, the tapes were merely tied. The LEC on line picture shows yellow tapes rather than black, and tied rather than clasped.
The Dalai Lama's signature would be an amazing addition. Almost worth a trip to NW India to make the attempt to visit him.
No clasps on my copy, the tapes were merely tied. The LEC on line picture shows yellow tapes rather than black, and tied rather than clasped.
The Dalai Lama's signature would be an amazing addition. Almost worth a trip to NW India to make the attempt to visit him.
9leccol
The Dalai Lama was Brad Pitt's mentor for the movie. (LOL) The current price for this book should be no more than $1500, which is what I paid for my copy which has the black straps. Most book sellers are overpriced for Shiff era books unless you buy from Jeanne Shiff. The $4,000 price for Wuthering Heights is rediculous. I don't know why sellers continue not to sell these and hold on to them at such high prices that no one buys them. Booksellers will have to hold on to copies for ten years or more to get their prices.
I am an admirer of Shiff books, but I abhor the booksellers who are asking unreasonable prices for these beautiful books. a 100% profit should be enough for a reseller, but not the 300 to 400% which many are asking.
I am an admirer of Shiff books, but I abhor the booksellers who are asking unreasonable prices for these beautiful books. a 100% profit should be enough for a reseller, but not the 300 to 400% which many are asking.
10dlphcoracl
>9 leccol:
I could not agree more with your comments regarding booksellers attempting to sell Shiff-era LEC books and other private press books at ridiculous prices. Charles Agvent is the "leader" in this regard and Bromer Booksellers is another that immediately comes to mind. The standard operating procedure for nearly all fine & rare booksellers with regard to modern private press books (1890 to present day) is to double the price they obtain a book for, i.e., 100% profit. As you've stated, certain booksellers are not content with a 100% profit margin and charge considerably more.
In the era of the internet and the ability to comparison shop on a global basis in a matter of minutes one would think these booksellers would realize that the greater fool theory of book selling is no longer operative. Additionally, as the number of serious collectors of fine & private press books shrinks their knowledge of the marketplace and what constitutes a fair price for a specific title increases exponentially, i.e., the remaining people who are avidly collecting are much savvier. Nevertheless, many of these booksellers are content to have these vastly overpriced books sit on the shelves, perhaps for decades, in the hope that some newbie will be stupid enough to pay up. Good luck with that.
As evidenced from this blog and occasional comments from "busywine" on his Books and Vines website, most of us already know who the reliable and fairly priced booksellers are - booksellers that one can deal with after establishing a long term relationship who have made it their policy to price their books to sell. Chanticleer Books, Mark Post, Jeanne Shiff, Different Drummer Books, Tamerlane Books, Woodbridge Rare Books (UK), and Tindley and Chapman (UK) all fall into this category and are amongst my favorite in this regard.
I could not agree more with your comments regarding booksellers attempting to sell Shiff-era LEC books and other private press books at ridiculous prices. Charles Agvent is the "leader" in this regard and Bromer Booksellers is another that immediately comes to mind. The standard operating procedure for nearly all fine & rare booksellers with regard to modern private press books (1890 to present day) is to double the price they obtain a book for, i.e., 100% profit. As you've stated, certain booksellers are not content with a 100% profit margin and charge considerably more.
In the era of the internet and the ability to comparison shop on a global basis in a matter of minutes one would think these booksellers would realize that the greater fool theory of book selling is no longer operative. Additionally, as the number of serious collectors of fine & private press books shrinks their knowledge of the marketplace and what constitutes a fair price for a specific title increases exponentially, i.e., the remaining people who are avidly collecting are much savvier. Nevertheless, many of these booksellers are content to have these vastly overpriced books sit on the shelves, perhaps for decades, in the hope that some newbie will be stupid enough to pay up. Good luck with that.
As evidenced from this blog and occasional comments from "busywine" on his Books and Vines website, most of us already know who the reliable and fairly priced booksellers are - booksellers that one can deal with after establishing a long term relationship who have made it their policy to price their books to sell. Chanticleer Books, Mark Post, Jeanne Shiff, Different Drummer Books, Tamerlane Books, Woodbridge Rare Books (UK), and Tindley and Chapman (UK) all fall into this category and are amongst my favorite in this regard.
11leccol
And certain booksellers just keep raising prices as if they will sell certain books tomorrow or sooner. My post of Wuthering Heights at $4000 is typical. Not only is the book disgraceful looking with what amounts to greasy handprints, but the seller doesn't give an iota about lowering his price to fit the book's poor condition.
12dlphcoracl
>11 leccol:
That's probably still a better deal than paying Charles "The Gouger" Agvent $6,250. for his copy in fine condition. LOL.
That's probably still a better deal than paying Charles "The Gouger" Agvent $6,250. for his copy in fine condition. LOL.
13aaronpepperdine
>13 aaronpepperdine: Charles "The Gouger" Agvent sounds like a George R R Martin character, is probably pretty accurate, and made me laugh.
14wcarter
Photobucket took down all the photos I had posted of this magnificent book. I have just uploaded them to my LT junk folder so that they can be viewed again.
17mr.philistine
>1 wcarter: ...the front one carved.. with a Tibetan good‑luck charm.
...the same Tibetan good luck symbol is impressed in the cover.
Both the carving and impression are variations of the 'eternal/ endless/ infinity knot'
More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_knot
...the same Tibetan good luck symbol is impressed in the cover.
Both the carving and impression are variations of the 'eternal/ endless/ infinity knot'
More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_knot
18Sport1963
>1 wcarter: There were still a few copies left for sale from the LEC in NY as of last Autumn, the title just hasn't been listed on the website (there are a few other titles not listed that are available as well). Louise Scalia now runs the Club (essentially new old stock), and is an absolute pleasure to do business with. For anyone on this forum who would like to add a truly unique and beautiful book to their collection, I encourage you to reach out to the LEC: http://limitededitionsclub.com/
