Tales from the One Thousand and One Nights

Now up on the website for those with deeper pockets than mine, is the beautiful Dali illustrated 1001 nights.

http://www.foliosociety.com/book/DNT

How I wish I wasn't an unemployed academic living off baked beans and tinned tuna. Although at £795 It probably wouldn't have mattered even if I was employed.

It's beautiful. Thankfully so far above my budget right now that I can appreciate from afar without temptation but if I did suddenly come into a large amount of disposable cash ... well ...

Ordered.

On the translation:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/dec/27/arabian-nights-malcolm-c-lyons

>3 drasvola: Had the ten part plan been available then I would have joined you in ordering already, as it is I'll be waiting.

Sonofa... did they have to release it so soon after the Door in the Wall? I'm really going to be scraping the bottom of the living-barrel this year.

After a few moments of reflection I might skip it, like Huxley if the 10-part plan had been still available I might have been more decisive in proceeding to the payment page.

>4 HuxleyTheCat:
>5 wongie:

The four month plan is available.

There's no hurry - it won't be available for shipping for at least six weeks. Plenty of time to save up ;-)

Dammit Folio!

Isn't there an edition from ecsa books from a few years ago? I can't seem to find a price, but this could be an alternative. The book looks lovely but is far out of my reach. Dammit Folio indeed! Or rather, thank you Folio for pricing this one so high that I never even considered buying it in the first place.

Ten months - possibly.

Four months - not a chance.

It's nice, but it's not THAT nice. In my opinion.

It is THAT nice in my opinion (it's also huge -- compare the plates volume's 18” by 13½” to the fine edition of The Holy Land & Egypt and Nubia at 14¾” by 10¾”). But like many others the decision to drop the 10-month plan has had an adverse impact on my willingness to throw $1400 at the Folio Society. $140 a month doesn't sound too bad; $350 per is somewhat more alarming.

I think I'll have to wait and save up rather than buy during the pre-release period.

Just as well I don't like this, despite being a fan of most Dali. Being retired, and without the 10-part plan, I can't justify these more expensive LEs any more.

Nope. Not interested in that one. :) thankfully.

I'm not sure why, but the two volume arrangment of plates and stories came as a bit of a surprise. I think I was expecting one large volume with the plates in-situ with the stories, but having them bound entirely seperately does make it a bit less attractive for me.

ETA - Also looking at the book of Tales, the plain cloth binding seems a bit utilitarian, and almost an afterthought. I think it would have been nicer to have made some attempt to make the bindings match.

>12 boldface:

I'm with you Jonathan, though not retired, although the thought of being independently wealthy and retiring when I'm 40 wouldn't sound bad at all.

I'm dumbfounded why Folio has chosen to cater for the wealthy - three LE in less than a month? I haven't even finished the sale on my first kidney!

>14 HuxleyTheCat: I was expecting that too, but I think I prefer this arrangement, which allows for the plates to be a good size without rendering the text totally unreadable.

>15 ironjaw:

'...sale on my first kidney!'

Does this mean that you have three kidneys, and thus can manage to sell a second, or are you going to be foolish enough to sell your second kidney and just live off dialysis until you get a transplant...and then sell that kidney too for another LE? ;)

In all seriousness, ten-month plan: I'd have bought it. Four: not a chance.

I'm a little relieved too. Ending my days dining regularly on beans on toast will be a small price to pay for early retirement with unfettered access to a wonderful range of books, but the beans and the bread will still have to be paid for.

Supposedly a kidney is worth around $262,000 on the black market or about £180,000 (not that I'm speaking from personal experience) which is enough to buy every LE currently on sale and probably their entire catalogue to boot which makes selling a kidney, never-minding the legality or morality of it, rather tempting.

It's been several hours since it went on sale and the more I dwell on it the more I feel justified in skipping 1001. Perhaps a visit to Eagle Street in July might change that but for now given that the 10-month plan is gone then if I am to buy another LE without it then I'd much rather buy the Edda.

>4 HuxleyTheCat: >5 wongie: >10 folio_books: >11 gmacaree: >12 boldface: >17 scholasticus: Agreed... 10 instalments definitely, four not so much...

>18 cronshaw: Oh, how many times have I heard that one! :-)

I'm not a fan of the 2 separate volumes. I'm already not thrilled when the illustrations does not match the page of the text in other books but this just seems cumbersome to go through. It would kill the flow for me. Looks like a beautiful volume but like others without the 10 month plan I'm priced out.

See, Mole, the thing to do would be to give us the 10-month plan back and spark a flood of LE buys.

>18 cronshaw:

I'm with you on that one!

Not tempted. Not a fan of the modernist illustrations (all due respect to Dali), which is the primary reason for this LE.

>1 SingingSands: You lucky devil still able to treat yourself to tinned tuna after The Door in the Wall and Mort.

>22 HuxleyTheCat: I know, dearest feline One, I know. However, I'm just not sufficiently taken by it, partly, as you've already indicated, because of the separation of text and images into separate volumes, making this effectively a volume of artwork rather than illustrated literature, which I don't find nearly as tempting. It's also yet another enormous coffee table-sized sarcophagus which would have nowhere to live, since my partner has refused to allow me to store books on the bed, the only remaining free horizontal surface above floor level outside the kitchen and bathroom. And then of course there's the price. So, no. Despite having a history of Folio resolutions somewhat less fixed than Cher's forehead, I can say with 99.9% certainty that can quite safely be rounded up to 100% on this occasion, that I will not be ordering this limited edition.

Extremely tempted, fantastic illustrations. Maybe next year, if the edition hangs around that long...

>30 EclecticIndulgence: There is one from Ecsa books (Folio even mentioned them in their marketing blurb)

Good arbitrage potential with the large pricing differential between UK and US prices.

>30 EclecticIndulgence: >31 susanne-27: The Ecsa website http://ecsabooks.com/product/dali/ shows quite a few more of the images than the FS page.

Gorgeous. I'd take his watercolours over oils any day.

Is the text volume the complete text or is it an abridged version? I have the FS Mardrus and Mathers edition and that comprises four volumes, each more than 500 pages long. To fit the full text into the 512 pages of this LE would require very small type. Penguin publish an abridged edition of this Irwin/Lyons translation (ISBN: 978-0141191652). It is 528 pages long and I suspect that this is what is being offered here.

>35 pythagoras:
Folio previously published the complete 1001 Nights in six volumes. Here is an example:
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=17432257944&searchurl=pn%3D...

>36 EclecticIndulgence:

I've complained about the "bunching" of illustrations in some other cases, but I think it's different here. Wouldn't fifty pages, presumably thicker than text pages, add quite a bit of heft to a book at the plate size? Going in the opposite direction and miniaturizing the pictures also seems unsatisfactory.

>36 EclecticIndulgence: The Ecsa page only shows a slim accompanying volume — presumably it's a commentary on the images rather than the stories themselves. I assume with the new FS LE the accompanying volume will contain only those stories that Dalí illustrates... it would be nice if it includes the images at reduced size so that they can be seen alongside the text; presumably not as the blurb makes no mention of it, though surely it wouldn't have been hard to do. Anyway, all academic as there's no 10-installment option...

Penguin recently published Malcom and Ursula Lyons' translation of the "complete" Nights (as far as such a thing is possible) in three fat paperback volumes.

There is also Penguin paperback and hardback of "selected tales" drawn from the three-volume edition. The FS edition may be a different selection that matches the Dali pictures, but I would strongly suspect that it's a reprint of the Penguin selected tales.

>38 LolaWalser: I think you are right, and it might not work given the size of the plates - we'd be getting into Helmut Newton, Sumo territory. I'm probably trying to find reasons not to like it, but the truth is I think the art is wonderful and, given the care which Folio usually devotes to reproduction, probably as close to having the impact of the originals as it's possible to get. I remember seeing original Dali plates from Alice, and they were magnificent.

>3 drasvola: Antonio, may I ask what price you paid, as the page says 'published price £795' and the banner on the home page says 'Members Launch Price Available until 5th July'?

>38 LolaWalser:
Well, they wouldn't have to publish combined text & illustrations in a single volume. After all, even the current edition consists of 2 volumes - they did throw in an uninspired simple hardcover with text in addition to the huge sumptuous portfolio of prints, remember? )

Also, this is a subjective preference of course, but I would muuuuuch prefer reduced size. Like some others here, I'm more interested in illustrated books than nicely bound portfolios of large prints. Even my pure art/photography books I prefer a tad bit smaller than this.

Btw, I love these Dali's illustrations, they're fantastic.

Not that my opinion should really matter - thankfully, I'm pretty immune to all of the more expensive FS LEs, so I'm not part of the target market. In this price range I'm usually looking for something else - historic significance, for example. Or I'd much rather add some more money and buy a single print signed by Dali to hang on a wall.

>42 HuxleyTheCat:

Fiona: I paid £845 including the £50 shipping charge. I would suppose that it is the member's price, although it shows as "published" price. I did take advantage of the four-month plan.

Too expensive. I have yet recover from the recent Alice and Mort LE. Also, I'm not a fan of Folio's decision to split the illustration and the text to 2 different volumes.

>46 vietle:

Yes very expensive. I've only got a couple of LEs, but were palatable: aka financially smuggleable into the house, beyond the antennae of the Library-Limiter.

>42 HuxleyTheCat: the page says 'published price £795'
>45 drasvola: I paid £845 including the £50 shipping charge

I've just tried this myself and the price remained £795 at checkout. Delivery to the UK is £10.95, which i think is quite reasonable for one of Joe's giant-sized slabs of paper.

£50 is extortion (thanks for sharing that).

There are so many things wrong with this LE that I know I'm never going to buy it which, as others have said, is a matter of some relief.

>48 folio_books: £50 does sound like a lot, but when you consider the size and weight of the edition, and the cost of overseas airmail freight, with insurance for £800, it's probably fair given what Royal Mail and other carriers charge these days. What I find galling is that these carriers were quick to hike their prices as the price of oil spiked, but haven't reduced their prices as the oil price has plummeted over the past couple of years.

I purchase most LEs, but not this one, as I really do not like Dali's drawings (personal taste, I know).
Once again I have added this LE to the FSD wiki page at:-
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Groups:Folio_Society_Devotees#Folio_S...
The LE list is now very substantial. I make it 73 different LEs since the program began in 2001. And there are also the 39 Letterpress Shakespeare volumes to consider.
The year by year list can be seen at:-
http://www.librarything.com/topic/192880

Living in Australia I know what it means to pay high postage costs.
Whenever I emailed, they say that there is a fairly high insurance component to the cost.

It was something like $180 postage for Alice in Wonderland

The FS also published selections from the 1001 Nights as "The Arabian Nights" in 1999. It was a 239 page book with 12 illustrations by Edward Detmold taken from the 1924 Hodder and Stoughton edition. See my copy at:-
https://flic.kr/p/EsNFge
Copies are available from less tha US$20 on Abe.
A good option for those of us who do not want to spend 50 times as much on the LE.

Stevenson's New Arabian Nights is excellent. Just thought I'd share that with you.

>49 cronshaw: it's probably fair given what Royal Mail and other carriers charge these days.

You're quite right, of course. It was just my initial knee-jerk reaction. Fifty pounds? For postage? I could buy a decent Folio book for that. On reflection I suppose I should have been more surprised at how reasonable p&p to the UK is, certainly in comparison to Royal Mail.

Thinking about it more, my objection behind the costs of postage is really about Joe's continuing obsession with books of enormous dimension. Freud may have an opinion but I'll keep mine to myself. Small is beautiful, Joe. Think Morris's Odes of Horace (though, even then, you had to encase it in an enormous solander).

It's alright for Joe. He brings out yet another book of gravestone proportions and orders a new set of custom shelves to accommodate it. I don't have that option. For every "normal" size Folio I acquire, something else has to find it's way to the charity shop pile. Things like this latest offering, the Queen Mary Atlas, Egypt/Nubia/Holy Land - they're just out of the question. Fortunately none of the real monsters have appealed as a "must have" but all would have come into consideration had I been able to find a space for them.

And that's before we get to questions about pricing and instalments.

>54 folio_books: Storage space has certainly become a most pressing issue for me. One of the delights of The Door in the Wall and Mort is that both LEs are slim, even with the former housed in a clamshell case. Sheer volume is one factor (quite aside from price and the size of the series) that put me off the Letterpress Shakespeare. I much prefer the size of the original Folio Shakespeare: not only are they much easier to handle and read, but the entire series takes up the same space as three of the current Letterpress entombed tomes.

>55 cronshaw: I much prefer the size of the original Folio Shakespeare

Couldn't agree more. And the originals were all printed letterpress too, of course. In those days it was less to brag about; it was just what the Folio Society did. The originals are mini-masterpieces of design and careful production. And cheap, of course! (Well, cheaper).

>54 folio_books: >55 cronshaw: I'm torn over the issue of LE size: on one hand I love large books (particularly when their principle function is not reading) but on the other I don't have space for too many more - The Door in the Wall is still in it's shipping box standing vertically under my desk until I can find a permanent home for it. The Dali, I think 'has' to be of these dimensions to show the art at its best.

I'm not sure how much Dali's signature is worth, but anyone considering the Folio Society price to be high, should perhaps take a look on abe at the price of the Maecenas Press / Random House edition of the Dali-illustrated Alice in Wonderland, which has similar dimensions, but is a limitation of 2500 and only 12 lithographs plus a signed etching.

It's a pity that the ECSA site doesn't have details of the price and limitation in order to directly compare.

Edited for grammar.

Interesting to notice how this publication, and its immediate repercussion, seems to be a Mort-in-reverse phenomenon.

>44 elladan0891:

Well, they wouldn't have to publish combined text & illustrations in a single volume.

True, but I'd prefer having to deal with one giant book than two. Maybe because I'd be in no hurry to read the tales (I've already read complete editions of Mardrus via Powys-Mathers, Galland, and Gabrieli), the idea of having the book of plates on the table in front and the text book in hand for occasional consultation doesn't seem unappealing.

Smaller size doesn't appeal to me in this case--this really is something one would get for the art more than for the text.

>58 drasvola:

I wish I could put my purse where my heart is... :) But, even with four monthly payments, it will take long negotiations between my good and bad angels to blow about half my annual book expenditure on a single title...

>58 drasvola: they didn't display a stock counter for this one!

>45 drasvola: Thanks, Antonio.

>60 LolaWalser:

I'm not drawing any conclusions yet. However, it's again interesting to ponder on the usefulness of FS surveys, since this publication was included in an early survey.

>61 cronshaw:

Perhaps what's needed is a stock counter to show how fast sales increase!

>62 HuxleyTheCat:

The website has been changed now showing the price as £885 with a 10% discount to members (£90) until July 5th.

Antonio, any link or list of that survey available for us to consider what has been and maybe published

>65 ironjaw:

It was some time ago, Faisel. I remember I received an email asking if I would be interested in the Dalí book if it were to be produced. I do remember that I answered affirmatively. So I have been preparing for this...

>65 ironjaw:

April 2015: the email opens this thread https://www.librarything.com/topic/190284 .

>67 terebinth:

Thank-you. Dear me, I had completely forgotten that I had initiated the topic a year ago.

Looking at the prices of all LEs produced by the FS since 2001, the 1001 Nights certainly sits near the top of the list, but somehow does not seem as magnificent as those of similar price.
Magna Carta (2014, 480 copies, single piece of framed parchment with facsimile seal, £1250)
Luttrell Psalter (2006, 1,480 copies, £1090)
King Henry's Prayer Book (2009, 980 copies, £995)
Birds Drawn for John Gould by Edward Lear (signed by David Attenborough, 2012, 780 copies, £895)
The Holy Land, and Egypt and Nubia : David Roberts (2 vols., 2010, 1000 copies, £895)
Tales From the One Thousand and One Nights : Illustrated by Salvador Dali (2016, 750 copies, £885)
Night Thoughts : Edward Young (2 vols., 2005, 1000 copies, £875)
Queen Mary Atlas (2005, 1000 copies with commentary volume, £795)
The Temple of Flora : Robert Thornton (2008, 600 copies, £795)
Going back to 1976, Bird Paintings of Henry Jones was a LE of less than 500 copies priced at £350, which is now over £1700 allowing for inflation, making it the most expensive FS publication ever in constant money terms.

>69 wcarter:

As well as modest inflation through the period, I'd guess copyright could be playing quite a part in its price - not an issue as far as I'm aware for any of the other titles there, except for introductions and suchlike.

Incidentally the Night Thoughts sold at the rather lower price of £875 through most of its availability, only rising to £1050 when stock was nearing exhaustion.

>70 terebinth:
Thanks Paul.
List in 69 above amended accordingly.

Received the Folio flyer for the Dali. Very nice advertisement, though I still won't be buying it.

And coincidentally (less than a minute ago) an email from Folio extolling the virtues of their latest LE and inviting me to purchase same.

How many instalments was that, again?

>72 folio_books:

Four.

>73 drasvola: Four.

Yup. In this instance I have to be honest and say that even with ten I wouldn't be buying, and I'm very relieved about that.

Over on the GMd our colleague Django has posted a sample comparison of the Burton, Mathers and Lyons translations: http://www.librarything.com/topic/193543#5593900 I have to say that I find the Lyons translation as utilitarian as the binding and distinctly lacking in elegance.

I agree that without the 10 month option that my purchases have been curtailed, especially for the limited editions.

Hmmm, it's $1495 which is £1019. Even at £795 I thought it was too much. Although I would not have purchased it even with a 10-month plan, but I fail to see the logic in removing that option for such expensive purchases for those of us that are not in the top 10% percent of income :/

>77 astropi: You're not comparing like with like: £795 is the UK price with the members' introductory discount. $1495 is the US price without the discount. The US price with the discount is $1345, $150 less. That equates to a UK price of £922. Perhaps the short term unpredictability of foreign exchange rates caused by the Brexit referendum is contributing to this pricing differential, with Folio needing a hedge against the anticipated rise in the £:$ rate if the UK votes to remain within the EU.

Folio buys a set currency rate for 12 months in order to guard itself from currency rate fluctuations

If so, it must be significantly more expensive to purchase that rate at a time of heightened uncertainty and exchange rate volatility.

After reading the 80 posts, I understand that I am in the minority who is really excited at the LE "Tales from the One Thousand and One Nights" being published by FS. I have always been crazy about Nights and have to own almost every other edition. I own the three volume Lyons Hardcover set as well. My two cents:

1. Contrary to what the majority of the members feel, I believe that having the 50 paintings by Dali in a separate volume is an excellent idea. I have owned big books like Wuthering Heights LEC, Holy Land, Egypt and Nubia and always felt that having the literature alongside the sketches was not a good idea especially when you would actually want to read the book. And moreover in this case, we are talking about 50 full-sized sketches. Having the sketches with the literature on Modigliani paper would have made it extremely heavy to handle/manage.

2. I would have preferred if they would have made the Text Volume look special and somewhat comparable to the Plates volume. It is not just a Commentary - it is the Text.

3. Nothing against the price point - it is actually reasonable considering that we would be getting 50 of Dali's paintings at that price. Not having the 10 instalment plan for purchases more than C$1000 is actually a blunder. With taxes and shipping, the total comes to C$1750 - FS should be reinstating the instalment for such big purchases.

Also, I did check with Folio Society - 37 Stories (including the popular ones like Sindbad, Aladdin, Alibaba) derived from 507 Nights have been included in the text. I have received the list as well but the list is in PDF format and I don't know how to attach the same.

Well out of my pocket and I am working. Maybe they will do a cheaper version down the line.

They are definitely moving away from the ethos of making quality affordable books. As a young earner they were always more expensive than the standard hardbacks, but just affordable if you could pay in instalments for a few at a time. Now instalments have gone and they are focusing more on higher priced volumes, the person who was me in the 1980s wouldn't be starting a Folio collection now I suspect.

>83 EclecticIndulgence:

Realistically, I think they have probably been in that territory for a while; it's just that it was easier in the past for more aspirant buyers to pretend at affordability with instalment plans, especially for a limited edition that only cost £200 or £300 to begin with. I definitely would not have built up the Folio collection I have over the past years without the lovely instalment plan option.

So I unfortunately have to echo what most have said here. I am not a huge fan of Dali as such, but I do love his watercolours. I am extremely tempted by this offering, and would quite like to have it; prior to release, I thought it was going to be a sure purchase. But I dare say that without the 10 month instalment plan, it is out of my price range, as much as I would like to pretend it isn't. Which is a shame--but then, considering how much I have bought from Folio in the last year, probably for the best! It will allow me to keep waiting in the hope they offer a £60 LE voucher again this summer; suddenly the Faerie Queene begins to look somewhat more affordable by comparison!

>83 EclecticIndulgence:

I had to smile at "'upper middle class' territory" remembering buying, for instance, Blake's Night Thoughts on a salary around two thirds the national average. Then, that was only straightforward for me because of all the expensive things I lack any real desire to do, and if the presumption is of book purchases forming part of a balanced contemporary lifestyle you may well be right.

>85 terebinth: “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” - Erasmus

>86 kdweber:

Ah, yes :-) I can't claim quite the same priorities - food with me, some sort of food, has always taken precedence over books - but clothes at least can nearly always wait.

"Do you remember the brown suit, which you made to hang upon you, till all your friends cried shame upon you, it grew so thread-bare--and all because of that folio Beaumont and Fletcher, which you dragged home late at night from Barker's in Covent-garden? Do you remember how we eyed it for weeks before we could make up our minds to the purchase, and had not come to a determination till it was near ten o'clock of the Saturday night, when you set off from Islington, fearing you should be too late--and when the old bookseller with some grumbling opened his shop, and by the twinkling taper (for he was setting bedwards) lighted out the relic from his dusty treasures--and when you lugged it home, wishing it were twice as cumbersome--and when you presented it to me--and when we were exploring the perfectness of it ('collating', you called it)--and while I was repairing some of the loose leaves with paste, which your impatience would not suffer to be left till day-break--was there no pleasure in being a poor man?" - Charles Lamb, exhibiting a well developed case of FAD a good century before the Folio Society was founded.

>86 kdweber: Erasmus is my kind of hero.

Just having returned from holiday in the UK (a tour of three SW counties...Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset), I am somewhat relieved that this LE does not appeal sufficiently to me at this price point. Not that I'm complaining it is unfairly priced, but I am decidedly indifferent to the web site sample of Dali illustrations, despite enjoying other works of his in the past. I just do not enjoy the illustrations enough to pay this price for them. I also have never joined the Thousand Nights Fan Club and already have several editions of it from various publishers (and varying amounts of abridgement), so I am really not wanting/needing another copy of it, even with different illustrations and a highly respected translation.

If this gets released in the future as a "fine" edition similar to Candide, David Roberts, etc. I may consider it, but unlikely.

Happy for those that are thrilled by this release, I am just as happy to be able to pass without regret.

>89 UK_History_Fan: "If this gets released in the future as a "fine" edition similar to Candide, David Roberts, etc."

Having done a side-by-side comparison of the two Roberts sets and seen that the difference in printing quality of the plates was negligible, then I would love for the FS to do the same with the Dali 1001 Nights. I guess that whether they do will depend upon whether the LE flies out of the door or not.

ETA - P.S. did you enjoy the Scrumpy? :-)

What is the Scrumpy?

>91 UK_History_Fan:

Cider (of sorts)

>91 UK_History_Fan: It's the national drink of Somerset! I have no idea how you missed out, but I'd sue your tour guide! I sincerely hope that you sampled scones prepared in both the Devon and Cornwall way.

>93 HuxleyTheCat:

I once visited Paignton for a week's holiday. I had been enthused by the hyped up of mouth watering reviews of the 'Devonshire Cream Tea' I had heard from some family memebrs. What a let down. Give me a pie supper anytime. :-)

I mean there is no comparison.



Okay the sharp ones amongst you will recognise that the pie above is an adulteration of the only pie worth taking about... The Scotch Mince Pie here below...



All of this beauty against this excuse for food... :-)

>94 LesMiserables: And there's me thinking you would have preferred a deep-fried Mars Bar!

>95 HuxleyTheCat:
What Steve is aiming for is a higher cholesterol to bring on his heart attack!
Give me the Devonshire tea anyday.

>96 wcarter: But, to be fair, Steve does come from the land which believes a well-balanced meal consists of a haggis starter followed by deep-fried pizza, followed by deep-fried confectionary bars, all washed down with lashings of Irn-bru. (Only kidding, Steve - Arbroath Smokies are wonderful!)

>95 HuxleyTheCat: >96 wcarter:

Everything in moderation of course, but let's be fair, after a few pints on holiday, what could be better to stagger home with? There's something about a pie supper in a chip-shop wrapper that just glues itself to the palm, no matter what undulations the carrier takes on his way home. Now try doing that with the Cream Tea!

>97 HuxleyTheCat: Tis true, tis true.

The average age of the Glasweigan male matches that of the wild Bactrian camel.

>98 LesMiserables: I think you have a point. Having just polished off a stiff G&T (for its somniferous properties, of course) I have to say that those chips are beginning to look good. I'm going to bed now, before temptation leads to raiding the freezer.

>100 HuxleyTheCat:

Good girl. And don't listen to Warwick, he has written me off as a chip wielding pipe puffing whisky swigging antipodean. I'm actually a lot worse ;-)

Everything in moderation. Except chips.

>99 LesMiserables:
The Bactrian camel has a life span of 50 years (Wikipedia). I suspect you are already in very dangerous territory 😃

>104 wcarter:

I'm living every day like it's my last 😃

Trying to steer the thread back O/T (mentioning camels doesn't count, Steve), I've been wondering about the timing of the on-sale date of this LE. According to the FS the book won't be available until July, but the announcement in May means that the Member's Launch Price will likely have expired before the book becomes physically available. Also, it seems strange to make the book available so close on the heels of The Door in the Wall, Mort and the arrival of the May collection. Then we have the non-availability of the 10-part plan. It almost seems to me like Folio are thinking this book will sell to Dali-aficionados in sufficient quantities that the membership is largely irrelevant.

>106 HuxleyTheCat:

Apologies. But when anyone mentions scones... :-

As a Dali fan and Thousand and One Nights fan I've thought long and hard about this new LE.

What I like about this new LE -

1. The beautiful calligraphy on the solander box.
2. That's all.

What I don't like -

1. Although I have always been fascinated by Dali's work these particular illustrations don't appeal to me. They seem uncharacteristic of his work which is usually distinguished by his superb draftsmanship.
2. The companion volume looks drab and I would have preferred the stories bound up with the artwork. Otherwise, as others have commented, all we have is a huge art coffee table book.
3. The size - it's too big and I don't have the room for another book the size of the foundation pilings on the Empire State Building. Neither do I have the telephone number of Joe's bespoke bookshelf maker.
4. The price.
5. the lack of 10 monthly installments.

I've just not been inspired by some of Folio's recent LE's. The Door in the Wall is lovely to be sure, but not tempting enough for me to buy it. At least it keeps my bank balance healthy.

>108 Quicksilver66: As a Dali fan and Thousand and One Nights fan I've thought long and hard about this new LE.

Considering it's quite a lengthy post I'm surprised at how closely you echoed my internal cogitations. I have to say I could have written it myself, almost word for word.

I so looked forward to this as a possible/probable purchase. My disappointment is equalled only by the sighs of relief from my bank balance.

> 109

Am I being accused of plagiary ;)

Indeed. I read all the previous posts and where I agreed with them, reflected the same by way of a summary of what I agree with. But my comments on the Dali paintings are very much my own thoughts, obviously shared by others. They don't seem characteristic of his work as a whole, quite impressionistic and not a style I associate with him.

It is a nice LE, but just not enough for me to want to buy it.

Yes, it's a bit dissapointing that the text volume is presented as a drab 'commentary' volume. They have it backwards really - the art volume, rather, is Dali's commentary on the text. That said, i'm tempted - the plates volume is marvellous.

I called into the dMR today and the Dalí LE had just been put out on display! It's not a complete volume, that is, it consists of the loose quires stacked in an unbound pile, alongside a volume fully bound in the leather and silk but which is blank inside. The watercolours are indeed magnificent, very vivid, and on impressively thick paper. I find these illustrations far more impressive than Dalí's more famous oil paintings; there's also a remarkable variety of styles and colouring within the series. I don't think anyone who orders this will be disappointed in the production values of the illustration volume. The text volume is indeed on the plain side, especially next to the sumptuous illustration volume, enhanced with only a silk ribbon and the repeated appearance in the margins throughout the text of Dalí's signature to indicate whenever part of a tale appears in an illustration. Though the illustration volume is quite magnificent, and the reproduction of the watercolours so impressive you could be forgiven for thinking they're the real thing, this remains an LE way beyond my budget, particularly after The Door in the Wall and Mort.

(OT: The dMR display copy of The Yellow Fairy Book is languishing on the Naughty Trolley, in case any Devotee passing by Eagle St during the next few days would like to offer it a new home, also a few shrinkwrapped copies of the OOP volumes Moonfleet and Gerard Manley Hopkins: Selected Poems and Prose)

>112 cronshaw:

Many thanks for your report and first impressions!

I was at the dMR today, and although I'm not planning on getting the book, I have to say I agree with >112 cronshaw: - watercolors are fantastic, paper is very nice. Just want to add that the binding itself is gorgeous - quarter leather with really beautiful crushed silk sides. All in all - a very beautiful art volume.
P.S. The actual text volume is as ordinary as it looks on the website. Buy this LE as an art volume of Dali's work, not as a reading copy of the Nights.

>112 cronshaw:
The Yellow Fairy Book is gone from the trolley, of course. The Naughty Trolley looked relatively disappointing today, although I still managed to pick up perfectly new, still shrink-wrapped copies of Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain, Count Belisarius, and Death on the Nile.

at the warehouse

>115 kdweber:

Yes. And given shipping delays and my holiday plans, I won't get my hands on the book until early September. Was really hoping that the "early July" despatch announcement would actually happen.

It has arrived! Very beat up shipping box with multiple taped over holes but nothing touched the Solander box inside due to the large air buffers on all sides. Well packed. Heavy and Huge! Copy #56. Truly spectacularly reproduced prints. This may be my new favorite FS LE. Where to keep such a massive production? I think it should be stored flat.

Received mine today in good shape from Canada Post. Very happy with it. I ordered on the first day, and received #74. Because they canvassed LE owners ahead of time, I assume they dealt from the top of the deck, if it matters. The accompanying volume is indeed an abridged version of the 3 volume Penguin, but still substantial at 512 pages. I don't see how 3 vols. could be accommodated in the format. It's intended as a reference for the paintings, with each one flagged in the margins of the text. I've had the Mardrus and Mathers set since the 1950s, so don't need the new text other than as a reference, but I imagine it's adequate for a first time reading. Four vols was a bit of a marathon , even for a teenager.

I hope someone can post some pictures. The pics on Folio's website do a poor job of showing the quality of the actual prints in the book.

These don't do it justice, but perhaps better than nothing

Thank you for the pictures!

Beautiful!!! Thanks a lot for sharing...

I could no longer resist myself - succumbed to the charms of this gorgeous tome and placed an order....

A quick question to those who have this LE-does the text volume fit inside the solander box,or does it need to be shelved separately?

>124 gmurphy:
Inside the very large solander box.

>125 wcarter:

Thanks. Very tempted.

I ordered the Dali from the LE sale and finally received it today. What an absolutely stunning production! Loved loved loved all 50 of the vivid and vibrant watercolours. Oh and the leather binding and crushed silk sides are magical too. I was on the fence about buying this one because of the price but I am so glad that I did. Easily the best of the LEs that I own so far.

>127 radz123: Congrats! My favorite as well.

>127 radz123: Glad you love it so much. That was the one I was the most on the fence about and the closest to buying at the end. Just couldn't pull the trigger!

Sorry to bring this thread back up but I have a copy of this that I purchased recently and it's so much bigger than I was expecting. I'm at a bit of a loss on how to store this in a way that I can enjoy it. At the moment its stored flat in my office a bit out of the way and nowhere near my other books that sit on normal shelves.

If anyone who owns it can share pictures of how they have it stored it can give me some ideas of my own options. Otherwise I fear I'm going to read it once and then sell it on which I really dont want to do as its so beautiful.

>130 anthonyfawkes: This post from the 'Shelfies' thread on the GMD forum has some examples if you have room on the top of your bookshelf; https://www.librarything.com/topic/247445#5914931

>130 anthonyfawkes:
You need to buy more of the same size then have an entire over height shelf on which to store them.
See https://flic.kr/p/2nixVcG

Thank you both for the inspiration (and the attempt at enablement wcarter).

I see you also took the solander out of the gold protective shell to store it vertically, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in that regards. I do have some other large format books arriving this year so investing in another set of shelves where I can adjust the height seems like the best solution, maybe if we buy the house we are in then I can build a custom set of shelves that has a deeper lower shelf that's bigger and then normal height for the rest.

No. 51(?) titled 'Vecchio Sultano' by Salvador Dali was recently sold at auction for £45,700.





Sources:
https://lustermagazine.com/2025/07/29/vecchio-sultano-a-lost-dali-that-shook-the...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2wkvwrx8xo
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/jul/29/salvador-dali-painting-boug...
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/oct/24/lost-salvador-dali-painting...

A review by >127 radz123:
https://readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2017/12/07/tales-from-the-1001-nights-d...