New EP DLE...Salome...

Either I am missing a post on it or everyone else is missing it on the website...

http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/5DF/3243/SALOME

EP snuck this one in.

This is an usual work! It was published by the Limited Editions Club in 1938. However, half of it was a reprint of the Aubrey Beardsley edition, which is unusual for the LEC since they typically did original illustrations. However, the other half included original illustrations and is in French! Why? because the play was originally in French. Also, the "original" half was also soft-cover, which again is unusual for the LEC. Beardsley was an AMAZING illustrator! Sadly he had a very short life cut all too soon by tuberculosis -so sad...
However, I have always loved his illustrations which do live on. How do I feel about Derain's illustrations? Not my thing. Still, Salome is a great read and if you just want the Beardsley illustrations, I suggest finding the EP Famous Editions copy.

>2 astropi: I just recently picked up the LEC edition which can be had in very good condition for less than the EP reproduction. I like the Derain illustrations but the Beardsley work is phenomenal!

I saw that over the weekend while I was killing some time waiting for a table to get done playing at a euchre party.

Meh...

I wasn't able to find the LEC with both volumes intact in reasonable condition online for less than the EP?? I checked Ebay, Abe, and Amazon. I could find multiple single volumes with only the Derain illustrations - which makes sense as I'm sure everyone loves the Beardsley ones. I have the EP Morte d'Arthur with the Beardsley illustrations and that along with the Folio Faerie Queene with Walter Crane illustrations (which EP also has, but with less awesome covers) is my favorite book I own.

>5 katielouise: I admit I've been on the lookout for this LEC edition for a while before finally finding a very nice copy last month for $297 including shipping. Don't lose heart.

I've seen the LEC version sell for less than what EP is charging at a pretty good condition. Not sure if EP should be marketing LEC copies as a DLE but to each his own, not a fan of it.

7: I personally would push EP to steer clear of making LEC reprints and concentrate on more works like the author-signed DLEs -all of which have sold out.

>8 astropi: "... the author-signed DLEs -all of which have sold out."

The illustrator-signed DLEs haven't done so well, though: Poe, Jekyll & Hyde, Hound of the Baskerviles, War of the Worlds, and the newer Gilgamesh are all still for sale.

9: I think eventually they'll sell out, but of course there's more of a demand for an author's signature than an artist's (typically). Also, 1200 is a high limitation number. I think EP should stick to 500-800.

11: Rubaiyat was definitely an exception. As for Mort, keep in mind three things:

1)It's a modern novel, and one that I believe never had a "deluxe" nor "limited" release before, whereas most DLEs and FS LEs are "classical" in nature.

2)It was limited to 500 copies.

3)Retail price was around $150.

All that together equates to a quickly selling item.

I just got my set, and it looks beautiful. The EP photos are pretty representative of what the books look like in real life. Both books are hand-numbered which I think is kind of unique. I think with every other DLE set, only the first book is numbered, at least in my limited experience.

13: Please share pics!

To all buying this set can you read French?

>15 HugoDumas: One copy is in English and the other is in French so it's not really necessary.

Can anyone comment on the quality of the EP printing and the illustration reproductions? The exteriors and bindings are generally the chancier present-day aspect of original LECs. In these volumes especially, if one spent the money on EP, one would want more than pretty bindings. The slipcase design and the book covers are consistent with pictures I've seen of the LECs.
If anyone has bought this, please comment on the quality of the illustration reproductions particularly.

>13 hmsdrco2001: I repeat the request of another reader to post pictures. I'd especially like to see one of the Derain illustrations.
As I said in #17, a weak point of the few EP volumes I have is the quality of the illustrations, e.g. their Rackham Wind in the Willows.
Since I have the Quarto-Millenary (the summation/celebration of the first 250 LEC books) with significant illustrations reproduced, and some tipped in and printed exactly as in the originals, I can see what the Rackham paintings should look like. It also has one of the Derain illustrations, which is-IMHO-a great attribute of the French Salome edition.
The problem with the LEC, for me, besides finding a set in at least Near Fine condition at a reasonable price, is that the French volume is bound in paper, which was clever at the time but not so good for longevity.
Since the overall look of the EP set is much like the LEC set, this question is my sticking point on buying a copy.
Any comment would be appreciated.

I have now acquired this Salome and am highly pleased. The reproductions of the Derain illustrations (on black paper) are excellent. This had been my main reservation. Aside from the fact that they are leather bound, the two books look quite faithful to the original plan of the LECs.
I will add that the bindings are relatively plain, which is also consistent, especially in the French version, with the LECs. I do think EP was justified in making this facsimile edition of a really handsome set.

Thanks for the synopsis. It's good to hear they are continuing with high-quality DLEs!

>19 laotzu225: Congratulations. Beautiful books indeed.

I can't seem to find the "Post your own library" pictures thread... I would love to see what others have done with their books and how they show them off!

We have quite a few new members... I vote for starting a new thread George!