Obligatory After-Buying Folio Books: Availability and Pricing

New thread for I guess more recent devotees, who are interested in Folio books long OOP.

I for one am interested in the three volume set of An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, but the set is scarcely available at high prices, curiously as it was first published in 2008. Any information on why this is the case would be appreciated.

So questions by new devotees about older titles answered by the old guard, is the intent of this topic.

I wouldn't say current prices for The Wealth of Nations are especially high. Some booksellers are trying their luck, as usual, but there are Fine to As New copies on Abe on both sides of the Atlantic for £100-£120, around the amount the set might cost if it were published today.

The FS often doesn't reprint its sets, though there are a few hardy perennials (Lord of the Rings, etc.). So in a lot of instances there's just the one printing, and prices drift downwards fairly sharply for a set that's still in stock a few years later and finding its way into successive sales. Wealth of Nations was part of a membership renewal offer for some in 2008, and was included in 2009's Spring Sale as free to anyone who bought a certain number of regularly priced books, three or four I expect. That may have been enough to exhaust stocks of the set, after which copies will only have drifted slowly on to the market from their owners, and it seems the modest demand for them is sufficient to keep up with the modest ongoing supply.

It's always tempting to think that the FS would do well from reprinting any book that's changing hands at well above its original price, but generally that won't be the case. The inflated secondary market prices for certain of the Fairy Books, some Patrick O'Brian titles, Dante's Paradiso etc. may only signify a few, or a few dozen, people searching for each, probably not nearly enough to sell a viable new print run at or near full price.

>2 terebinth: It's always tempting to think that the FS would do well from reprinting any book that's changing hands at well above its original price, but generally that won't be the case. The inflated secondary market prices for certain of the Fairy Books, some Patrick O'Brian titles, Dante's Paradiso etc. may only signify a few, or a few dozen, people searching for each, probably not nearly enough to sell a viable new print run at or near full price.

If this is going to be an "advice to newbies" thread I'd like to endorse this comment particularly and the whole of >2 terebinth:'s considered response generally. The only thing I'd add for hunters of secondary market bargains is be patient - don't expect to get that coveted Folio book at a bargain price this week, month, or year. But those who are prepared to sit it out and not be tempted by silly prices will be rewarded in the end. That has always been my experience.

>3 folio_books: But those who are prepared to sit it out and not be tempted by silly prices will be rewarded in the end.

It's called waiting for dead men's books - or women's, of course, but they live longer.

>3 folio_books: Aah...but you can control the wild horses of desire - they are energetic and hungry!

>4 affle: It's called waiting for dead men's books

Indeed it is. And I don't feel bad about that, for when I die I hope my collection of Folios find homes as loving as this one has been.

>5 scratchpad: but you can control the wild horses of desire - they are energetic and hungry!

I must admit that, on occasion, I have been dragged further and faster by them than I'd have preferred but, generally, I hold the reins pretty tight.

>2 terebinth: >3 folio_books: >4 affle: Very insightful responses and a good to know background on the delivering to market of the set by Folio.

>5 scratchpad: Gold! I'll have to control the chariot as Charlton Heston in his heyday!!

>4 affle: "It's called waiting for dead men's books"

But at my age I can't afford to wait much longer. Alternatively, for younger FSDs, watch this space!

>9 EclecticIndulgence: Thanks for the tip! I followed the link and it seemed interesting. I guess we both put it through Google translate and the outcome isn't good. I usually check abebooks.co.uk, but I will keep my eye on the .com extension as well. Got one follow-up question pending on another set, about adjusted shipping costs (more than 2 kilograms). Fingers crossed.

Question: I predominantly use Abe, Ardis, eBay to look for Folio Books, are there other well recommended sites I should consider?

First and Fine is an online site that I can recommend

>10 NLNils:
Biblio, although if its on Biblio, its also usually on Abe.
Ardis is a specialist in Folio Society books. Often a bit more expensive, but up front with postage and very accurate with condition.
HC Booksonline is another one to watch.

>13 EclecticIndulgence:
Prices seem to be similar to Ardis and unlike eBay or Abe they are upfront about postage costs to Australia,packaging is always excellent and books are exactly as described. I have bought a few LEs that were as cheap as the cheapest on Abe and in fine or near fine conditions. The books signed by author or illustrator are more expensive ,I guess,as expected

For those interested, the French description says the set has ex libris stamps in it and the back of the first volume has a ballpoint pen mark. Otherwise like new.

>1 NLNils: I've been on the look out for a copy of Wealth of Nations as well. There was a sealed copy up on eBay very recently that closed at $305 USD w/ very reasonable shipping. A bit more than I was willing to spend at the time although now I'm somewhat regretting it considering the other options currently available (and the exorbitant shipping, of course).

As for other titles - has anyone got a lead on an 'as new' copy of Ronald Syme's Roman Revolution that's NOT going for $150 or more?

>14 shdunne:

I'm strongly with >13 EclecticIndulgence: on this one, if only because I strongly object to dealers trying to sell their wares on FSD. And as Eclectic says, overpriced wares at that.

>16 adriano77: RR on ebay UK at £28 or best offer - looks good but for a very small bump at base of spine that wouldn't put me off.

>16 adriano77:

https://www.ebay.nl/itm/252891011602

Pristine book by a self acclaimed book nutter thinning out his collection. £29,95 published price.

I managed to get an as-new Wealth of Nations for less than $100 last year. Required several years of patience but worth it. Besides, the hunt's almost as fun as the acquisition.

>18 scratchpad: >19 NLNils:

Thanks to you both. I'm after a clean slipcase though. I know... too picky, lol.

>20 gmacaree:

That's great, I'm sure it was a satisfying purchase!

>21 adriano77: I'm now enabled to go after this book! Luckily I find the P&P very restrictive. Maybe I can get it down? Haha!

>22 NLNils: Go for it, it's a good price for the book's condition and relative scarcity. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was willing to ship it to you directly and thus lower eBay's (rip-off) global shipping program price. After all, it's been up for auction for several months now, as far as I've seen.

>23 adriano77: I've sent an message yesterday about the high shipping and if there are alternatives, to lower the cost. Haven't heard back thus far. For me it would be £17.17 P&P on a sale price of £29,50. That's lunacy to me.

>24 NLNils:

It's par for the course for me for international book purchases - I've recently bought a (non-Folio) book for £8.02 plus £15.65 shipping USA to UK. That beats the next best offer, of £29.80 plus £2.80 shipping.

In Australia you become very used to the fact that shipping is a significant cost when purchasing books from anywhere outside the country,

>24 NLNils:

Hey, at least it's less than the price of the book! Lol... There's a copy of The History of the Peloponnesian War that I'd love to buy at £20.00 right now. The problem? Shipping + GSP "import fee" would be £26.23. The total itself I'd be fine with but I just have a mental block when it comes to willingness to pay that ratio for shipping.

Another copy of Syme actually went up on Ebay at £26.95.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Folio-Society-2009-THE-ROMAN-REVOLUTUION-Ronald-Syme-Very...

It's got a slightly bumped corner from what I can tell but perhaps the shipping price would work for you.

On a different note, does anyone happen to have an opinion on the difference of binding between the 1993 and 2006 editions of Augustine's Confessions?

From what I gather the former is bound in "vegetable parchment" while the latter appears to be a plain cloth.

I assume the interiors are the same...

>28 adriano77:

There is a change between the editions, in that J. Enoch Powell's 1993 introduction is replaced in 2006 by a foreword by Rowan Williams.

I've not seen the 2006 edition, but am thoroughly happy with the 1993 one. The "elephant hide" binding, with leather (real, I think) spine label, is graceful and quite hard wearing. Couldn't say whether the introduction was changed because it wasn't considered helpful or insightful enough or to rid the volume of association with a controversial figure, but its five pages seem to me a good brief preparation for the reader.

>29 terebinth:

Thanks for the insight. I'm leaning toward the 1993.

Would you say the "elephant hide" material is resistant in the style of buckram?

>30 adriano77:

Hard to say, I haven't tried abusing it, the copy I have was bought quite recently and is flawless but for a darkened spine, and a couple of other books bound in it that we've had for close to 20 years have withstood readings and look none the worse. And buckram to me doesn't mean anything single and distinct, the plasticated material, rough of surface and I think quite water-resistant, of recent Folio bindings has nothing much in common with the extremely smooth, flattened cloth that was late 19th / early 20th century buckram, which features as recently as Folio's 1974 Restoration Comedy set. My guess would be that "elephant hide" wears about as well as either sort of buckram but hasn't the water resistance of the new stuff.

>31 terebinth:

I was thinking of buckram in the sense of modern FS titles. Personally, I love the stuff. It feels like it can survive a ton of wear and, as you mentioned, shrug off moisture at that.

The "elephant hide" stuff sounds promising. More so than plain cloth at least! I find cloth, after a reading or three, ends up somewhat... worse for wear? Perhaps it's fingertip oils or whatever that does it. At least from what I've seen.

> 30

I have the 1993 edition, obtained when issued. I have to confess that I have not got round to reading it yet! However the binding is still immaculate after 20+ years of neglect.

>32 adriano77:

I don't tend to find noticeable wear on Folio's cloth bindings from reading books myself: then, my fingers seem on the dry side, at least my ability to read titles in the complete Folio Trollope series bare-handed without leaving marks on their paper-covered boards contrasts with the experience of several folk here. I could wish for oilier fingertips when reading older leather-bound books, as oil from the hands is said to be the best treatment for keeping their bindings supple, and I can't think they derive much benefit from mine.

About the stuff which often passes for book cloth on trade hardbacks, at least in the UK, the less said the better: a very thin paper embossed with an absolutely regular pattern vaguely imitating cloth, which tears easily and once torn continues to split, revealing to the world its papery nature.

>33 SimB:

Ha, 24 years is quite some time to spend on the shelf!

>34 terebinth:

I can't really say regarding FS cloth as all the books I've gotten from them are either buckram, leather or paper (ancient philosophers set, in this case, which seems quite durable, actually).

Definitely had more experience with the usual "cloth" from trade types, which I've found, doesn't hold up as well as I'd like. They always just end up looking "used" for want of a better description.

>35 adriano77:

Oh, FS cloth is usually pretty good, not, I'd say, grievously inferior to their buckram in general, though one reservation with a lot of Folio bindings is that blocked titles and designs can rub off quite easily. They're almost always superficially applied, in contrast with many older books where gold-blocked titles are stamped into the cloth such that you can see and feel the depth of the lettering.

>30 adriano77: "Would you say the "elephant hide" material is resistant in the style of buckram?"

Vegetable parchement/Elephanthide is basically glorified paper. It might be on a more rugged side as far as papers go, and even be a bit more moisture resistant than most regular papers, but don't expect anything like the modern buckram. Think smooth, maybe slightly parchementy paper that might not soak up water right away.

I would pick cloth over vp/elephanthide/paper any day, but then I'm a sucker for cloth bindings.

>27 adriano77: I've struck on the Roman Revolution you suggested! I looked through all offerings by the seller and on offer were a lot of Folio books in VG to NF condition with condition matching slipcases. I added the 2-volume Thesiger set Arabian Sands and Marsh Arabs and made a deal for the three books including shipping for £75. I looked up the original sale prices in the corresponding prospectuses and that amounted to £84.90 excluding shipping. So, I'm very happy with this deal and your enablement! Ha!

Funny, I popped into an Op Shop/Charity bookstore across from Toowong Village Shopping Centre in Brisbane recently and they had a few Folio Books for sale. I think the RR was $20 or so. It looked in reasonable condition. One or two other Folios too but nothing that I was interested in.

>39 LesMiserables: If only I lived in the former Commonwealth... No such luck here, so I'm happy to patrol eBay listings and strike if the price is right for me.

>38 NLNils:

Nice one. It's a very interesting book. Plus, the FS design, IMO, is gorgeous. The Prima Porta Augustus over the imperial eagle is just so striking.

Hope I find a copy soon!

I see there's mention of Ardis Books here.

As I've just ordered a copy of The Peloponnesian War from them I'm curious how well they package their books. I really should have inquired before ordering.................

Can anyone speak to their experience?

>42 adriano77:

One of the best second hand sources for Folio books. They do an excellent job.

>43 drasvola:

Thanks for the prompt reply. That puts me at ease!

>43 drasvola:

Agreed. My few purchases from them include the 48 volumes of Trollope in one fell swoop and the vast Temple of Flora - no issues at all with packing or condition.

Ditto, I've never had a problem with Ardis packaging.

>45 terebinth:

48 volumes, good grief, lol... What was the weight like on that?

I was disappointed in the packing of my last purchase from Ardis. They had thrown the rigid cardboard core of a roll of packing tape into the cushioning material (crumpled-up newspapers), and the slipcase got split open on one edge. They were, however, very reasonable when I negotiated a partial refund.

>47 adriano77:

Sent in three boxes, as I recall, so probably around 15kg each. Small beer compared to the 63-volume Oxford DNB which is sent in 15 boxes, all of which I hope to empty onto shelves before too much more water has flowed under the bridge.

Another 3 volume box set I'm chasing is The Campaigns of Napoleon by David Chandler. It's a weird thing that it's published for the first time in 2002, but does not appear in the corresponding prospectus here on the site. So I have no idea what the launch price was and why so few sets are on the market. Reasonably good sets go for around £80 (excluding shipping), does that constitute a good price for this set? As ever, all information and insight is most welcome!

>49 terebinth:

Yeesh. Good luck with that!

>50 NLNils:

Sometimes check the subsequent year, or even the following year after that, to find them.

I've had to do a bit of searching to find particular titles in those myself.

On a different note, I've finally completed the ancient philosophers set with the arrival of Plato's Republic today. As new and unread with a perfect slipcase! I feel a sense of completion after four or five months of waiting and searching.

http://i.imgur.com/p28gY15.jpg

>50 NLNils:
I think even Ardis sells the set for less than £80. And I've seen it go on ebay etc. in the neighborhood of $60 USD.

>51 adriano77: >52 elladan0891: Thanks for the tips both! I tried prospectuses before and after, but didn't find anything. Strange affair indeed...

>51 adriano77: That's a gorgeous looking set! Something to be proud of. When were those volumes first published? As I've seen Marcus Aurelius's Meditations still in print and currently residing on my wish list.

>53 NLNils:

Isn't this one of the sets that used to show up in between regular prospects and regularly scheduled books?

>53 NLNils:

I believe the first run was perhaps 2002? All of mine are second printings from 2003.

What AnnieMod says is probably correct. I went through until 2010 and didn't see anything by David Chandler.

The Campaigns of Napoleon was published at £96.00

I got this information from a very useful Folio bibliography – A Folio Society Handbook by Brian Codling (he gets a mention as a contributor in Folio 60)
The book lists all books issued and their various editions and impressions up to November 2004. There’s lots of useful information including the original published price of almost every title from 1947.
It’s a modest, laminated card softcover. There’s no ISBN and I don’t know if it is still in print. I paid £5 for a secondhand copy on eBay. The author gives his full contact details – perhaps the book may be had from him? – bcouerdelion@aol.com

>56 bookfair_e:
An online search reveals that copies of "A Folio Society Handbook" by Brian Codling are available from £35 to US$105. For a small paperback, I think I'll skip it at those prices. You got an interesting book at a bargain price.

Per the FS site, Darwin's Origin of Species is bound in buckram. However, the 2008 prospectus describes Descent of Man as being bound in regular cloth.

Having seen photos of each book, the material of both appears to be the same.

Does anyone have Descent? Could you clarify its material?

Kind of hoping to get a more "matching" set as it were...

>58 adriano77:
Well, technically buckram is cloth )
But yeah, the whole Victorian Exploration series is bound in buckram.

>50 NLNils: I bought the 2009 2nd printing of The Campaigns of Napoleon directly from the FS for $100 US including shipping in 2011.

If you're looking for a matching set of Origin/Descent, I'd recommend the LEC versions over the Folios. Sorry, blasphemy, I know

>53 NLNils: I tried prospectuses before and after, but didn't find anything.

I've just checked the Prospectus Index which you'll find on the FSD Wiki:

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Groups:Folio_Society_Devotees

It's about a quarter of the way down the page. It lists the Campaigns of Wellington but, sadly, not those of Napoleon. I seem to remember I got my copies of both from a re-joining offer, in the olden days when you had to join.

>54 AnnieMod: You tell me! Haha! I'm guessing this is the case as the prospectuses come up empty.

>55 adriano77: Thanks for the effort! I did a retake as well and still nothing.

>56 bookfair_e: Good info! Very helpful. >60 kdweber: As well!

>62 folio_books: Found the Wellington set in a small corner of one prospectus, but indeed nothing on Chandler.

The mystical (re-)joining offers to former members. Were they always the same books in a specific year? Or could you choose from a small selection of books?

>41 adriano77: The books arrived at lightning speed and are absolutely gorgeous! Books are in Fine condition, the Roman Revolution slipcase has got a slight bump on the upper left corner at the back (seen from the front), that's all.

Very happy with the purchase and dealings with the seller. He was truly helpful and the descriptions in combination with the images were (and are) absolutely spot on.

On a side note: which sites do you peruse in search of mint slip cases and books?

>41 adriano77: >66 NLNils: I tried to add pictures, but I can't get it to work. Directly adding them to LibraryThing automatically shifts the photo's 90 degrees to the left. Flickr links in the Html img format as well as Dropbox links lead to an empty square in the post.

So here are some direct links:

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5

>67 NLNils:
Just about everything can be found on the FSD wiki, including how to load photos to a thread. Go to:-
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Groups:Folio_Society_Devotees#How_to_...
I find the easiest site to upload to and link from is Photobucket.

>66 NLNils:

Nice. Gotta love quick delivery.

Personally, I just browse the typical sites - AbeBooks, eBay, Amazon marketplace and so forth. That and exercise patience and restraint while also requesting as many photos as possible and asking a lot questions. I'm sure some sellers must find me annoying by now! However, I've learned my lesson of being too trusting of descriptions for books sight-unseen or with only a photo of two. Taking even reputable (5 star rating on Abe, for instance) sellers' descriptions at face value left me with three copies of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations and two copies of Aristotle's Ethics, lol. Or I could have excessive standards - who knows?!

>69 adriano77: Do you still possess those extra copies? I might be interested.

>70 NLNils:

I still have an extra copy of each. I managed to sell one of the Meditations at a significant loss, lol... Shipping from Canada to Europe would probably be quite expensive.

>59 elladan0891:

Good to know! Thanks.

>71 adriano77: I reside in the Netherlands. Can you give me a quote on shipping? You can send me a personal message, to not clutter this topic.

>73 NLNils:

I put a message onto your "wall" - I think that counts as a PM? Not sure!

2nd try!







Success!!

>75 NLNils: Beautiful books! The Roman Revolution really looks wonderful.

I just received a still-sealed copy of On Liberty by John Stuart Mill.

Looked fine until I removed the shrink wrap.

Then I saw this -



I don't even know how that's possible. It appears to be water damage.

My initial instinct is that I should apply immediately for a refund but as I bought it through Abe I'm not entirely sure their policy would cover the cost to ship the book back.

Very annoyed right now.

>77 adriano77: Yes, shrink wrap isn't all it's cracked up to be. This has happened to me too. Length of storage and conditions have no respect for a sealed book. I was so disgusted I threw the book out. It was quite cheap - that should have been sufficient warning. A pricier buy and I certainly would have followed it up. If the money isn't too much of a problem I would just take the hit and forget about it. Chasing a remedy can sometimes be simply a hassle and raise blood pressure even higher.

>77 adriano77: Real shame.. Weirdly affected by the look of it. I have no experience with (partial) refunds or returning books through Abe, so I can't be of further help.

On a more positive note, do you collect all Folio philosophy titles? Call me intrigued. I had found the 5 book set of the Ancient Philosophers for a dirt cheap price. Immediately requested further information and got a quick response. The set was still listed but had been sold for, wait for it... 6 Years!!! I have not laughed that hard about anything in a long time, as it was sort of expected not to be real.

Maybe that cheered you up a bit!

>78 scratchpad:

It's such a peculiar type of damage too. Examining the pattern, it looks as if water seeped in from toward the front, which was completely sealed, and there's no damage whatsoever to the spine of the book. I just don't get how water could have gotten in from that area, lol... The seller just now suggested that perhaps the slipcase was already damaged during initial packing/sealing. Bit surprised at the lack of quality control on FS' part if that's the case. Regardless, he also said he will try to hunt down a replacement slipcase this week and send it over free of charge if successful. If not, I can keep the book and he'll issue a full refund. Pleasantly surprised I must say but I'll end up having to find a new copy regardless.

>79 NLNils:

Yes, the book arrived wayyyyy ahead of schedule, so I went from happy to annoyed in the span of a few minutes! Ha.

Mainly I've been collecting from the philosophy and history offerings as those are what I most enjoy reading. I plan to expand my range though! I've got my eye on a couple of the Darwin books as well as Freud's Interpreting Dreams amongst others.

Six years. That's just a stunning amount of obliviousness!

>80 adriano77:

Except that it is not sealed by FS most likely so I am not sure what quality control of FS have to do with it... Being shrink wrapped does not mean that it had been bought like that from Folio and stayed sealed since - a lot of sellers can shrink wrap on their own just fine.

>80 adriano77: Just to clarify - with my purchase the damage had affected the spine as badly as the slipcase - it was discoloured, smelly and horrible. Good to hear you are on your way to a successful resolution.

>81 AnnieMod:

I'm going by what he said, "the book came as part of a larger lot of still sealed FS books" or some such.

Unless that previous person was sealing books on their own I would imagine the shrink wrapping was done by FS.

>82 scratchpad:

And it smelled bad? Lol, must have been some unwrapping. But yeah, hopefully this sorts itself out without further incident. Not a fan of having this sort of thing on my mind.

>83 adriano77:

Unless I buy it from FS directly, I've learned not to assume anything like that :)

>84 AnnieMod:

Good policy!

Funny thing is this is the third "sealed" FS book I've gotten on the secondary market and the second of which ended up having some sort of defect beneath the plastic. The earlier one had a lot of crackling/peeling to the stamping of the title/author on its spine.

My luck is terrible, lol.

I'm not sure I'd want a book that had been shrink-wrapped for several years. One of the essentials for keeping books healthy is good air circulation.

>80 adriano77: I'm glad it turned out okay!

I've got another book which I would like to own. The last version of Walden by Henry David Thoreau



More info on the book I found in the 2010 prospectus on page 42. £99,95 published price, quarter bound in leather with silk sides.

It looks like a beautiful reproduction, but there are not a lot of copies available in the U.K. or Europe. Not very hard to understand!

I would like some more background info on the book and it's run with the Society. Thanks in advance, as always.

>87 NLNils:

Hopefully! But until I get the refund or slipcase I'll be concerned, lol.

Shocker, I'm interested in picking up that edition of Walden too!

>88 NLNils: >89 adriano77: There's a copy on eBay UK bid start £40 and ends on Friday.

>90 scratchpad:

That looks like a great deal (if it stays at the price, of course).

>90 scratchpad: I spotted that one earlier today, but only shipped to the UK. So, I'm not eligible and it doesn't show up in my eBay app results, because my territoir is set to Holland.

>92 NLNils: Ah, I missed that. Better luck next time. This book is worth the wait.

>88 NLNils:

Re. its history with the FS, it was available at half price in 2010's Summer Sale and in January 2012 as one of a sequence of daily offers - I'm not sure whether those remained available after the initial day until they sold out or were only live for 24 hours. I'd bought at full price in 2009 and haven't regretted it, the presentation is lovely indeed.

>94 terebinth: Very insightful! Thank you.

I bought mine `Walden` sealed for about £80 - £100 from Ardis about two years ago (i believe it was closer to the latter)

I bought Walden last month from Ardis for £100 delivered

Walden on eBay UK at £40, ending tomorrow 15:38.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Walden-Thoreau-folio-society-/122496314838?hash=item1c...

The usual disclaimer,

Finally got my hands on a nice unread copy of The Peloponnesian War (1994).



Got it from Ardis. Pretty happy overall!

>99 adriano77: So, you are down the slippery slope `myths and legends` spiral .. nice one, i have the other brown`n yellow set with this

>99 adriano77:

It's the thin edge of the wedge :-)

>99 adriano77: I find that opening up a package of a previously owned FS book is almost always accompanied by a feeling of suspense. So nice when it works out ok like this time.

>99 adriano77:

Oh gosh, I don't even want to consider a set that large right now. A nice Herodotus and I'll be set, I think.

>101 LesMiserables:

Ominous.

>102 scratchpad:

Absolutely! I'm always apprehensive about how much, if any, damage will occur during shipment especially. I wish I didn't concern myself with slipcase condition so much, lol... Would certainly save myself some aggravation.

Just a little update. I found a nice copy of Herodotus.

Oh, and also...



Good start to my weekend to say the least! That I finally received the aforementioned replacement slipcase for On Liberty yesterday was a good bonus!

>104 adriano77: Nice!!

> 39 LesMiserables is that The Lifeline shop?

>106 Shaliza:

Yes, that's the one.

>49 terebinth: Congratulations on the 63-volume Oxford DNB. Alas, you did something I cannot.

>108 ironjaw:

Thank you: at under £10 per volume my feeble resistance crumbled. I'm still pondering how to get them on to shelves, not least whether it's to be in this house or a larger one.

>105 NLNils:

My impatience got the better of me and I went ahead and bought a copy of Roman Revolution yesterday sight unseen for about £28 and a further £16 in shipping. I've been assured it's in faultless condition.

With that said I'm absolutely anticipating some off-putting imperfection requiring me to find a new copy.

Why do I do this to myself? Hahaha!

>110 adriano77: Sight unseen, Wow! I hope everything works out for you, it is a beautiful edition! It's still on my TBR, but up there. Haha!

>109 terebinth: "at under £10 per volume." That is such a bargain. I wish I could find that deal.

>109 terebinth: >112 ironjaw:

I was severely tempted to get the DNB in the OUP sale a couple of years ago.

Sixty volumes plus supplements and index - £550.

It occupies eleven feet of shelf space and weighs 280 pounds – is why I didn’t get them.

Oh yes, I remember that. It was the bargain of the century. Hope every year they will bring that offer back when the OUP sales runs

As far as I know the present volumes, offered now at £1575 with supplements to date, are the same as those sold at £7500 when the work was first published - I do wonder whether it will ever be reprinted, as the current asking price can hardly cover production costs. Couldn't believe my luck when the offer came along, I can only imagine it was decided that there were more sets in hand than would sell in the foreseeable future without the extra brief incentive. Fingers crossed here for a 2009-12 supplement, which seems a little overdue already: 2005-8 appeared in March 2013.

>111 NLNils:

It showed up today. The slipcase was as new and without flaws but then I dropped it while putting the book back in and bumped the corner, haha. Just my luck.

The book itself is without flaws aside from rubbing to the cover's edges. I had specifically asked the seller if this was present and they said it was not. A lie or bad eyesight, I guess?



This sort of rubbing is on each edge. Kind of annoying to look at it but I can't be bothered to return the book at this point.

Sometimes I feel like my concern for condition is approaching unhealthy levels!!

>116 adriano77: Well congrats, I suppose! Haha! Did you dip into the Half Price Sale already? I did yesterday evening. Got:

A New Birth of Freedom
An Expression of the American Mind
The Travels of Ibn Battutah
The Worst Journey in the World
Free Mystery Book(!)

Very happy with my purchase! Four and possibly five books of the wishlist!

>117 NLNils:

Looks like some interesting choices there - especially the Jefferson, IMO. Nice additions to your collection I'm sure!

I'm going to be putting in my order on Sunday evening when I have more time to browse the whole site, lol.

By for now, my sights are set on Galileo, Arrian, Descartes, Freud of the ones that I know are on sale. Of those that aren't I'm going to grab Darwin and Nietzsche.

I'm hoping for Troy and Its Remains from the mystery lot.

>118 adriano77: Stated in the Half Price Sale topic that I had thought about putting in a second order while it lasts. Decided against it. Instead I back ordered a few books from Ardis. Real good experience. Order was processed on Wednesday and arrived today, so very swift. P&P I found to be a bit on the high side, but overall prices are competitive. And the books were indeed as described in near fine to fine order. Now let's take a look at this eclectic mix:



That's ten new books for me combined with the Half Price Sale order I put in. The high fevers of FAD have passed and now I got a rich variety to choose from. Eager to get into them!

>119 NLNils:

Nice selection. I think I'll look into The Seven Years War myself. Also, Touching the Void sounds interesting. You're stocked up for a while now, eh?

Ardis does seem to price on the higher end for used books, at least from the titles I've looked up, and especially with the shipping costs. I've only ordered from him once thus far.

>119 NLNils:
>120 adriano77:

I find his prices average to high but you can rely absolutely on his descriptions and I've never had a book from him that wasn't in the condition as those shown in the photo - beautiful.

>121 folio_books: Indeed they are! Very happy with them. I also like to point out that the assortment of books of Ardis sweeps the entire range of the Folio Society. Communication is also outstanding. A real professional enterprise with clear choices for the customer.

>120 adriano77:
>121 folio_books:
Don't forget that once you've bought one book from him, subsequent purchases attract a 10% discount. Not a huge amount, but helps.

Is FS' Wealth of Nations abridged or unabridged?

>124 St._Troy:

.....'This Folio edition preserves the original spelling and punctuation of the third edition, with some minor emendations. This edition also reproduces the original index included in the third edition.'

Thanks

Has anyone had trouble with orders from Ardis before?

I ordered two books on July 25th and 26th (to Canada in two separate shipments). Neither has arrived. In my 40+ orders from the UK by air mail this year every single one has taken 8 days or less. I've never had a package go missing before either. Meanwhile I've had several books ordered during the same period in late July arrive exactly when expected - first week of August.

His responses have been rather perfunctory.

At this point, I'm going to wait until August 25th before requesting a refund. Would that be reasonable?

Never. I'm sure they're on their way.

>127 adriano77: No. But I have ordered from him just once. See >119 NLNils: above. In my dealings with Ardis, communication was swift and crisp. Very comforting. I don't know what the reasonable term would be to ask for a refund. I'm just not as versed in these problems as others surely are.

>127 adriano77:
I'm not in Canada, but overseas shipments in general can certainly take longer than 8 days, a month being not unheard of. Your shipment could have been held up by Canadian customs, for example, especially if declared value was fairly high. I would wait a little longer before making a fuss. Wait till September before asking for a refund. Most likely it will show up before then. Good luck!

>128 NYCFaddict: >129 NLNils:

Good to know.

>130 elladan0891:

Well, as I said, from my personal experience of quite a number of shipments this year alone, 8 days has been the absolute maximum by airmail from the UK. Never had anything stopped by customs either. The books weren't particularly expensive, one being £19.50 the other £42.50, I believe.

What makes me wonder is that they were in two separate shipments and neither has shown up (assuming, worst case, one was lost or frozen in customs).

Oh well, I'll give it until September!

>131 adriano77:

And then there will be one that will be a lot later. :) Or a few. I had two packages posted from the same seller in the same day - arriving with 4 weeks difference (both airmail). If both are missing, there may be a delay in the processing side on the UK side (the Royal mail, not on the Ardis side) or if this is your first order from Ardis, there may be an address issues (or customs got their fingers on them).

I would not worry until at least 5-6 weeks had passed - and even then, I will give it a few more weeks before staring to panic or request refunds.

Never had issues with deliveries from them - they always show up.

With international deliveries, it's quite possible that parcels are held until there are enough to make the shipment worthwhile for the shipping carrier, or until there's some space left on a plane etc. I've often had packages from the same country of origin that were shipped at different times arrive at the same time. And as others have said, there are a lot of possible reasons why international packages might be delayed. I'd give it a bit more time.

>132 AnnieMod:

These would be my second and third orders from Ardis. The first one went smoothly (and quickly), so I felt fine ordering again. Pretty weird about the 4 week difference you had!

Patience it is.

>133 SF-72:

Good point about carriers intentionally delaying sometimes.

>134 adriano77:

I used to live in Bulgaria - there had been comical times with deliveries (books ended up in Bahrain before being sent back to Bulgaria for example... or other B countries (I think the worst I saw back then was a poor package that went to 3 separate countries (each stamped so you could see what happened) before making it to Bulgaria 3 months after it left UK). So delays don't even phase me anymore. :) The 4 weeks thing? My best guess is that they got separated over the ocean somewhere and then came to me via different distribution centers.

Back in May, I had a package from Bulgaria that reported as arrived somewhere on the East Coast and then sat there for 10 days before making it to Arizona. Another one arrived on the East Coast a week later and beat the first one with a day to my door. International regular post (air included) is weird sometimes. :)

Good luck with the waiting - hopefully they will show up soon.

>135 AnnieMod:

That's crazy. I'm surprised they actually bothered to deliver it in the end and someone didn't just notice it was circulating the world and decide to open it themselves.

>136 adriano77:

It was from bookdepository - whoever they were using to send the books was having weird moments (Belgium was a common stop for a book). It kinda was clear it was a book. It was saying so on the package. I think it was hitting the distribution centers and they could not distribute so they sent out again - this one was just funny by the number of countries it hit. And noone wants a book I guess. Plus I suspect that 10 years or so ago, Bulgaria was an exotic destination.

Books are not the most appealing objects to postal thieves. We had a problem with theft in a local distribution centre, and in one case, one of my packages was torn open, then left otherwise untouched in a corner because there were only books in it. The postal service closed it and delivered it with some delay, but complete.

>137 AnnieMod:

I wonder how that would work. It's marked Bulgaria, goes to Belgium by mistake. The Belgian worker receives it, notes the mistake and thinks, "Okay, let's try Bahrain?"

Bulgaria has a lot of that Eastern Bloc architecture, yeah? I'm sure that still fits someone's idea of exotic even now.

>138 SF-72:

I guess the thief didn't like your taste, hah.

>139 adriano77:

I suspect it was just a string of not very careful post office workers or two packages moving together or who knows. Back then I wondered if there wasn't a package to one of the other countries at the same time that got routed wrong, got fixed but both kept together. It was strange. And amusing. One of those things that cannot and should not happen and still somehow do. The post office people back home were really interested to know what is in that package. They were disappointed when I showed them. :)

"Eastern Bloc architecture"
Yes, it does. But it also have one of the most beautiful mountains and a yellow sanded seaside. Plus a few millennia of history with surviving buildings and monuments. So it can be considered exotic in a lot of ways. It is better known now than 10-15 years ago though (not always for a good reason).

>139 adriano77: ...Eastern Bloc architecture, yeah? I'm sure that still fits someone's idea of exotic even now
Those seeking the views of such exotic architecture don't need to travel far - Toronto or London will do just fine )

> 139 adriano77

Good one! :-)

Nothing is impossible, but at that time it became quite clear that book packages that were recognisable from the outside were left alone, while packages that might contain something worth stealing were torn open. I guess my buying English-language books in Germany didn't make them more appealing to the thief either.

>141 elladan0891:

Is Toronto very grey then?

>142 SF-72:

What books were they anyway?

Just an update.

Both books were delivered today.

As they arrived together at once it seems likely they were held up for whatever reason.

Well packaged by Ardis I'm pleased to note.

> 144adriano77

Good news. I'm glad it worked out in the end.

No need to worry with Ardis.

>144 adriano77: Pics or it didn't happen! ;)

>145 SF-72:

Thanks! Bit of a relief, haha.

>146 NYCFaddict:

Seems not.

>147 NLNils:

I didn't bother with photos as they were just replacement copies for stuff I already had (but wanted in better condition). Einstein's Relativity and Sun Tzu's Art of War. Ardis had them in fine/fine so I was like why not...

>1 NLNils:

Just ordered a sealed Wealth of Nations from a great seller (ordered from her previously). Pretty excited to get it! Did you ever find one in the end?

>50 NLNils: >149 adriano77: That's Great! I haven't found a reasonably priced set yet, but I've struck on the Campaigns of Napoleon! Just received the set and it's in fine order. Also got myself an older version of War and Peace just last night. I'm done for a while. ;)

That's a very nice looking set. Love the art on the spine/covers. Reminds me that I need more history stuff. I'd like to grab a copy of the Churchill set but have had so many other things ahead of it in queue.

Is it weird that I regret not getting W&P during the FS sale? Even though I don't buy fiction and didn't actually like the only Tolstoy novel I've read (Anna Karenina)?

>151 adriano77: I missed out on the PV translated War and Peace in the recent sale as well. I took a liking to the earlier version, richly illustrated with pen figurines. Made a first bid on eBay and did not get sniped. Never read Tolstoy, I'm looking forward to the two-volume set and subsequent reading!

Received The Double Helix today. Not my usual genre but supposedly a fantastic read. Didn't hurt that I got it for fairly cheap as well.

Has anyone read it/able to offer an opinion?



Expecting to receive The Wealth of Nations tomorrow. Can't wait.

>153 adriano77:
A gripping account, but one that is very definitely Watson's own rather immodest perspective. His comments on Rosalind Franklin were particularly unpleasant, even if that sharpness is partly what makes it so compulsive.

>153 adriano77: I personally enjoyed reading it, and it was the first book in this 'genre' I read. Surprisingly gripping and exciting, which I did not expect at first. That being said, it is indeed very very subjective and biased towards the author.

>154 Willoyd: >155 Fierylunar:

I saw the Franklin issue pop up not infrequently while browsing Goodreads reviews.

I'm glad both of you enjoyed it and consider it absorbing - exactly what I was looking for when I ordered it. My last few reads have been on the dull side.

Thanks!

>150 NLNils:



Finally! Gotta love that brief satisfaction of knocking a wanted item off the list!

>157 adriano77: That's a stunner!! Indication of price for my future reference would be most appreciated. :)

>158 NLNils:

Was $172 + $33 shipping (USD). Overall, I feel it was an acceptable price given its condition (sealed) and the shipping rates of other sellers being insane....

>159 adriano77: That is stiff, but worth it in my opinion. You will certainly enjoy this set. New collection is a mixed bag and takes some warming up to, but there are a few interesting books between them, I would say. These caught my eye after an extended look:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/268575#6169098

>1 NLNils: As much as I revere Adam Smith, it is difficult for me to see what the Folio treatment would do for this work besides giving you a durable copy.
I did look for a decent hardcover edition. At more than 1000 pages, it's tough to have a readable edition in one volume. Modern Library has the most prominent version with notes.
I suggest (please don't drum me out of the group) looking at the sturdy softcover version by Liberty Fund in two volumes.
https://www.libertyfund.org/books/an-inquiry-into-the-nature-and-causes-of-the-w...

>161 laotzu225: Good tips are always welcome! I really like the look of this set by Folio and it does divide the work up into manageable volumes. Followed the link, seems proper, but there isn't much visual reference of the books. Price is really attractive, I must say.
(Now excuse me as I'm flagging your post and do drum you of this board! Haha!!)

>161 laotzu225:

Totally off-topic but I actually have a FS copy of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching coming next week!

>162 NLNils:

My previous message didn't go through about this but... I managed to sell off my RR for what I previously paid and ordered a new, sealed copy. Way overpriced, the slipcase is abnormally tight (struggle to remove the book) and it resulted in minor rubbing. At this point I realize I won't ever get a perfect copy, hahah.



Also, Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene should be arriving today. Very nice cover design, I must say.

>163 adriano77: The Roman Revolution does keep you occupied! I see nothing but the smallest rub on the photo, but if it's there, it's there. Haha! I'm checking the topic of how many Folio's does one possess everyday to look for your post on how you acquired one hundred plus Folio's in just the last year! You're on a absolute tear, and I love it!!

>164 NLNils:

Hahaha, honestly, it's my favourite design they've done by far (close second would be Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich from 1995). Those little imperfections just drove me crazy.

I'm only at 50ish actually. Unfortunately most of the stuff I want is out of print so, being as picky as I am, it's hard to find everything I want in the condition that I want it in. On the plus side, at least I'm saving money this way, I guess.............?

How many are you up to now?

>163 adriano77:
>162 NLNils:
Adriano, The Folio Tao Te Ching, in my humble opinion, may be one of the most beautiful books they have ever produced (only lacking letterpress to be divine!). So please let me know how you react when you see it.
The book itself is so brief, yet deep and allusive, I used to have five translations, each showing a different perspective on the meaning. Moving across country, I got rid of 3 of them (along with many other books). I kept the FS and a much more recent translation by R.A. Dale. Waley's (FS) may have been the first modern translation and some think it is not the best-there are now so many to choose from; but his notes and history are priceless.
The Dale can be had with some nice accompanying pictures and design here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1780289642/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

Compare these couple of lines from Verse 23 and you'll see why more than one version is needed.
Waley: To be always talking is against Nature. For the same reason a hurricane never lasts a whole morning nor a rainstorm all day...And if even Heaven-and-Earth cannot blow or pour for long, how much less in his utterance should man?
Dale: Speak few words, but say them with quietude and sincerity, and they will be long lasting, for a raging wind cannot blow all morning, nor a sudden rainstorm last throughout the day.

I have the Roman Revolution too from several years back. And the slipcase is just a bit tight!

> 11 Thank you for the suggestion. They have a small list but seem carefully curated.

>165 adriano77: I'm guessing around 35ish, but I'm currently on vacation and thus unable to check. We, as proud patrons of this thread are in the same boat as in regard to 'catching up' on older titles. I do like a few new titles, but also older titles still available through the FS website. If only it would be money over mind... The recent price hike and increased shipping makes for less orders on my part. I'm waiting for the Christmas collection and will then place a big order to round out the year, maybe with a fortuitous discount, if offered.

New additions took a little longer than expected but showed up in good order. Very pleased!



>166 laotzu225:

You're absolutely right. It's a gorgeous book. I also like that it fits right in with FS' Analects and Art of War as well. I've not read it previously so I'm definitely looking forward to going through this edition - should be a pleasure. Also agree with you on the matter of translation and have found it's more often interpretation rather than literal translation. At least this was my experience when reading two different versions of the Art of War.

Oh and someone really fouled up the RR's slipcase measurement! So much rubbing!

On a related note - Ardis has a sealed copy of Syme's Roman Revolution up for sale at a very reasonable 33 pounds. A bit hard to find in new condition and certainly at that price. I'd encourage anyone interested in Roman history to jump on the opportunity.

>169 adriano77: Glad you like it!
>170 adriano77: I've just picked up a couple of as new or fine FS books on ebay for $30-35. Kenneth Clark's The Nude was really a find. I'd suggest just checking out some titles there.

Finally grabbed myself the Churchill WW2 set. The shrink wrap was a bit worse for wear but no noticeable damage from what I can tell. Quite pleased with them.



Looking forward to the read... sometime next year.

>172 adriano77: At first look I thought the set had arrived heavily damaged! Fortunately it was only the shrink wrap! It's a very nice looking set, and it will indeed require some time and planning to read. The exact reason why I haven't considered purchasing it yet. I bought over the summer My Early Life to get acquainted with Churchill's writing, to see if I like it. Folio has also published The World Crisis in 2007; his memoir of the First World War. Happy reading!

>173 NLNils:

Do keep in mind that Churchill "wrote" only the first two volumes or so of the Second World War (and they are worth reading--I enjoyed them) but after that the volumes were basically written by a committee that aped his style (but, in my opinion, not his insights or descriptive powers).

>174 podaniel: - interesting information - I didn't know that. I have a copy of the series, but not the FS edition; it's a trade hardback set I bought for a dollar per volume some years back, and not in the best condition by any stretch. I've just moved them from the prime location they held, to make room for the Mary Renault set I bought in the sale. I have no idea when I'll get around to actually reading them, of course.

>174 podaniel: >175 coynedj: Me neither! Why is this? As I believe Churchill lived until 1965; did he start writing his memoirs much later on?

>176 NLNils:

Remember, he was forced out as Prime Minister right at the end of the European stage of WWII (he called for a "snap" election thinking he was a shoe-in to get re-elected and boy was he surprised--does this sound vaguely familiar?), and had plenty of time to start working on his WWII memoirs. Hence the first two books. But then he got sucked back into politics and actually wound up serving as prime minister again in 1951 for another four years or so. Hence his need to rely on a committee for the later books.

Churchill had a second, more severe stroke in 1953 while prime minister, and kept it quiet for political reasons. He would have a third later. He stepped down in 1955 because of physical and mental deterioration which was obvious enough to draw the attention of the press. He had had research assistants for all of the volumes, though he had started keeping notes at the start of the war with a view to writing a history, so he had a head start.

>177 podaniel: >178 Jayked: Thank you both. This has cleared things right up!

In Command of History : Churchill Fighting and Writing the Second World War (2004) by David Reynolds describes in great detail how Churchill produced his memoirs and how he used them to impose his own version of events on the historical record.

The River War, though rife with period views of imperialism and the Sudanese, is a very well written memoir by the young Churchill.

I have those same six volumes staring at me from their shelves - for fifteen years or so now! I need one of those six month vacation things.

>173 NLNils:

What'd you think of My Early Life, by the way? Worthwhile?

>181 kcshankd:

Fifteen years, wow! I think the longest I'd be able to keep an unread book on the shelf is a year or less. The nagging sensation would eventually get to me.

>153 adriano77: Please let me know how you like WoN and how it is illustrated, or what else accompanies text.
I never was able to find a description of it in any prospectus.

>182 adriano77: I haven't read it yet. It was part of a greater effort to learn more about South-African history. I now have a collection of Dutch and English books about the foundation and history of the Cape Colony and the Boer Republics; and unavoidably the Boer War. On the Boer War I have bought books that highlight both the Boer and British experience. My Early Life partially corresponds with the Boer War; Churchill was a war correspondent and got captured by the Boers. The other Folio titles I got are The Boer War by Thomas Pakenham and Commando: A Boer journal of the Boer War by Deneys Reitz. Now I have to find the time to start this project and read them all!

>183 laotzu225:

I've not yet been able to read it but I just pulled it out to look over again and it's really a beautifully done set. Love the cover design especially. The first volume has approx. 50 illustrations (most are oil and watercolour paintings) and the other two have a similar number. There are about 10 maps in total across the three as well.

Here are the tables of contents -

https://imgur.com/a/ibiKh

Here are some examples of the illustrations (not the best quality photos!) -

https://imgur.com/a/il1Ag

Would definitely recommend the set overall.

>184 NLNils:

Very cool. SA seems like it has an interesting history and I've meant to check it out but always somehow end up back to Greco-Roman or WW2 stuff when I'm in the mood for history. Slave to habit, I guess.

>182 adriano77:

It is a long and distinguished list. There was a thread sometime back about what percentage of our Folios we had read. I think I was just above 50, and suspect I am now inching closer to 60. Onward!

>185 adriano77: Thanks a lot. Far from the text-only volumes I imagined.

>185 adriano77: What a beautiful set The Wealth is. And thank you for the additional pictures of the illustrations!

Today I whiffed on an eBay auction for The Age of Constantine the Great by Jacob Burckhardt. It seems to me sort of in series with The Roman Revolution. It was published by Folio in 2007. More information can be found on page 5 of the 2008 prospectus. Here is a picture:



I thought it to be right up your alley!

>186 kcshankd:

I really need to dedicate my next vacation to clearing out the backlog I've got going on.

>187 laotzu225:

No problem! As a total package they're definitely up their as favourites for FS stuff I own.

>188 NLNils:

Reading some reviews of the book it really does seem to be in a similar vein as RR. Now I'm forced to look into it further...............

Finally got around to getting a copy of this. Really happy with its condition, the packaging used and the speed of delivery from the UK (only about 5-6 days to Canada).



Only about 7-8 OOP books I want left. The finish line is in sight.

>190 adriano77: That looks absolutely glorious! The last ones should be met in a timely manner, to enable setting forth new goals for 2018. Haha! Enjoy your book!

>191 NLNils:

Ha, if only I could find copies I'd be happy with. Too fussy about slipcase condition perhaps (usually the biggest impediment to purchases).

Also, I'm really regretting skipping out on a sealed Principia Mathematica over the summer. I get the feeling that new, clean copies don't come up very often.

What about you? What's next?

>192 adriano77: I'm pretty sure that sealed Principia went to me ;)

>193 gmacaree:

Was it the one up on eBay from a seller in the US? If so, I really should have put in a bid, haha.

Regardless, congratulations! It looks like a great set!

>192 adriano77: My last order of Folio books was direct from the Society; Dune and the roundly commented on Moby Dick. Those put a dent in my book buying budget. Since I have only ordered a set of books about the American Civil War. I’m waiting for a replacement volume for a transport damaged one. I decided to buy no more books this year. I have enough to read as is and I’ll have to reshuffle my bookcases to fit the current ones. The New Years Sale will be a good time to get my feet wet again. Until then I hope to find some more time to read!

Last order before the incoming sale.



Took three weeks from Ardis but both are in perfect condition and well-packaged.

The Blind Watchmaker is very beautifully done I must say.

I’m keeping myself occupied with #GuessTheFolio and planning ahead, but it sure is quiet on the boards. Your two new books look enticing, but I’m holding out until the sale. A few here dump some festive cash on non-Folio LE’s, but I don’t have that luxury. I just hope the discounts are right for me and I can start the New Year with a bang, especially in the dreariest month of the year.

>197 NLNils:

Pretty quiet - especially this thread! I've given up on seeing other people post stuff by this point, haha. Which is good, inadvertently, as it kind of prevents me from getting new purchase ideas.

I wanted Stalingrad to inevitably match with Berlin when I can stomach spending the $120 on it from FS. I really don't understand the price on that one, to be honest...

Of non-FS stuff, I've actually been buying Everyman's Library titles here and there. They're quite nice quality for what you pay and often they have editions that are, IMO, much better content-wise in comparison to the FS. For example - Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. The EL comes with a ton of his other work. Way better value.

>198 adriano77: I’m away in foreign lands and thus slow to respond. I figure it’s your laser focus on titles you really want and not straying from them which keeps the Faddicts away! :))

I came upon a collection of Everyman Library books in a few local bookshops a short while ago. None of them were sewn as far as I could tell. Which is strange, as their website literally states:

”The finest editions available of the world's greatest classics from Homer to Achebe, Tolstoy to Ishiguro, Proust to Pullman, printed on a fine acid-free, cream-wove paper that will not discolour with age, with sewn, full cloth bindings and silk ribbon markers...”

I did some research on LibraryThing and there is an earlier thread here concerning depreciating production values from EL. Apparently they have a US and UK operation and the American books are glued.

So, obviously I’d like to know about your volumes. As for price and book format they are absolutely tremendous value for money, and I can state this without owning a single volume up to this point.

I found this link here on LibraryThing with a overview of the titles produced since they relaunched in 1990. I hope you’ll find it useful!

And last but not least, I can’t get my head around Slim’s Defeat into Victory at £75 pounds (I don’t know the price in CAD). It’s a normal cloth bound book with a selection of photographs from the Imperial War Museum. The topic is on the fringe of readers interested in WWII history and I think it is almost rights free. Why publish it now, at such an inhibitive price point?!

>199 NLNils:

The EL titles I have were published between 2003-2014. They were all ordered from Amazon NA and are all sewn. I know that the titles from the early 90s are as well. From what I gather there was a point around 1999-2001 that they glued some for whatever reason. I'm not sure if there are other years when this is the case but it seems quite seldom.

DIV goes for $150 here. Good thing I wasn't interested! But yeah, the history titles at least seem to have upgraded their pricing. From $80-95 to in the hundreds. Bit unfortunate. Paying a further premium on top of the exchange rate to pounds doesn't help either.

Who could tell me if the 2006 edition of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli includes the prelude by Benito Mussolini?

Preface by Tim Parks, introduction by George Bull (translator for this edition, which I find the most faithful to Italian), then a letter from Machiavelli to Lorenzo de' Medici.

Great interior but the "gold" printing all over the boards is horrid. If you plan to read the book, get used to have little bits of it stuck to your fingertips continuously. I'm going to ditch my copy and look for an alternative.

To be honest, if you're going for a nice copy of The Prince I'd look for the LEC over the Folio (sorry, mole!). It's perfect.