Acquisitions June 2017

I have just acquired one of the more unusually bound LEC editions - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, which was bound in aluminium and has silver page edges.
Published in 1982, the book contains a loose leaf insert that warns that the book cover is fragile, and my copy shows some gentle dings to the corners, although the cover is quite intact.
There are three vibrantly coloured fold outs and one single page illustration by Joseph Mugani.
A fascinating book both in its contents and binding - I'll let the pictures tell the story.

I am a big fan of this LEC--it is one of the best of its period in design and the illustrations I find fabulous; Bradbury did also, and Mugnaini, who illustrated the LEC Martian Chronicles, among others, also illustrated the dust jackets and paperback covers of many of the trade editions of Bradbury's works.

(Mugnaini is a particular favorite of mine; he lived in Altadena, CA, in the foothills on the road to Prieto Canyon, about 10 minutes from my house, and taught at the Pasadena School of Fine Arts. He designed the house himself, in the "mid-century modern" style, which seems appropriate considering his art style, and Bradbury would frequently visit. It is one of those interesting instances of "attraction of opposites" that Mugnaini's closest friend for many years--and some say pupil--was Norman Rockwell. Rockwell often used members of the Mugnaini family as models for some of this most famous works, including covers for “The Saturday Evening Post. That the wildly creative illustrator of Ray Bradbury, H.G. Wells, and the LEC Bulfinch's Mythology was so close to the creative, but far from wild, Norman Rockwell of the HP Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn illustrations is one of those delightful instances that prove you don't have to have the same tastes and opinions to be the best of friends.)

I am excited because I just ordered the LECs The Pastoral Loves of Daphnis and Chloe and 1933... 3 volume set of The Brothers Karamazov. I always look forward to seeing the books arrive and hoping they are as described by the sellers.

Great taste! Now you have to get the Eichenberg 2-vol Brothers, too! :)

>5 NYCFaddict: I would like to have that edition, but I believe it is printed double-column and I am not sure I like that format. Should I see a great price on it I may get it, too.

>6 Jan7Smith: It is double-column. It is also Eichenberg's magnum opus if you like him.

The Brothers Karamazov 1933 books arrived this morning. They are exactly as described by the seller. I have been reading the HP edition and I will gladly switch to the LEC because of the enormous size of the former. I wish someone would post a better scan of the monthly letter, I can't seem to get a good printed copy of the existing scan. Happy day for me when another LEC is added.

>8 Jan7Smith:

I put a bigger (though not necessarily better--my own Karamazov ML shows its age) scan in the Monthly Letter upload of Google Drive. Now if some kind member with the necessary permissions can make it available to those who need an option....

>9 Django6924: I look forward to the scan and showing age is no negative since it does have a few years on the letter and book. Thank you for adding the scan and I am sure it will be available soon to print.

>10 Jan7Smith:
jpeg version of the Brothers Karamazov now replaced by Django's pdf.

>11 featherwate: Thank you!
I just printed the scan and it is a perfect addition to the books. Thanks, Robert & Jack.

I have looked at The Brothers Karamazov LEC 1933 edition and they do not seem to be of the quality I have come to expect from the Macy books. Does anyone share this observation or is it just me? I am proud to own the books anyway. The 1949 edition may be better if I can afford that two volume set even though I do not care for double-column.

It is not just you (I understand what you are saying), but the 1933 edition WILL grow on you -- give it time.

Initially I was underwhelmed (especially as I have the Eichenberg edition), too.

>14 NYCFaddict: Does the Eichenberg edition impress you more quality wise?

>13 Jan7Smith: What is not to your liking? I don't remember seeing any negative comments from here members about this set. Just the opposite.

>16 BuzzBuzzard: The paper seems cheap, the boards feel flimsy and just does not feel like the LEC books I am accustomed to seeing. They almost remind me of the Book of the Month type books. I hope as NYCFaddict indicated they will grow on me. The books are a great size for reading, light weight and small so that is a plus. I do not mean to be really critical just a little disappointed.

I too was disappointed with the paper. Yes, the Eichenberg edition impresses me much more overall, but I am glad to own both. The 1933 edition is a better reading copy, and I suspect it is the 1933 you would return to if you owned both.

Eichenberg was one of the greatest artists of the last century, if you ask me, so I have made it a mission to collect every book he worked on.

I'm aware that in the ML, Macy states he doesn't care for the paper, and others here also seem to dislike the paper as well; at the risk of being thought contrary, although I don't think the paper matches the luxuriousness of the paper in the Ricart Don Quixote nor that in Emil Weiss' The Four Gospels, I think it a very good quality paper, with the pleasant texture of an all-rag paper--just a bit of "tooth" but not fuzzy on the surface as you find in some mould-made papers in fancier editions.

Perhaps I'm overthinking this, but do you think a more luxurious paper and binding would be appropriate for The Brothers Karamazov? There is a certain austerity in the work that seems to me best suited by an austere approach to design. I wonder if Macy chose D.B. Updike as the designer partly because the Merrymount Press specialized in religious works (their magnum opus being an austere Book of Common Prayer. At any rate, Macy himself didn't care much for the paper, but loved the illustrations, and I can agree with that.

Thanks for helping me understand more about the book. I love it regardless of my complaints.

I love the illustrations too. The 1933 is worth owning just for them.

My beautiful LEC Don Quixote 1933 set has arrived and I am so happy to see that the books are in excellent condition with very good slipcase. I will drool over these with much joy and will begin the long read in the next week or two (1033 pages).

Ramona and Republic. Republic isn't in great condition -- lots of flaking on the leather -- but I'm planning a rebind anyway.

>22 Jan7Smith:

I'm happy you found a set in good condition--this is one of the early LECs that seldom comes on the market, especially in Fine condition as the spines are almost always faded or dulled.

>23 gmacaree:

Ramona is a beautiful later production--I particularly like the "association" fabric used for the binding.

>24 Django6924: I feel very fortunate finding such a great condition set. I have the Anna Karenina 1951 set ordered and I am hoping it will be as good.

My Anna Karenina 1951 LEC arrive yesterday and though it isn't quite as fine as the Don Quixote LEC I acquired last week I am proud to have it in my library. I hope the enablers don't tempt me for a while and let my wallet recover somewhat. I do love my LEC and HP books.

Many of us have wondered if there is a Moby Dick in nice condition. One such sold yesterday. Hopefully a fellow GMD got it.

>27 BuzzBuzzard: Holy cow! How did that copy survive in such a pristine state. Even the slipcase looks near fine.

>28 kdweber: My guess is that it was shelved and never touched. The original glassine was also present. Someone got lucky.

>28 kdweber:

Hmm, I'm no expert, but the spine head/tail looks noticeably darker. Subtle repairs or sunning?

>27 BuzzBuzzard:

Incredible. Do you know what the selling price was?

>31 Django6924: $1,050.

>32 BuzzBuzzard:

Great price! Especially when you look at what the current offerings on eBay are asking. My favorite is the following:

"Hardcover, spines peeling and lacking sections; boards with mild wear and scuffing but otherwise very good. Lacking original slipcase."

"Lacking sections" is an understatement--one volume the spine is completely missing and on the other volume only about a third remains--and that third doesn't include the title. The seller is asking $1000 which makes the one in your post the Deal of the Century.