Folio Archives : Aucassin & Nicolette - 1947
Original topic subject: Folio Archives : Aucassin & Nicolette
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Aucassin and Nicolette - 1947
ORIGINAL REVIEW FROM JULY 207
In 1947, the third book ever published by the Folio Society was Aucassin and Nicolette.
It is a small (22.5 x 15 cm.) slim volume of 60 pages that includes 44 engravings. The book size was determined by rationing as there were paper restrictions on publishers, due to the shortages caused by World War 2.
The story is an anonymous sung prose and poetry work from the 12th Century that describes the love between the son of a count and a Saracen maid.
Until the mid-1950s, Folio Society books did not have slip cases, but were covered in a variety of dust jackets.
This book is covered in glassine, a notoriously fickle material that becomes brittle easily, cracks and breaks. It is rare to find a copy in which the glassine is intact, but mine is virtually perfect. The title and name of the illustrator are printed on the glassine rather than the book itself.
I was fortunate to find this copy for a very cheap price hidden in a suburban second-hand bookstore in Adelaide while visiting that city.
Only two other books were published in 1947, the first year of the Folio Society – a selection of Tolstoy’s short stories and Trilby by George du Maurier.
This rather strange photo shows the glassine lifted from the cover of the book and demonstrates how the title and illustrator are printed on the glassine and not the book.
Interior of the book.
The inside flaps of the glassine cover are shown in the next two pictures. The text is printed on the glassine infolds.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ADDED DECEMBER 2024
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
ORIGINAL REVIEW FROM JULY 207
In 1947, the third book ever published by the Folio Society was Aucassin and Nicolette.
It is a small (22.5 x 15 cm.) slim volume of 60 pages that includes 44 engravings. The book size was determined by rationing as there were paper restrictions on publishers, due to the shortages caused by World War 2.
The story is an anonymous sung prose and poetry work from the 12th Century that describes the love between the son of a count and a Saracen maid.
Until the mid-1950s, Folio Society books did not have slip cases, but were covered in a variety of dust jackets.
This book is covered in glassine, a notoriously fickle material that becomes brittle easily, cracks and breaks. It is rare to find a copy in which the glassine is intact, but mine is virtually perfect. The title and name of the illustrator are printed on the glassine rather than the book itself.
I was fortunate to find this copy for a very cheap price hidden in a suburban second-hand bookstore in Adelaide while visiting that city.
Only two other books were published in 1947, the first year of the Folio Society – a selection of Tolstoy’s short stories and Trilby by George du Maurier.
This rather strange photo shows the glassine lifted from the cover of the book and demonstrates how the title and illustrator are printed on the glassine and not the book.
Interior of the book.
The inside flaps of the glassine cover are shown in the next two pictures. The text is printed on the glassine infolds.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ADDED DECEMBER 2024
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2wdripp
That is a lovely volume. I am not familiar with the work. I understand why FS would not have wanted to imprint the title over the book design, but is a shame so much information is on the glassine dust jacket, and is presumably lost to many owners of the book.
3Fierylunar
Currently on sale on Ebay for 14 USD, though the dustcovers looks to be in a horrendous state.
Usual disclaimer, no connection etc.
Usual disclaimer, no connection etc.
