Voyage to Lilliput and Voyage to Brobdingnag by Jonathan Swift 195
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1wcarter
I have just received the wonderfully whimsical LEC 1950 edition of Voyage to Lilliput and Voyage to Brobdingnag (Gulliver’s Travels) by Jonathan Swift (No. 709 of 1500). published in 1950.
Two volumes in one slipcase, one book 9.5cm tall printed in 6 point type, the other elephant folio 48cm tall printed in about 42 point type.
Design by Bruce Rogers the elephant folio is of Brobdingnag and the miniature of Lilliput.
They are both bound in quarter red linen over illustrated boards, with gilt lettering on spine.
Both covers are facsimiles of a map drawn in black, lettering in red.
Both books are numbered and signed.
The original Monthly Letter and a signed letter from George Macy laid in.
The books are in fine condition, while the huge slipcase (49.5x35.2 cm. ) is rather battered but still sound after 67 years.
Back cover small volume (identical to front).
Letter to subscribers signed by Macy
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the this series can be viewed here.
Two volumes in one slipcase, one book 9.5cm tall printed in 6 point type, the other elephant folio 48cm tall printed in about 42 point type.
Design by Bruce Rogers the elephant folio is of Brobdingnag and the miniature of Lilliput.
They are both bound in quarter red linen over illustrated boards, with gilt lettering on spine.
Both covers are facsimiles of a map drawn in black, lettering in red.
Both books are numbered and signed.
The original Monthly Letter and a signed letter from George Macy laid in.
The books are in fine condition, while the huge slipcase (49.5x35.2 cm. ) is rather battered but still sound after 67 years.
Back cover small volume (identical to front).
Letter to subscribers signed by Macy
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the this series can be viewed here.
2astropi
Thanks for sharing! That is really clever, and quite beautiful :)
At the same time, definitely NOT for me. Especially that tiny little book... grrr, give me a decent font size dang it!! Although, I have to say, that is some nice letterpress work doing something so tiny. In the Monthly Letter do they talk about having to produce special types?
At the same time, definitely NOT for me. Especially that tiny little book... grrr, give me a decent font size dang it!! Although, I have to say, that is some nice letterpress work doing something so tiny. In the Monthly Letter do they talk about having to produce special types?
4wcarter
>2 astropi:
There was quite a lot of discussion about the type for both the small and large books in the Monthly Letter.
Rather than type it all out, I have copied the discussion, and as it was spread over three columns, i have Photoshopped it into one spread that is hopefully legible.
>3 parchmenths:
I purchased the book from a west coast USA bookseller from whom I have purchased before. I was quite content with his description of a 67 year old book as "Books are in near fine condition. Slipcase is in good condition with edge wear and soiling.".
It did not appear that the smaller volume had ever been opened or read as pages very stiff. Not possible to tell with larger volume.
There was quite a lot of discussion about the type for both the small and large books in the Monthly Letter.
Rather than type it all out, I have copied the discussion, and as it was spread over three columns, i have Photoshopped it into one spread that is hopefully legible.
>3 parchmenths:
I purchased the book from a west coast USA bookseller from whom I have purchased before. I was quite content with his description of a 67 year old book as "Books are in near fine condition. Slipcase is in good condition with edge wear and soiling.".
It did not appear that the smaller volume had ever been opened or read as pages very stiff. Not possible to tell with larger volume.
5HuxleyTheCat
>3 parchmenths: The Japanese really know how to make beautiful paper!
6astropi
4: fascinating, thanks so much!
By the way, $10,000 for the text, wow! If you use standard inflation, $10,000 in 1950 is about $100,000 today!!
By the way, $10,000 for the text, wow! If you use standard inflation, $10,000 in 1950 is about $100,000 today!!
8MobyRichard
>7 parchmenths:
I think most auctioneers would disagree. It's fairly common to see 'Near Fine' or even 'Fine' applied to pre-18th century books
with noticeable defects.
I don't think coin collecting is the best analogy. Metal, especially precious metals, last way longer than leather and paper
and degrade at a more predictable rate. From my understanding, it's perfectly possible for leather or other binding materials to be fine one day then rapidly begin to fall to pieces.
I think most auctioneers would disagree. It's fairly common to see 'Near Fine' or even 'Fine' applied to pre-18th century books
with noticeable defects.
I don't think coin collecting is the best analogy. Metal, especially precious metals, last way longer than leather and paper
and degrade at a more predictable rate. From my understanding, it's perfectly possible for leather or other binding materials to be fine one day then rapidly begin to fall to pieces.
10Django6924
>1 wcarter:
A relative had this volume, and sold it a few years back to a member on this site. I remember being principally impressed with the ingenuity involved in designing a slipcase to contain both volumes, and the chutzpah of Macy and Rogers in offering this to the subscribers. At a special dinner hosted by the LEC celebrating the Twentieth anniversary of the LEC and Macy's 50th birthday, Macy joked about the edition:
...the "Gulliver's Voyages," which most of the people in this room have (all LC subscribers were invited and at least several dozen were able to afford it), and to the fact that it cost the directors of the Limited Editions Club more to produce than you lucky people paid for it, leading up to the fact that (Mrs. George Macy's) explanation for this state of affairs was that "George likes loss leaders, for they lead him from one loss to another."
His comment followed the designer's (Bruce Rogers) comments at that celebration when addressing the topic "How to Print a Classic":
It is perhaps impertinent and certainly impolitic to mention it here, but it may be that the just-issued "Gulliver's Voyages" falls in the category of how not to do it. Surely few people will ever trouble to read either the folio or the miniature book, when they probably have the convenient Heritage edition on their shelves. These are just printing stunts....
EDITED: because HTML doesn't like square brackets.
A relative had this volume, and sold it a few years back to a member on this site. I remember being principally impressed with the ingenuity involved in designing a slipcase to contain both volumes, and the chutzpah of Macy and Rogers in offering this to the subscribers. At a special dinner hosted by the LEC celebrating the Twentieth anniversary of the LEC and Macy's 50th birthday, Macy joked about the edition:
...the "Gulliver's Voyages," which most of the people in this room have (all LC subscribers were invited and at least several dozen were able to afford it), and to the fact that it cost the directors of the Limited Editions Club more to produce than you lucky people paid for it, leading up to the fact that (Mrs. George Macy's) explanation for this state of affairs was that "George likes loss leaders, for they lead him from one loss to another."
His comment followed the designer's (Bruce Rogers) comments at that celebration when addressing the topic "How to Print a Classic":
It is perhaps impertinent and certainly impolitic to mention it here, but it may be that the just-issued "Gulliver's Voyages" falls in the category of how not to do it. Surely few people will ever trouble to read either the folio or the miniature book, when they probably have the convenient Heritage edition on their shelves. These are just printing stunts....
EDITED: because HTML doesn't like square brackets.
11BuzzBuzzard
>1 wcarter: >10 Django6924: printing stunt seems to be an accurate description for the 1950 Gulliver's. While undoubtedly attractive its usefulness is questionable. Incidentally Bruce Rogers designed the 1940 HP Gulliver's mentioned above. To my eyes it is as good as any early LEC.
12MobyRichard
>9 parchmenths:
Kind of a hysterical response don't you think? I am stating facts, based on reviewing many auction records.
Whether you think those auctioneers are mistaken is irrelevant to my first comment. It's a common practice
to assess the condition somewhat differently depending on which century the book was published.
You also seem to have completely missed the fact that I specified pre-18th century books, most of which are still
bound in leather. Age has everything to do with condition when you are talking about formerly living, organic material.
Deterioration tends to accelerate after a certain point. By your standards, I have never seen a book published prior to the 18th century
in a 'Fine' or 'Near Fine' condition. Even rebound, there will be significant internal defects.
Kind of a hysterical response don't you think? I am stating facts, based on reviewing many auction records.
Whether you think those auctioneers are mistaken is irrelevant to my first comment. It's a common practice
to assess the condition somewhat differently depending on which century the book was published.
You also seem to have completely missed the fact that I specified pre-18th century books, most of which are still
bound in leather. Age has everything to do with condition when you are talking about formerly living, organic material.
Deterioration tends to accelerate after a certain point. By your standards, I have never seen a book published prior to the 18th century
in a 'Fine' or 'Near Fine' condition. Even rebound, there will be significant internal defects.
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