Wilfred Owen: Selected Poems LE

Apologies if I’ve missed it elsewhere, but it looks like we’re getting this at the end of October. (Taken from the inside back page of the Folio Magazine.)

>1 LondonLawyer:
Very interesting. Matches the other books in the war poets series.

That binding looks amazing.

« Printed letterpress » is eye catching !

I will be in line for this.

Awesome!!
I assume this will be the last of the FS's letterpress war poet series? Or, any chance for more...

Siegfried Sassoon could be up next.

>7 wwfield:

Up to now, these letterpress war poets have been issued roughly on the centenary of their subjects' deaths. So on that basis I'm afraid you've got another 49 years to wait!

Would love them to do a series like this in non-LE format - would snap them up pretty quickly (depending on price of course!).

>7 wwfield: I would think so, is that confirmed? .. or is this W.O volume the last one, `Jayked` mentioned so on another thread (the one about Edward Thomas)
- -

Also: On their facebook site (i hardly follow `fjaseboka`) but they anounced there that there will be a new limited edition up soon - would this `Wilfred Owen` volume be it?

I would also like a more general volume with the most famous stand alone poems to this series, like Alan Seegers famous `Rendezvous` but he was american though. Since they don`t probably follow up on this series it doesn`t matter .. and John McCraes (Canada)`In flanders fields..`

The War Poets series has already been reduced by one -- the Rosenberg -- so it's unlikely to be expanded in another direction. There were a number of poets for whom the designation made more sense than for Brooke and Thomas, but they likely wouldn't sell even as well as those, who haven't flown off the shelves at a reasonable price.

This series would have been more interesting if they dared/wanted to go wider (more nationalities, different perspectives) , there are so much missing in this series if/when they cut it at Wilfred Owen `Dolce et decorum est` and `the Anthem` + R.B:`the soldier` were naturally known to me, as they are amongst the most famous ones.

FS may not have been getting the feedback they wanted for this series, which is a tiny bit sad really. 6-8 volumes in this series would be great, to end it at 3 (or even 4) are unfinished buisness

>12 Pellias:

Agreed--Rosenberg, Graves and Sassoon would have been the obvious ones to round out the series. It always struck me as a bit creepy to publish just the poets killed in the war and to issue their volumes around the date of their deaths. By the bye, there won't be any others since I think Owen was the last significant poet killed in the war.

This is a definite purchase once funds become available. This series is my favorite thing that FS is currently doing and it will be a shame if this book "completes" it.

>13 podaniel:
Francis Ledigde may not be widely known outside of his native Ireland, however he served in France and died on July 31st 1917 in Flanders. He has written some beautiful poetry published both before and after his death.

And now I'm drinking wine in France,
The helpless child of circumstance.
To-morrow will be loud with war,
How will I be accounted for?

It is too late now to retrieve
A fallen dream, too late to grieve
A name unmade, but not too late
To thank the gods for what is great;

A keen-edged sword, a soldier's heart,
Is greater than a poet's art.
And greater than a poet's fame
A little grave that has no name.

from Soliloquy by Francis Ledwidge

>15 N11284:

This poem of Ledwidge's is in the FS anthology of WW1 poets Anthem for doomed youth, published in 2000 and one of those excellent FS books available for next to nothing on the secondhand market.

>15 N11284:
>16 affle:

Many thanks. Ordered from Ardis.

>17 drasvola:
If interested check this out.

A Life of the Poet by Alice Curtayne ISBN1-874597-80-4

One of his more popular poems is his lament for Thomas McDonagh.

He shall not hear the bittern cry
In the wild sky, where he is lain,
Nor voices of the sweeter birds,
Above the wailing of the rain.

Nor shall he know when loud March blows
Thro’ slanting snows her fanfare shrill,
Blowing to flame the golden cup
Of many an upset daffodil.

But when the Dark Cow leaves the moor,
And pastures poor with greedy weeds,
Perhaps he’ll hear her low at morn,
Lifting her horn in pleasant meads.

>18 N11284:

Many thanks again, John. I'll be looking into your suggestion.

I know you can purchase other anthologies etc... but I will wait for this lovely lovely letterpress edition! There's just something special about letterpress, and the way the FS produced this series, with commissioned illustrations and the artist signing each copy (although not for the first book sadly, but anyway) this is just truly spectacular. Expensive? Yes, but in this case I have no qualms saying well worth the cost! I'm just sad that it has not sold well...

Now up on the website.

Stunning!
I hope that this publication won't be the last one in this extraordinary series!

Edit:
Just saw that they announced it as the last one in the series. What a pity...

Trying to buy the damn thing but can't get through on the phone and the website is at its flaky worst - continual "503 error - first byte timeout." I've emailed, requesting callback, but you can guess what's happening with that. You'd think they didn't want to sell any books. Bah!

Could be the last one in my series, since I don't like the direction the LEs are taking. No trouble ordering it from Canada. I'm somewhat surprised at the continued high limitation, given that even the fire sale didn't clear out the other two.

>24 Jayked: I'm somewhat surprised at the continued high limitation,

I was surprised, too. I can only guess they're assuming that Owen will prove the most popular of the three.

I think that next year they will publish the last one - Isaac Rosenberg.

>26 Briaind:

Welcome to Folio Society Devotees! You can find just about everything you need to know about the Folio Society and FSD at:

https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Groups:Folio_Society_Devotees

On the subject of Rosenberg, though, unless you are privy to information that hasn't yet been shared with this group, Folio has already specifically excluded him from the series, disappointing many of us.

I've placed my order. It's a handsome-looking volume, but I count myself amongst those despondent souls fearing this could be their last Folio purchase for the forseeable future.

Also, this was my first experience completing an order on the new website. Good Lord, it's painful.

This looks like the best designed of the series to my eye: I certainly wouldn't swap it for my Gwasg Gregynog copy of Owen's poems, though.

I love the art and can't wait to add this to what has been my favorite of all Folio's series. Color me as disappointed as the rest of you however if they truly do stop here.

>29 HuxleyTheCat: Green with envy for your Gwasg Gregynog copy of Owen's poems but happy to be ordering my FS LE to complete the set.

>29 HuxleyTheCat:

‘Mapping Golgotha’ is outstanding and the inclusion of Owens’ letters is a huge plus. One of the late lamented GG’s finest efforts.

>32 dlphcoracl: I've just reminded myself that I would very much like to acquire a copy of Giraldus Cambrensis, another fine effort from GG, and now that I have decided to spend less of my heard-earned cash with Folio, that very same cash can be put to good use elsewhere.

I received the mailing for Owen today. I don't know why, as I never bought an LE from FS. It is truly something to behold going off the information and images provided. I'm tempted, but not at £250 (215+35 shipp.). It is confirmed that this is it for the series, Rosenberg will not be forthcoming. And while I'm currently not the target market, I do think it's worth its price and would not be surprised if this turns into a bestseller for Folio.

Or in sale if they have LE sale next year
Saying that I think it is lovely and placed my order yesterday

>34 NLNils: would not be surprised if this turns into a bestseller for Folio.

I ordered my copy on Day Zero (the day before the official release). It arrived this morning. The limitation number is 602. Assuming they are dispatching them in order (*) that means they are selling faster than Mort.

(*) Not meant seriously. They've have evidently given up after Kama Sutra. Oh, Folio, what are you doing? Readers Digest is starting to look good.

>36 folio_books:
>If you're not rewarded with a low limitation number then there's no point in buying at full price. (Unless, like me, you're so old that you might not make it to next year's sale.) Is RD still in business?

>37 Jayked: Unless, like me, you're so old that you might not make it to next year's sale.

I wouldn't bet on me making it to next year's sale anyway, but should we be so fortunate I doubt very much we'll see the Owen LE. Maybe, possibly, the year after. The book, I mean. Don't want to tempt fate too much ...

Thanks to scanning by Glenn (folio_books), the Wilfred Owens Poems LE brochure is now on the FSD wiki here.

The illustration on Page 39 is shown within the flyer for Wilfred Owen. It shows the lungs of one soldier and the heart of the other, but the heart is upside down - is that related to the poem?

>24 Jayked:
What direction is that?

OT: For Wilfred Owen fans.

As Huxley the Cat mentioned above in >29 HuxleyTheCat:, in addition to the new FS LE of Wilfred Owen poetry a superb private press edition of Owen's letters and poems was published by the Gwasg Gregynog in 2007. If too much of a good thing is never enough, there is a third private press book with Owen poetry and exceptional illustrations and it is:

Thirteen Poems by Wilfred Owen: With Drawings by Ben Shahn, Gehenna Press, 1956.

The book contains a frontispiece portrait of Owen and 15 original illustrations by Ben Shahn. The frontispiece was then carved into wood by Gehenna Press proprietor Leonard Baskin (a multifaceted artist especially known for his large scale sculptures) and printed directly from the wood block. As is typical of nearly all Gehenna Press books the letterpress printing is flawless and an exceptional handmade paper is used. The book is small folio in size measuring 13 x 10 inches (33 x 25.4 cm).

Thirteen Poems / Gehenna Press

Thirteen Poems / Gehenna Press

Thirteen Poems / Gehenna Press

Thirteen Poems / Gehenna Press

Thirteen Poems / Gehenna Press

Thirteen Poems / Gehenna Press

And last but not least...........

If you have an interest in WW I poetry, the FS published a collection entitled 'Anthem For Doomed Youth', edited and introduced by Lyn Macdonald in 2000. It is a wide-ranging collection with over 80 different poets represented, including nine poems by Wilfred Owen, ten poems by Siegfried Sassoon, six by Edmund Blunden, and eleven poems by Robert Graves.

It is a handsome FS effort, probably one of the last FS books printed in Great Britain (Bath Press) on a specially made toned paper with grey and pale olive green hue. The front and rear pastedowns and endplates are illustrated with double-page historic WW I photographs and the book itself is also illustrated with historic WW I photographs. The binding is a fine olive green cloth which picks up the colour of the specially made paper for the text with an historic WW I photograph in abstract black sweeping around the entire binding.

Well worth seeking out for FSD-ers.

My FS book arrived today(number7). It is just perfect in every way and is among my very favourite of all my LEs

>36 folio_books:
Number 760 for me. Perhaps there's a bin into which they dip at random. Or Big Sister has been watching us and is Letting Us Know. Think I'll be looking farther afield in future.

>51 Jayked: Big Sister has been watching us and is Letting Us Know.

Yes, I've had more than a touch of paranoia about it. Or maybe they just don't want our money.

Edited for omission.

51,52: not sure what the problem is? Are people complaining about the limitation number?

>53 astropi:
Normally limitation numbers are allotted on a first-come first-served basis. When that didn't occur with some recent LEs, Folio undertook to correct the situation in future. There is a perception in resale circles that low numbers are preferable. There may well be no difference in quality for most LEs. If there is, it's in letterprint, where the type wears slightly with use; and where illustrations are printed directly from the block, when some wear may occur.

Even perceived issues affect value, and it makes sense that buyers who buy early at full price should have whatever slight edge there is to a low limitation number. It shouldn't be difficult to carry out: the number is clearly visible on the packaging

>54 Jayked:

But there may be no correspondence between the order of printing and the numbering of copies.

>55 affle:
In the case of Folio that may well be true, given their general insouciance, and illustrations printed elsewhere won't be in any particular order. But small presses with small limitations (anything over 1000 is pushing the limits of "limited") are likely to be more careful . In any case it's the perception, however inaccurate, that counts for those who think numbers matter. I don't have any real personal interest in the matter, as long as my copy is good -- I never sell books. But it's bad form and bad business for a company to make a commitment and fail to keep it, especially when the product is overpriced.

>56 Jayked:

FWIW I've had confirmation from Folio that the warehouse has been made aware of the requirement to issue LEs in limitation number order. It seems that, as you and I are concerned, they just "forgot".

My copy has now come, number 64 providing no evidence for any systematic distribution process. My first reaction is that this may be the best of the three, relieving doubts arising from already having the FP fine edition from a quarter century back, and from ill-temper at the abandonment of the Rosenberg book. LEGO have made a particularly good job of printing the engravings, the paste paper on the boards is very successful, and the impression is of a most harmonious overall design.

Edited to remove clunky wording

Mine was 23. Loved the book design and especially the illustrations. I think this is the best of the 3 books in the series, in-terms of overall appeal and illustrations!

>58 affle: My first reaction is that this may be the best of the three, relieving doubts arising from already having the FP fine edition from a quarter century back

Yes, I had the same doubts, also having the FP edition, but instantly dispelled on seeing the quality of the new one. Having said that, my personal preference from the new series is the Edward Thomas. David Gentleman's work seals it for me. Probably goes without saying but I'll not be jettisoning either of the FP editions, not when it took me so long to complete the series.

Shame about the Rosenberg, though. Opportunity lost.

My copy has arrived; nr. 45.

I saw the announcement and it sent me to my shelves where I found...."Wilfred Owen: Poems of War" from The Folio Press, 1989. Printed letterpress, with moire silk sides, marbled endpapers. The printing is on photographs from the War.
I'm sorry I don't have the skills to copy a few pages for you. But this older volume without any set limitation (but none of these small Folio press books were ever reprinted) might be a good alternative to the new one.

May I add that I am philosophically opposed to limited editions based solely on making a book instantly rare? I understand that the effort and cost in producing a fine volume means that the run will be limited. But beyond that it seems like a false eliteism.

>62 laotzu225:
You are fortunate to have a copy of one of these fine editions. They are hard to find on the secondary market. Although not listed as limited editions, only 1000 copies of each of the 20 books in the Fine Press series from 1987-1991 were ever printed. A full list of the books in this series appears on the FSD wiki here.
The prospectus link on the wiki takes you to a description and pictures of the books published that year.

>62 laotzu225:
After two years, I finally tracked one down for 80€ in fine condition. Some of Folio Fine Press editions are indeed hard to find! And not all of them are worth it, imho.
Having said this, I started to realise that there is a wealth of fine press editions of Edward Thomas and Wilfred Owen out there. >42 dlphcoracl: is a beautiful example, (Gwasg) Gregynog editions another.
I hate to say this, but I will wait for the next LE Sale. Otherwise, it'll be hard to justify to purchase the volume in the face of the other stunning editions out there!

I received the prospectus today. What struck me, apart from the ROW price hike, was that the shipping fee for all three books - in the summer still 30 Pounds for the first two - is now 35 Pounds. Paying 60 Pounds was too much for me during the sale, so I did without. I certainly won't get on board now. Unless DHL fees between the UK and Germany are extremely high compared to other courier services, which is possible, this feels exaggerated considering that these aren't huge, heavy books. I've been asking myself if FS simply charge the same shipping fee no matter where in ROW the books go?

For Canada it was $45, which is about 27 pounds -- plus tax. We did get dinged for an extra $60 on the book, though.

>65 SF-72: I think it's the same price regardless where in ROW one lives, which is certainly more than it actually costs for coutries which are closer to the UK. Shipping a 5kg parcel to the UK using DHL (they don't seem to have an official site for private customers in the UK) costs 17,99€ within the EU.

>67 c_schelle:

Thank you. Yes, this makes the most sense, and is another one of their unusual (and unpleasant) quirks. I don't know any company that doesn't differentiate shipping between countries / continents that are closer or further away since that's how shipping companies work.

I see that Island Books have a copy of this for sale at a very (un) reasonable £370.00.

>69 N11284:

Now be fair - they do include the prospectus :-)

Also they have many other bargains including the much sought after Herefordshire Pomona at a mere £585!
I was especially amused by "Atlas Shrugged" at only £248 having recently bought that set.

P.S. Perhaps they're assuming the massive Folio price inflation of recent years will continue in future making
all these seem like a real bargain in two or three years ...