1HuxleyTheCat
A quick reminder that some of the world's most magnificent books are available to leaf through in virtual format, courtesy of the British Library:
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/virtualbooks/viewall/index.html
Highlights for me are The Lindisfarne Gospels, Mercator's Atlas and selections from The Luttrell Psalter (which provokes rather large dollops of envy for those of you who had the foresight to purchase the wonderful facsimile from Folio).
Each book has a page by page commentary which can either be read, or listened to for those who like to keep their eyes on the beautiful pages.
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/virtualbooks/viewall/index.html
Highlights for me are The Lindisfarne Gospels, Mercator's Atlas and selections from The Luttrell Psalter (which provokes rather large dollops of envy for those of you who had the foresight to purchase the wonderful facsimile from Folio).
Each book has a page by page commentary which can either be read, or listened to for those who like to keep their eyes on the beautiful pages.
2folio_books
Mmm, a Folio Lindisfarne Gospels? Now there's a thought for a Limited Edition. I saw it when they let it out of the British Museum to return home for a while. Stunning. Breathtaking. Really, there are no words for it.
The Luttrell Psalter is one of my very favourite LEs (sorry Fiona) from the days when they knew what an LE should look like.
The British Museum commentary is a splendid idea.
The Luttrell Psalter is one of my very favourite LEs (sorry Fiona) from the days when they knew what an LE should look like.
The British Museum commentary is a splendid idea.
3HuxleyTheCat
>2 folio_books: I reckon that in the post-Joe era there is absolutely zero chance of a Folio Lindisfarne Gospels LE, and you're absolutely correct about the Psalter Glenn. I have seen a copy several times in the MR and marvelled at it, but back then there was no way I could justify the price to myself. It took me years to pluck up the courage to buy Liber Bestiarum, but absolutely no regrets there. I took it out yesterday to compare it with the Bestiary on the BL site and the smell once released from the solander, combined with the sensation of my fingers sinking into the leather of the spine brought into sharp relief the reasons why sometimes it's worth splashing the cash.
4folio_books
>4 folio_books:
I bought Liber Bestarium on your recommendation and was - and still am - delighted with it. The Psalter, as you know, is clothed in leather of similar quality. They're the two best examples of Folio leather binding I know of. You're absolutely right about the post-Joe culture at Folio, sadly. They might, at a push, consider a Lindisfarne Gospels with paper boards but the price of leather for such a project would frighten them away.
I bought Liber Bestarium on your recommendation and was - and still am - delighted with it. The Psalter, as you know, is clothed in leather of similar quality. They're the two best examples of Folio leather binding I know of. You're absolutely right about the post-Joe culture at Folio, sadly. They might, at a push, consider a Lindisfarne Gospels with paper boards but the price of leather for such a project would frighten them away.
5EclecticIndulgence
>4 folio_books:
Might I add Moby-Dick LE and War and Peace LE to the best FS leather bindings?
Might I add Moby-Dick LE and War and Peace LE to the best FS leather bindings?
6folio_books
>5 EclecticIndulgence:
You certainly might. I assume you're talking about the blue leather War and Peace from the 1970's? That one is, indeed, sumptuous.
You certainly might. I assume you're talking about the blue leather War and Peace from the 1970's? That one is, indeed, sumptuous.
7EclecticIndulgence
>6 folio_books:
Exactly, Glenn. Here's a photo of the blue leather W&P, for those that haven't seen it:
https://www.facebook.com/RabbitHoleRareBooks/photos/pcb.671781886897033/67177578...
(not sure how to make the link smaller)
Exactly, Glenn. Here's a photo of the blue leather W&P, for those that haven't seen it:
https://www.facebook.com/RabbitHoleRareBooks/photos/pcb.671781886897033/67177578...
(not sure how to make the link smaller)
9affle
>8 folio_books:
Mine too, Glenn. From very minor differences between mine and a picture I saw on here somewhere, I concluded these were made up in batches (maybe even different binders?). But it's remarkable how fresh the leather smell off a fifty-year old book.
Mine too, Glenn. From very minor differences between mine and a picture I saw on here somewhere, I concluded these were made up in batches (maybe even different binders?). But it's remarkable how fresh the leather smell off a fifty-year old book.
10folio_books
>9 affle: it's remarkable how fresh the leather smell off a fifty-year old book.
Actually, I concluded the colours in the photograph were wrong, Alan. They all seemed a bit "off" to me, but I concede it's possible different batches could account for it. Dare I say I'm happier with the colour of mine? The feel of it is wonderful and the smell is intoxicating in the most pleasant of ways.
Actually, I concluded the colours in the photograph were wrong, Alan. They all seemed a bit "off" to me, but I concede it's possible different batches could account for it. Dare I say I'm happier with the colour of mine? The feel of it is wonderful and the smell is intoxicating in the most pleasant of ways.
11teppi2
>10 folio_books: There are indeed at least two different batches of the blue War and Peace with significant variation to the leather (not only in color but also in texture). Below if a photo of my copy (lighter blue) and a link to a current bookseller offering (darker blue):
Copy offered by bookseller
https://www.firstandfine.com/product/tolstoy-leo-1971-war-and-peace-folio-societ...
My Copy
As you can see, the leather is darker and more coarse on the bookseller listing. Also, the opening of the slipcases varies slightly. For the first, top and bottom have a slight protrusion, while the sides are straight. For my copy however, the top and bottom are straight, while the sides are slightly concave. I agree that I prefer the color and texture of mine, but this is obviously a matter of personal taste.
Very similar variants exist for the cream Decameron, although it is much less noticeable here as there is nearly no color variation:
Decameron Slipcase - top
Decameron - Slipcase side
Decameron - Leather Texture
Again, the one with the straight top edge slipcase appears to have the more fine pored leather (at the top of the above picture) and the one on the bottom has the coarser leather. This could be coincidence, but I did see several copies of each variant, and this was consistent for all of them.
OK, this was probably far more detail on minimal variances of the binding than anyone wanted to hear...
Copy offered by bookseller
https://www.firstandfine.com/product/tolstoy-leo-1971-war-and-peace-folio-societ...
My Copy
As you can see, the leather is darker and more coarse on the bookseller listing. Also, the opening of the slipcases varies slightly. For the first, top and bottom have a slight protrusion, while the sides are straight. For my copy however, the top and bottom are straight, while the sides are slightly concave. I agree that I prefer the color and texture of mine, but this is obviously a matter of personal taste.
Very similar variants exist for the cream Decameron, although it is much less noticeable here as there is nearly no color variation:
Decameron Slipcase - top
Decameron - Slipcase side
Decameron - Leather Texture
Again, the one with the straight top edge slipcase appears to have the more fine pored leather (at the top of the above picture) and the one on the bottom has the coarser leather. This could be coincidence, but I did see several copies of each variant, and this was consistent for all of them.
OK, this was probably far more detail on minimal variances of the binding than anyone wanted to hear...
12folio_books
>11 teppi2: probably far more detail on minimal variances of the binding than anyone wanted to hear...
Not at all. I find it very interesting, particularly the differences in the slipcases - thank you. I've looked at my copies of W&P and Decameron and both have the "straight" slipcases, And I am still of the opinion that the lighter blue looks more attractive than the darker version.
Not at all. I find it very interesting, particularly the differences in the slipcases - thank you. I've looked at my copies of W&P and Decameron and both have the "straight" slipcases, And I am still of the opinion that the lighter blue looks more attractive than the darker version.
13Chemren
Thanks for the details. My copy is the darker leather, with slipcase details as you state (protrudes at top and flat sides).
14boldface
>11 teppi2:
My copy is the same type as yours, i.e. with the lighter blue leather and the concave sides to the slipcase. However, your picture on my computer looks like a deep blue whereas mine is somewhat paler. Maybe it's just the vagaries of photography and/or computer graphics. Lovely edition, though. I also have the later, slightly smaller-format, single-volume cloth reprint and the 2006 so-called LE, but this letterpress 1971 edition with the special binding is by far the most pleasing and tactile. Later reprints, I note from Folio 60, had a text incorporating a few corrections, but I'd much rather read this one.
My copy is the same type as yours, i.e. with the lighter blue leather and the concave sides to the slipcase. However, your picture on my computer looks like a deep blue whereas mine is somewhat paler. Maybe it's just the vagaries of photography and/or computer graphics. Lovely edition, though. I also have the later, slightly smaller-format, single-volume cloth reprint and the 2006 so-called LE, but this letterpress 1971 edition with the special binding is by far the most pleasing and tactile. Later reprints, I note from Folio 60, had a text incorporating a few corrections, but I'd much rather read this one.
15folio_books
>14 boldface:
I had several attempts at finding the best Folio W&P, starting with the 1978 single volume edition (the worst), through the original 1971 two volume standard edition, the 1990's two volume set, the 2006 so-called Limited Edition (a reprint of the 1978 edition in a leather binding) and the 2014 P&V before finally settling on the magnificent blue leather edition I now possess. A long and winding road, and an expensive one, too, but at last I found what I was really looking for.
I had several attempts at finding the best Folio W&P, starting with the 1978 single volume edition (the worst), through the original 1971 two volume standard edition, the 1990's two volume set, the 2006 so-called Limited Edition (a reprint of the 1978 edition in a leather binding) and the 2014 P&V before finally settling on the magnificent blue leather edition I now possess. A long and winding road, and an expensive one, too, but at last I found what I was really looking for.
16HuxleyTheCat
>15 folio_books: I spent a long time contemplating the very best W&P to buy, then I realised that I wouldn't ever read it again and turned to contemplating something else.
17affle
>11 teppi2:
Thank you for report. My W&P is like yours, colour and slipcase; my Decameron with the shaped slipcase, and yes, rather coarser leather. I don't suppose we'll ever know the order and relative frequency of the variants. The other detail I've noticed is that there is a little 'V' between board and spine on my Decameron, and not on my W&P, but I have seen pictures of W&P with the 'V' - that's why (>9 affle:) I suggested there may have been different binders.
ETA You can see the 'V' on the bookseller's pictures of the dark W&P
Thank you for report. My W&P is like yours, colour and slipcase; my Decameron with the shaped slipcase, and yes, rather coarser leather. I don't suppose we'll ever know the order and relative frequency of the variants. The other detail I've noticed is that there is a little 'V' between board and spine on my Decameron, and not on my W&P, but I have seen pictures of W&P with the 'V' - that's why (>9 affle:) I suggested there may have been different binders.
ETA You can see the 'V' on the bookseller's pictures of the dark W&P
18HuxleyTheCat
>2 folio_books: I'm going to punish myself further by watching the Luttrell Psalter episode of the repeated series: The Beauty of Books at 1930hrs tomorrow evening on BBC 4. Lots of interest for FSDs as tonight is Ancient Bibles featuring Codex Sinaiticus and the Winchester Bibles. Episode three on Wednesday looks at illustrated editions of Alice in Wonderland. All subsequently available on iPlayer for licence payers.
19folio_books
>18 HuxleyTheCat: I'm going to punish myself further by watching the Luttrell Psalter episode of the repeated series: The Beauty of Books at 1930hrs tomorrow evening on BBC 4.
Well, I finally got around to watching this on iPlayer last night and what a treat it was. Utterly fascinating. What you didn't mention in your promo was the familiar names that appeared as experts, thinking particularly of Christopher de Hamel and Professor Michelle P. Brown. I could listen to either of those two talk all day. Thanks for the heads-up.
Well, I finally got around to watching this on iPlayer last night and what a treat it was. Utterly fascinating. What you didn't mention in your promo was the familiar names that appeared as experts, thinking particularly of Christopher de Hamel and Professor Michelle P. Brown. I could listen to either of those two talk all day. Thanks for the heads-up.
