Wanted: Frankenstein 2015 (Folio Collectible, the purple one)
Talk Folio Society Devotees
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1NCS180
I got outbid very late on, with seconds to go for this copy and it has eluded me every since. Any advice in locating a copy? There were 3000 copies I believe.
2Fierylunar
Hello and welcome to this group! Many of us here know the feeling of missing out on one book or another, so there has been some advice on locating missing books already. To summarize:
1. Set up search notifications on Ebay and Abebooks so you get an email when one is put up.
2. There are several trade/looking for threads on this forum you could use to try and buy it from a FSD member.
I just tried searching myself and it would appear that this book is now actually quite rare, which I did not expect. One was sold recently for 64$ on Ebay, surprisingly enough with slipcase.
1. Set up search notifications on Ebay and Abebooks so you get an email when one is put up.
2. There are several trade/looking for threads on this forum you could use to try and buy it from a FSD member.
I just tried searching myself and it would appear that this book is now actually quite rare, which I did not expect. One was sold recently for 64$ on Ebay, surprisingly enough with slipcase.
3pop24
I found a copy of this awhile ago on Abebooks but it was priced roughly equivalent to all the rest of the collectables put together
4a.friend
It just popped up on eBay!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Frankenstein-Folio-Society-Collectible/324197592227?has...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Frankenstein-Folio-Society-Collectible/324197592227?has...
5SF-72
Crazy - I really didn't expect the price of this one to rise like that. I got it as a freebie with a purchase of new releases a few years ago and was glad when I got rid of it at a price that about covered getting the older edition with the same illustrations, but a different cover (and a slipcase). I preferred that one a lot, partly because the collectable had a very unpleasant chemical smell.
6Fierylunar
>4 a.friend: and it's gone for 95$ within 9 hours. Wow. I also received this as a freebie, never would've expected prices to rise to one of the more pricy single book regular editions I own...
7MobyRichard
>5 SF-72:
Yeah, it's a head scratcher. I remember the initial reaction to these Collectibles was pretty negative.
Yeah, it's a head scratcher. I remember the initial reaction to these Collectibles was pretty negative.
8dlphcoracl
>6 Fierylunar:
>7 MobyRichard:
A classic example of how "the crowd doesn't always get it right". Eventually, one needs to rely upon one's own collecting experience and have confidence in his/her ability to make these evaluations and collecting decisions. FWIW, the Folio Press Fine Editions series of twenty beautiful books printed letterpress with hand-marbled paper bindings from 1987-1991 were almost universally reviled by the "knowledgeable" FSDers and the FS could barely give these slim volumes away. Purchase what YOU want, not what everyone else is telling you to (or not to).
>7 MobyRichard:
A classic example of how "the crowd doesn't always get it right". Eventually, one needs to rely upon one's own collecting experience and have confidence in his/her ability to make these evaluations and collecting decisions. FWIW, the Folio Press Fine Editions series of twenty beautiful books printed letterpress with hand-marbled paper bindings from 1987-1991 were almost universally reviled by the "knowledgeable" FSDers and the FS could barely give these slim volumes away. Purchase what YOU want, not what everyone else is telling you to (or not to).
9Jayked
I think the initial reaction may have been because the Collectables were simply reprints of earlier editions, with the same illustrations, but in a smaller series format. To someone who owned the original, these would seem of inferior quality, though the couple I bought were quite attractive, and well produced. They did win a design award, and were I suppose aimed at new customers . They were in some ways like Slightly Foxed Editions, a smallish uniform "pocket" size with impeccable printing and binding standards.
10a.friend
If it isn't inappropriate for this thread, I'd like to ask the readership:
What is your favorite production of Frankenstein, fine press or otherwise? I imagine most people hold the LEC and Arion Press editions as the silver and gold standards, respectively, but I'd love to hear all of your thoughts and potentially discover an underrated publisher.
LEC gallery: http://limitededitionsclub.us/1934_frankenstein_or_the_modern_prometheus_mary_sh...
AP gallery: https://www.arionpress.com/store/115-frankenstein
What is your favorite production of Frankenstein, fine press or otherwise? I imagine most people hold the LEC and Arion Press editions as the silver and gold standards, respectively, but I'd love to hear all of your thoughts and potentially discover an underrated publisher.
LEC gallery: http://limitededitionsclub.us/1934_frankenstein_or_the_modern_prometheus_mary_sh...
AP gallery: https://www.arionpress.com/store/115-frankenstein
11dlphcoracl
>10 a.friend:
The Pennyroyal Press edition (1983) with Barry Moser wood engravings is in a league by itself (imho). The Grolier Club of NYC bibliophiles agrees as well - this was one of the books included in their famous exhibition and catalogue book entitled: 'A Century for the Century:Fine Printed Books from 1900 to 1999'.
The Pennyroyal Press edition (1983) with Barry Moser wood engravings is in a league by itself (imho). The Grolier Club of NYC bibliophiles agrees as well - this was one of the books included in their famous exhibition and catalogue book entitled: 'A Century for the Century:Fine Printed Books from 1900 to 1999'.
12Levin40
>9 Jayked: though the couple I bought were quite attractive, and well produced.
Agreed. I picked up Diary of a Nobody during the last sale for the princely sum of about £4 (!). I wasn't expecting too much but ended up being rather impressed all round. I ended up ordering A Christmas Carol a while back...mainly because I wanted the book but also as a cost effective way of securing another mystery book.
>1 NCS180: Interested where you heard about the 3000 copies. Did that come from Folio and does it apply to all collectables?
Agreed. I picked up Diary of a Nobody during the last sale for the princely sum of about £4 (!). I wasn't expecting too much but ended up being rather impressed all round. I ended up ordering A Christmas Carol a while back...mainly because I wanted the book but also as a cost effective way of securing another mystery book.
>1 NCS180: Interested where you heard about the 3000 copies. Did that come from Folio and does it apply to all collectables?
13a.friend
>11 dlphcoracl: An exquisite edition! Although I was not familiar with the Pennyroyal Press, Moser is a legend. The paper they used for this production seems to be a great choice and the aesthetic of the half-leather binding is on point. I am particularly in love with the bronze medallion embedded on the slipcase - what a stunner!
14dlphcoracl
>13 a.friend:
Two additional considerations with the Pennyroyal Press 'Frankenstein'.........
1. It is one of the few private press editions that uses the original and far superior 1818 version instead of the later revised 1831 edition. The Thornwillow Press is another that uses the 1818 edition.
2. The letterpress printing at Pennyroyal was done by Harold P. McGrath, arguably the finest pressman in the United States during the latter half of the twentieth century. He was the American equivalent of Giovanni (Hans) Mardersteig at the Officina Bodoni.
Two additional considerations with the Pennyroyal Press 'Frankenstein'.........
1. It is one of the few private press editions that uses the original and far superior 1818 version instead of the later revised 1831 edition. The Thornwillow Press is another that uses the 1818 edition.
2. The letterpress printing at Pennyroyal was done by Harold P. McGrath, arguably the finest pressman in the United States during the latter half of the twentieth century. He was the American equivalent of Giovanni (Hans) Mardersteig at the Officina Bodoni.
15kdweber
>13 a.friend: Magnificent! I'm rather partial to the Centipede Press edition illustrated by Lynd Ward but do own a copy of the Pennyroyal trade edition (published by the UC Press) for the 1818 version of the text.
