OT – Extraordinary Editions - The Book of Ebenezer Le Page

I was very interested to hear that EE are producing a high quality version of one of my favourite books. EE have published a number of excellent (albeit largely esoteric and channel Island focussed) books, and have also collaborated with the Folio Society in the past to produce the excellent Toilers of the Sea LE. Warwick has reviewed some of their publications for those interested.

I was very disappointed to learn that Folio decided not to collaborate on the Book of Ebenezer Le Page. In my view it is absolutely the sort of book which Folio should be looking to produce (deserving, albeit not well-known) alongside its focus on more popular titles.

Therefore EE will be producing a folio-quality version of this book themselves, newly illustrated for the first time by a Guernsey-based artist. There will be a cloth bound version and a version bound with leather and marbled boards.

I believe the book is being launched around the middle of next year, but there is currently no information available online (website here anyway for reference: https://extraordinaryeditions.com/).

No link to the publisher, just very interested in the book!

I'm looking forward to this, but those shipping costs are brutal!

>2 SolerSystem: I wonder if that only applies to the typically mammoth tomes they tend to produce, I assume the book of Ebenezer le page will be more modest in size, but who knows!

Hello - our shipping costs are only "brutal" for our large books - The SAS War Diary measures 18 x 12 x 4 inches and weighs nearly 25lb and are delivered by courier and we loose money on every copy.
The Book of Ebenezer Le Page will cost a great deal less to deliver!

I recently spoke with Martin at EE about plans for Ebenezer Le Page, and these are the details he shared with me:

-Limited to 526 copies
-Type set by book designer Paul Harpin
-Printed on a heavyweight acid-free archival quality paper
-Featuring 13 illustrations by Guernsey artist Charlie Buchanan, who has also designed specially made end-papers showing a map of Guernsey

The book will be released in 3 editions:

-The Island Edition is bound in cloth with gold blocking to the spine and cover and is released in a hand numbered edition of 350 copies.

-The Leather Bound Edition is quarter bound, by hand, in leather with raised bands to the spine and with specially commissioned hand-made marble cover papers reflecting the sea and rocks around Guernsey. The spine and cover are gold blocked and the book is presented in a cloth-covered slipcase. Each of the 150 hand numbered copies is signed by the artist.

-The Exemplary Edition will be limited to 26 hand-numbered copies. The book is fully bound by hand in leather with raised bands to the spine. The end papers feature our specially commissioned hand-made marble papers and the Guernsey map of Ebenezer’s haunts will be printed large size and tipped and folded into the book. Each copy will be hand lettered and signed by both the artist and Edward Chaney the rights holder and biographer of G B Edwards. In addition the book will be presented in a cloth covered solander box with a recessed base containing a piece of Charlie artwork from the preparation and production of the illustrations.

Very tentative prices are £45 for the hardback, £245 for the quarter leather and £750 for the exemplaries. They plan to launch at the Guernsey Literary Festival in June so more details will be shared around then.

So glad this novel is getting a decent edition, absolutely deserves it.

Looks like a lot of thought and effort is going into the edition, very much looking forward to it!

It will be great to have a fine edition - my own Penguin paperback dates from 1981 and is very yellow; I recently saw a larger version published by Knopf but the page margins were very uneven and the register not straight.

I expected this to be out of reach for me, but £45 is within reach assuming the currency and shipping rates to the U.S. are reasonable. Please keep us updated!

Shipping rates on their site indicate 100 pounds to USA and Canada.

Will follow this thread closely. I'm so happy someone is taking this risk for such an underrated book.

>9 Atheistic: shipping costs for this book have not been confirmed yet. It won't be that much (their prior books were much larger).

Ah ok. That’s good to know! Thank you!

Information and some photos of dummy books now on the website:
http://extraordinaryeditions.com/books/the-book-of-ebenezer-le-page/

It looks nice but why did they put a quote (I presume - the last time I read the book was 15 years ago) on the spine? I loved the book and was, maybe still am, so excited for the release but there is so much going on the spine itself that it's quite off-putting. Maybe I just have to get used to it? Otherwise the book looks gorgeous.

>14 Joshbooks1: it is the opening line from the book.

I was initially surprised by the decision, but must admit it's grown on me very quickly!

>13 EdmundRodriguez: Thanks for the heads up. They look great. I was wondering when this would come out.

I clicked on the order tab and it still show 100 pounds shipping cost to the U.S.

>17 coynedj: I contacted the publisher and was told they haven’t worked out postage costs yet. You can ask to be put on the wait list and they will reach out when they know.

>18 RRCBS: I also contacted them to confirm I was still on the subscription list, which they confirmed, and assumed they were not taking orders yet. Was I wrong?

>19 assemblyman: they just said they would put me on a waiting list and contact me about international shipping in June.

>20 RRCBS: Thanks for the clarification.

>13 EdmundRodriguez: Thanks for the link. These look great and I particularly like the illustration style. I've put myself down for a leather bound copy.

They're also good value in comparison with most limited edition books these days. £45 for the Island edition is less than an average FS book, for an edition limited to 350 copies and containing 13 illustrations. Shame they're not letterpress, as far as I could tell, but you can't have everything for these prices.

I now have my name down for an Island edition, very happy about that.

How do you get on the order list? Just send an email?

Never mind. I am on the list for the Island edition!

Is this book printed letterpress? The listing on the website did not specify the method of printing.

>26 ultrarightist: No, not letterpress (unfortunately, but not unexpectedly!).

And I just sent the email to get put on the wait list for the Island Edition. It looks superb, and this is one of my all-time favorite books.

>28 coynedj: I put my name down too, though I haven’t read it. Really looking forward to it though, I’ve heard a lot of good things about it…

Those of you looking at the Extraordinary Editions website should also consider two other publications that are both extraordinary:-

Battle of Waterloo
https://www.librarything.com/topic/257400

Illuminated Fightbook
https://www.librarything.com/topic/318477
Now apparently sold out.

Dear All

Our illustrated edition of The Book of Ebenezer Le Page has reached the printers and the cloth bound copies will be with you by Christmas. We will try to get the quarter leather and fully leather bound versions ready by then too, but it is going to be tight.

This message is also a call for those people who subscribed but have yet to pay. I am concerned that a few people are not getting my emails - so please check your spam. The price of the book will go up once it is printed.

If however you are feeling the pinch like so many of us in these difficult times please do not worry if you wish to cancel. We more than understand. If you can let me know and I will stop sending reminders.

very best to all
Martin
Extraordinary Editions

>31 morganatic: Thanks for the update. Looking forward to the release.

>31 morganatic: Glad that things are progressing, and thank you for letting us know how things are going. Excited about the book!

Sounds like people have started receiving their copies. Be interested to hear thoughts and see photos (looks like I'll be waiting until next year for my copy).

I enquired about it yesterday and was told the Island editions were posted last Friday. Eagerly awaiting mine.

>35 overthemoon: Thanks for checking that as I was wondering if all the Island editions were posted out. Mine has not arrived yet but hopefully all of them will be delivered soon.

Looking forward to getting my Christmas present to myself!

My copy arrived this morning - very chuffed to get number 10! (Island Edition) I am *very* impressed and think Folio could take a few lessons from EE. And printed in UK! Absolutely perfect and obviously great care has been taken with the whole production. I still have my eye on the huge volume of Channel Island maps they did but heating bills will probably prevent that purchase :-(

My copy arrived today, number 21. It looks wonderful, and will be read before long.

Mine arrived today, #37. It's a handsome and sturdy volume, EE did a splendid job. Should be fine reading.

So looking forward to getting my hands on this one. It's great that this book has now got the edition it deserves!

I was initially disappointed that Folio passed on the book, but I think it's probably resulted in a better edition (and a nice range of binding options too).

Has anyone received their Island Edition that has not been in the UK?

Still waiting for mine (Switzerland)

Ah, danke, likewise for New Zealand.

>42 FitzJames: I’m still waiting and live in Ireland. I rang EE yesterday and they confirmed all Island Editions had been posted since last week. Hopefully it won’t be too long a wait.

>45 assemblyman: Thank you!

It was in my mailbox this morning and I am absolutely delighted to have No. 6.
It is a beautiful edition. Maybe I will have to make a slipcase for it.

In other news, the publisher mentions in his accompanying letter that he is hoping to do a version of Peake's Mr Pye next year.

>42 FitzJames: I received mine in the US yesterday. Copy #14

And how do we like the illustrations? I see that six of them have been released on Guernsey stamps - a sheet of these would make a nice bookmark.

https://www.guernseystamps.com/Stamps-tell-the-story-of-Guernseyman-Ebenezer-Le-...

>42 FitzJames: Yes, I'm in the US.

Did anyone in the US who received their leatherbound edition receive a shipping notice, or did the books just show up?

>51 whytewolf1: They told me on the phone yesterday that it was just the Island Edition that has been shipped. They said the other two states would be shipped in the new year as they took longer being as they are hand bound.

>52 assemblyman: Ah... thanks for clarifying that. When I saw everyone posting about what numbers they got, I assumed they were talking about the leatherbound edition. Though it looks very nice, considering how modestly priced the standard edition was, it didn't occur to me that they might number them individually.

>52 assemblyman: They also sent out an email to purchasers on 5th December advising that these states would ship in the New Year.

Still waiting in California.

I imagine they were shipped out roughly in the same order as they are numbered. Also, as we approach the holidays, the shipping and delivery chains are highly stressed. So expect delays.

>55 davidjbrown10: Glad to hear this update, I am in the same boat.

>57 LBShoreBook: aaaaand... my copy arrived today: a beautiful production. My only regret (and I imagine I am not the only one) is that the Island Edition isn't slipcased. Of course one can do something about it, but I would have been happy to pay extra for a slipcase; after all, this is a limited, numbered edition and at least the equal in production quality to many FS books.

>58 davidjbrown10: Thanks, mine arrived today as well, same assessment.

>49 red_guy: I just received mine (no.8 I think) and I like the illustrations more than I did on the website, if that helps. I must say I love the cascading lines at the start of each chapter (by that I mean the first line is larger, the next smaller and so on down to the normal font size after about five lines), very old-school looking and classy. The spine looked quite subdued next to my FS books, quite a nice contrast. For the price I’m very happy—would love to see the quarter leather edition (unfortunately I’m reining myself in when it comes to fancy books - nice books to read is my goal now, though I covet those higher range editions)!
Looking forward to what else he offers over the next few years. He knows how to make books…

>60 stopsurfing: Mine also arrived today and I fully agree with you. I find it quite elegant. The other two states should be quite something when they go out next year.

>60 stopsurfing: I hadn't heard about the cascading lines, which always looks great. Some of the illustrations look good from what I have seen, so I'll reserve judgement on the rest until I've seen them. I'm waiting for my leather edition (not worth the price difference of course, but I'm treating it as if it were a signed Folio LE of 150 for £250, which would be an outrageous bargain. And yes, waiting for Mr Pye...