OT: Extraordinary Editions - MR PYE

My copy of The Book of Ebenezer Le Page from Extraordinary Editions was delivered in the UK this morning.
The good news is that the publisher intends to do a version of Mervyn Peake's MR PYE next year.
If interested you can contact Martin Morgan at mm@extraordinaryeditions.com

No connection with the company, just a satisfied customer.

Nice, thank you! Looking forward to getting my copy of Le Page here in the US. Definitely interested in the Peake title as well.

That's wonderful news! I'm assuming it will use Peake's original illustrations which will make it an immediate order for me.

Any images of the mr Pye or details included? I bought the half leather and that doesn't ship until after year end

>4 trentsteel:
No further info except that they hope to publish next year.

I've emailed Martin about the Peake book, will share anything he responds with.

My Ebenezer will be after Christmas.

I read Gormenghast this year thought the first two books were good, but the third was weak. Could someone tell me how MR PYE compares with Gormenghast?

>6 Shadekeep: Did you get any response from Martin? I emailed him in early March, but haven't heard anything yet.

>8 Dr.Fiddy: In mid-Feb I received an email that I was on the email list, but I have heard nothing since then

I believe it is still very much a work in progress, so may not be much in the way of detail available yet.

>8 Dr.Fiddy: Nothing further here in terms of direct contact, but I am on the list. I get the feeling that EE is a deliberate and considerate press, and that they take a lot of time to get things just right before making announcements. Hopefully we'll hear something soon on this!

>9 DMulvee: >10 EdmundRodriguez: >11 Shadekeep: Thanks guys. Yes, hopefully we hear something soon :)

I noticed a news article from earlier this year had a few more details.
https://guernseypress.com/news/2024/02/02/local-firm-to-publish-special-edition-...
I've copied some bits below:

"Mr Morgan has been working with Mervyn Peake’s children, who both spent parts of their childhood in Sark, as part of the new publication.

‘His son, Fabian Peake, who is now an artist, is providing an illustration and his daughter, Clare, who is now a writer, will be contributing an introduction,’ he said.

The book will be a limited to a print run of around 500 copies and will be available later this year.

‘This is much the way we treated the special Ebenezer Le Page,’ said Mr Morgan.

‘We are currently finalising the artwork and we are promising something very exciting, utilising a new technique for the cover.’ "

>13 EdmundRodriguez: Thanks for the update. I am looking forward to this.

>13 EdmundRodriguez: Fab, thanks for the news, this is one I'm anticipating.

>7 DMulvee: Mr Pye is nothing like Gormenghast but is a funny and interesting book set on Sark. A struggle between good and evil.

Details and pricing for the book from a recent email:

MR PYE THE DEFINITIVE EDITION

We have prepared this addition with the help and blessing of the artist Fabian Peake, Mervyn’s younger son, who has kindly created a unique frontispiece for the book, and the author Claire Penate, Mervyn’s daughter, who has been hugely generous in her work on the introduction.

In addition, we have sourced some of Mervyn’s work, including his painting of the Avenue in Sark, by kind permission of The Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery, pre-war images of the rail-less coupée (legend has Mervyn tearing across on his bicycle - without holding the handlebars) and other Sark images from Guernsey’s Priaulx Library.

The family have also let us access the original drafts of the novel which are held at the British Library. This has enabled us to reproduce some of Mervyn’s marginalia and sketches from the manuscript, his list of proposed titles, and published here, for the first time, his alternative ending to the story. This you will find at the end of your copy, sealed with a sticker, leaving each reader to decide if they wish to reveal it or not. The book is then elevated further with all 31 of Mervyn’s exquisitely simple line drawings that embellish the start of each chapter.

All of this has been beautifully typeset by the award-winning designer Paul Harpin in the Dove type, with generous margins and, at the end of the book, some stunning concrete poetry to complete the layout. Paul’s deep appreciation for the novel shines through his work.

The endpapers for the cloth edition feature an antique map of Sark, taken from our own Cartographic History of the Channel Islands, this will be tipped into the Leather Edition and printed large format for the Exemplary Edition. The two hand bound editions will feature marble endpapers specially designed by master-marbler Freya Scott.

The cover design, drawn by hand by Guernsey artist Charlie Buchanan and laid out by Paul Harpin features a pair of wings on the covers with the title itself designed to be the body of their angel owner.

THE SARK EDITION

Published in a limited edition of 350 copies and fully bound in sea blue cloth, blocked with the cover and spine design,

with blue and white headbands and a blue ribbon, and with the endpapers taken from a vintage hand drawn map of Sark.

The book is protected with a lightweight card slipcase.

350 copies priced at £65 to subscribers

Shipping, packing, courier UK. £15 CI. £20 EU. £25 ROW. £30

THE LEATHER EDITION

Limited to 150 copies, fully bound, by hand, in midnight blue leather and blocked in antique white with the winged cover deign. The endpapers are of a specially commissioned, hand-made marble paper, designed to invoke the myriad blues of sea and the verdant greens of Sark, while the vintage map of the island is tipped into the book. The book is presented in a cloth covered slipcase, lined in contrasting blue and blocked with the title design.

150 copies priced at £295 to subscribers

Shipping, packing, courier UK. £15 CI. £20 EU. £25 ROW. £30

THE EXEMPLARY EDITION

Limited to 26 hand-lettered copies, fully bound, by hand, in a contrasting midnight blue and cream leather bradel binding to best show off the cover design. The spine is blocked in midnight blue and the covers feature a unique three-dimensional wing design.

The book is presented in a cloth covered solander box, lined with a contrasting blue lining. A large format copy of the vintage map of Sark, numbered to match the book, will sit within the box.

26 lettered copies priced at £1150 to subscribers


Shipping, packing, courier UK. £30 CI. £35 EU. £45 ROW. £50

All these details are correct at the time of writing, however, small changes of detail may occur during the final printing and binding.

>18 EdmundRodriguez: that’s a lovely, elegant and classy design. I will have to read the novel, as this is tempting! I am a fan of the Gormenghast

It seems to have the same interesting type of binding (forgotten the technical name) that we saw on the Thomas Hardy poems LE.

>20 red_guy: Bradel binding

>21 kdweber: Thanks! Senior moment...

>17 EdmundRodriguez: got the e-mail and have asked for my name to be put on the list for one of the Sark editions. I was pleased with their edition of The Book of Ebenezer Page

It is now up on the website.

https://extraordinaryeditions.com/books/mr-pye/

>25 LT79: I recommend also checking out the Island Edition of The Book of Ebenezer Le Page as well. It makes a good companion volume and is a ridiculous steal at the asking price.

>26 Shadekeep: I’ve never heard about this novel, but looking at reviews, it’s a worthy read. Did you purchase the leather bound edition?

>27 drizzled: I purchased the Island edition, but have since reserved a Leather edition to match the upcoming Mr Pye. Even the Island edition is beautiful, however.

I emailed for a Leather edition. It looks lovely!

As a child I very vaguely remember the tv adaptation with Derek Jacobi which i quite enjoyed but have never read the original novel.

Looks like the limitations are actually 150, 74, 26 (according to website) for this one. Less than the 350, 150, 26 from the original email (and Ebenezer).

>32 EdmundRodriguez: Oof, that's quite a drop. Glad I reserved a Leather already, though now I'm wondering how many of each state remain at this point.

>32 EdmundRodriguez: I say! Thank you for noting this; rather thought I had many more months 'safe' though apparently not on those numbers.

>35 LT79: As did I likewise! And Martin has already been so good to let me know I am on the list for the Sark Ed.

>35 LT79: Me too. I love Le Page and I'm looking forward to Mr Pye. And great service from Martin.
I wonder what's next on his publishing schedule.

Below is a message from Martin giving a status update regarding Mr. Pye and the full understandable reasons for the delay in its release. My condolences go to him and his family.

Dear All

Thank you so much for your patience, I feel an explanation is in order.

My wife, Maureen, half of the entire workforce of Extraordinary Editions, saw her cancer return for the third time in January 2024. Since then I have been nursing her and I was joined by our sons for her final months. She died at home, in her own bed and with me beside her in January this year. We feel very privileged that we were able to achieve that, her final wish.

Necessarily there has been a lot to sort out, not least moving home to Guernsey where I am now firmly ensconced. All this is a long way of saying sorry the book has taken so long.

The book is printed and looks sensational. I upped the paper weight at the last moment, when we decided to dedicate this extraordinary edition to Maureen. That, some beautiful typesetting and very generous margins have both dignified the text and made it a lovely read. I am delighted with it and very much hope you will be too.

The Leather Edition is £295. p&p is £20 in the UK, £30 in Europe and £40 for the rest of the world.

The easiest way to pay is by bank transfer, you will find all our details on our website:

https://extraordinaryeditions.com/order/

I no longer have a card machine, however I can send out Paypal invoices or Sumup payment links if you would prefer.

Please email me to let me know when you have paid, could you also confirm your delivery address and a contact phone number for the courier company and if you wish to upgrade to the Leather or Exemplary editions just let me know.

The books are on a bench in the bindery and the binder tells me they will ship before Christmas.

Finally, when we published The Book of Ebenezer Le Page many of you posted on your favourite forums and groups, we were delighted and I would be very grateful if you would do so again. It's a very great help.

with very best wishes
Martin

Hi: Has anyone received their order yet?

New Zealand here, so not the most helpful of replies, but nothing as yet!

Still waiting on mine but he does say 'before Christmas' so there's time yet.

>41 Cat_of_Ulthar: Yes, that is what the binder was telling Martin at the time. It will be nice to have it in time for Christmas.

OK Thanks. My last email from him said he hoped to mail them last week or this week. Maybe I misunderstood.

Paul

>43 Atheistic: It was over a month ago when I got the last email so you may have had more recent contact.

Infuriatingly, my copy got as far as my front door in southern California yesterday only for UPS to neither ring the bell nor knock, so the first I knew about it was an email saying that they couldn't deliver and it was being returned to the vendor... so it definitely exists and is being despatched!

Mine has been delivered to my sister in UK (two days ago); I'll have to wait till next March till I get my hands on it, because I don't want to risk having to pay customs dues on it if mailed to Switzerland.

My copy arrived today unheralded by any emails. Haven't had a proper look at it yet but very excited!

>47 Cat_of_Ulthar: That's great. Looking forward to receiving mine but there has been no sign of it yet.

Out of curiosity, is anyone else who ordered it still waiting on their delivery?

>49 assemblyman: Yes, I ordered it along with a leather edition of Ebenezer. I did hear from Martin and believe it's going out soon if it hasn't already. Being in the US means delivery timetables are even more dicey.

>50 Shadekeep: Thanks for letting me know. There was an issue with the postage of my leather Ebenezer earlier this year which Martin sorted after. I was just wary that it might happen again. I've contacted him just to see if it had been posted yet so he might clarify.

My leather edition arrived today in the UK. I don't think those waiting should be too anxious just yet. It's rather large.

I have a question for those who have received it. What are you going to do about the sticker? Remove? Cut? I haven't the foggiest which is for the best.

>52 affle: Isn't he just? 11 ⅜" x 7 ½"! I was not prepared for such an impressive size.

>53 FitzJames:

I'll read it up to the sticker, then decide - but almost certainly remove, it can't go through life like that, can it?

>53 FitzJames: I don’t think I’ll leave it one, but not sure the safest way to remove it.

>54 affle: It certainly oughtn't go through life like that...
>55 RRCBS: And my predicament precisely.

I have no wish to leave it either, but it looks so dashed secure, not the cleanly peelable sort at all.

>54 affle: Sounds good, I think I'll do the same :)

>56 FitzJames: What is this mystery sticker you speak of, good sir?

>59 HonorWulf: Good sir! There is an alternative ending, with the sticker sealing two leaves together.

>52 affle: I had forgotten about the sticker and alternative ending option.

>53 FitzJames: Wow, that is large. Given how there was no dimensions given on the website I assumed it would be similar in size to Ebenezer.

>60 FitzJames: Ah, that would give me fits!

>61 assemblyman:

It's also quite stout: 72mm or 2 7/8" wide

Received mine as well, quite the tome! It's a beaut, EE lives up to their name. The leather Ebenezer is gorgeous as well, glad I upgraded to it.

Also just got mine. Even after being alerted by people here, I was astounded at the size and quality. A beautiful production! This will surely jump to the front of my reading queue.

My copy won't be ready until the New Year, but I did also pick up a standard edition as an Xmas present which has given me a sneak peek.

It really is very generously sized, and the internal layout has ample space and top notch design. I expect this will be an absolute pleasure to read.

Seems like very good value to me. I don't know what Folio would charge for a production like this today, but it would be far more than this, and the thought and effort going into this edition (of only 250 copies in total across all states) is exceptional.

>66 EdmundRodriguez: I was hoping someone would put up some interior photos. It looks great. Looking forward to mine arriving. Hopefully it won’t be too long.

Just to provide another comparison for size (my previous photo was potentially unhelpful, as it showed it alongside other oversized books), here it is (standard/Sark edition) next to Piranesi.

>66 EdmundRodriguez: Sorry everyone for going off-topic with this question. Could you tell me which edition of Master and Commander is in the picture? Thank you in advance!

>69 DeviousMouse: It is the one recently issued by Ampersand Book Studio (there are some photos within that thread).

>53 FitzJames: I see that I can open up the stickered pages carefully and peer inside to read the hidden text, leaving the sticker intact. So that's what I'll be doing when I get to the end of the book :)

>70 A.Nobody: Thank you!

I'm really glad I stumbled across this thread here! It's highly unlikely I would have learned of the existence of this edition if not for it. I only recently discovered the wonderful work of Mervyn Peake and less than halfway through an e-book of Titus Groan I ordered the gorgeous Folio boxset and the EE Sark Edition a couple of days later which I received just yesterday.

I almost cannot believe the incredible value of the EE Sark Edition even accounting for the courier shipping cost to me. The production is so well thought out with so many beautiful and well thought out touches. It will be a little while before I get around to reading it but I spent a good while admiring the book (whilst trying not to look too closely at the words haha).

>73 zorg2099: He is quite the stunner isn't he? And so nice to see him in company w. Folio's Gormenghast set.

>71 A.Nobody: Why thank you! Quite putting aside whether to cut or remove by leaving in place.

>74 FitzJames: Indeed, and physically imposing too! And yes Gormenghast and Mr Pye together make for a very nice Peake collection. Very different in vision and execution compared to Mr Pye but the Folio Gormenghast is such a beautiful edition too. I love how extensive the illustrations are, the way they are integrated into the text, and the art style for me was the perfect match for the surrealist Gothic sensibilities of the book. My Folio collecting is still in early stages (apart from a few I got years ago) and Gormenghast is probably the nicest edition I've got... so far at least :)

>75 zorg2099: Are you going to search out the FS Poetic Edda and Beowulf SE or LE?

>76 NLNils: I have some other priorities in the near future but I would like to pick up the Heaneywulf LE at some point. I wasn't aware of a Folio Poetic Edda! I shall add that to the medium term wishlist and keep an eye out, thanks!

However, my favourite Beowulf so far is the new translation by Tom Shippey (a leading Old English scholar though probably best known as the top Tolkien scholar) but I don't foresee a special edition of that by a quality or fine press publisher anytime soon.

My leather edition arrived yesterday after some postage issues but it was well worth the wait.

Congrats! Looks beautiful side by side.

My exemplary copy has just arrived. Pictured here alongside Ebenezer, and the Folio Toilers (to complete the Channel Islands trio)!

>80 EdmundRodriguez: Splendid! The last photo is pure eye candy.

Looks absolutely spectacular!

>80 EdmundRodriguez: Congratulations. It's gorgeous.

>80 EdmundRodriguez: Brilliant set!