1astropi
Some basics --
Seven photogravures by Robert Mapplethorpe.
Translation and Introduction by Paul Schmidt.
Edition limited to 1000 numbered copies.
Each book signed by Robert Mapplethorpe and Paul Schmidt.
One Volume, 7½” x 11½”.
Original French and English Translation.
Further info taken from --
http://limitededitionsclub.com/a-season-in-hell/
To preserve the delicate tonal changes and the richness of Mapplethorpe’s original photographs, the photogravure plates are printed in two colors: an alizarin black with a surface roll of yellow tint on paper from Cartiere Enrico Magnani, in Pescia, Italy, hand made for the photogravures. The book is bound in red Nigerian Oasis goatskin and the slipcase is covered in black linen, lined with ultrasuede.
I would say of all the "livre d'artiste" books that the LEC completed towards the end of their tenure, A Season in Hell is definitely the most "traditional" and least livre d'artiste. In my mind, that's not necessarily a bad thing at all! First, let me say the binding is "full crimson goatskin" which is nice, but not amazing. That said, I've never been one to be "wowed" over leather. In my mind the quality while nicer than say Easton Press, really does not feel that much different. The paper is clearly of high-quality, although, and I understand I'm being picky here, it is fully machine-cut and I prefer when they leave the edges untrimmed. The real star is of course the fabulous photogravure plates by the legendary Robert Mapplethorpe --
https://www.mapplethorpe.org/
The LEC could not have chosen a better artist for such a work. Mapplethorpe himself said the work he did for the LEC is some of his best. Pictures --
The book runs anywhere from about $1000-2000 these days. The LEC website (linked above) lists it fro $1400. The book was also popular enough to be given the un-royal treatment, but of course at a far far less expensive price --
https://www.amazon.com/Season-Hell-Arthur-Rimbaud/dp/0821224581
Seven photogravures by Robert Mapplethorpe.
Translation and Introduction by Paul Schmidt.
Edition limited to 1000 numbered copies.
Each book signed by Robert Mapplethorpe and Paul Schmidt.
One Volume, 7½” x 11½”.
Original French and English Translation.
Further info taken from --
http://limitededitionsclub.com/a-season-in-hell/
To preserve the delicate tonal changes and the richness of Mapplethorpe’s original photographs, the photogravure plates are printed in two colors: an alizarin black with a surface roll of yellow tint on paper from Cartiere Enrico Magnani, in Pescia, Italy, hand made for the photogravures. The book is bound in red Nigerian Oasis goatskin and the slipcase is covered in black linen, lined with ultrasuede.
I would say of all the "livre d'artiste" books that the LEC completed towards the end of their tenure, A Season in Hell is definitely the most "traditional" and least livre d'artiste. In my mind, that's not necessarily a bad thing at all! First, let me say the binding is "full crimson goatskin" which is nice, but not amazing. That said, I've never been one to be "wowed" over leather. In my mind the quality while nicer than say Easton Press, really does not feel that much different. The paper is clearly of high-quality, although, and I understand I'm being picky here, it is fully machine-cut and I prefer when they leave the edges untrimmed. The real star is of course the fabulous photogravure plates by the legendary Robert Mapplethorpe --
https://www.mapplethorpe.org/
The LEC could not have chosen a better artist for such a work. Mapplethorpe himself said the work he did for the LEC is some of his best. Pictures --
The book runs anywhere from about $1000-2000 these days. The LEC website (linked above) lists it fro $1400. The book was also popular enough to be given the un-royal treatment, but of course at a far far less expensive price --
https://www.amazon.com/Season-Hell-Arthur-Rimbaud/dp/0821224581
2TomsRiverNJ
https://www.vialibri.net/searches?title=A+Season+in+Hell&publisher=Limited+E...
there are multiple near fine or better copies below 1k and this doesn't include auction houses and booksellers not on one of the main ecommerce websites. its a nice book
easton press uses nice leather sometimes. the calf leather used for the 5 vol les miserables is top shelf. they also used a nice laid paper for the lec ulysses facsimile
there are multiple near fine or better copies below 1k and this doesn't include auction houses and booksellers not on one of the main ecommerce websites. its a nice book
easton press uses nice leather sometimes. the calf leather used for the 5 vol les miserables is top shelf. they also used a nice laid paper for the lec ulysses facsimile
3astropi
>2 TomsRiverNJ: there are multiple near fine or better copies below 1k
Okay, I had to check and here's what I found --
There's a $700 eBay copy with a damaged cover and no slipcase. There's a $775 copy looks like a heck of a deal! but apparently no Monthly Letter.
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31674903670
An $850 copy is from a seller with 1 out of 5 stars, and no mention of a slipcase nor the Letter, so caveat emptor. Finally a $900 copy is listed in "Very Good" with some sunning and again, no Monthly Letter. The remaining copies are $1000+ so I stick by what I said :)
Okay, I had to check and here's what I found --
There's a $700 eBay copy with a damaged cover and no slipcase. There's a $775 copy looks like a heck of a deal! but apparently no Monthly Letter.
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31674903670
An $850 copy is from a seller with 1 out of 5 stars, and no mention of a slipcase nor the Letter, so caveat emptor. Finally a $900 copy is listed in "Very Good" with some sunning and again, no Monthly Letter. The remaining copies are $1000+ so I stick by what I said :)
4TomsRiverNJ
>3 astropi: stick like ali but people who are interested in purchasing this book should know it is commonly found on the aftermarket in great condition for under 1k. don't trip over yourself to overpay if budget is any concern
5astropi
>4 TomsRiverNJ: More power to you if you can find a NF/F copy under 1k, but when I searched I only found the one. Granted, it's a great deal for $775, and I hope someone snags it up, but none of the others looked to be in NF/F nor complete.
6kermaier
>1 astropi: looks like a similar design concept, team, paper and binding to “Dubliners” and “Death of a Salesman”. That is to say, elegant, straightforward and high quality.
7Joshbooks1
>3 astropi: I think the value of the book is well worth over $1000 but you can find much better deals as >4 TomsRiverNJ: was saying. Just looking at the past year, two sold at auction for $400 in very good condition not including the hammer the price. With patience you can certainly find a fine copy from $600-800.
I've been collecting for years and I still think the Sidney Shiff LEC books are some of the best fine press books ever made, especially considering how cheap some of them go for now. I find it funny how companies like Folio Society and others market some of their limited or fine editions with signatures of artists, mediocre authors and some unknown individuals and sell them for absurd amounts when the LEC has signatures of many famous authors including multiple Nobel Prize winners, and some for extremely cheap.
I've been collecting for years and I still think the Sidney Shiff LEC books are some of the best fine press books ever made, especially considering how cheap some of them go for now. I find it funny how companies like Folio Society and others market some of their limited or fine editions with signatures of artists, mediocre authors and some unknown individuals and sell them for absurd amounts when the LEC has signatures of many famous authors including multiple Nobel Prize winners, and some for extremely cheap.
8astropi
>6 kermaier: Definitely. I do think the crimson leather is ideal for a book with the word "Hell" in the title :)
>7 Joshbooks1: I agree, the LEC is some of the best value you can get. That said, there are also some works, including many "classics" that you simply can not find in the LEC library. For example, Peter Pan. It's surprising, but for some reason the LEC never produced Peter Pan, so I'm thankful CTP produced an LEC-like magnificent edition!
With regards to Season in Hell, I doubt there will ever be a more beautiful edition than the LEC. I don't usually check out auctions, but if someone got a copy for $400 that is amazing. I'm not entirely sure you'll be able today to find a NF/F copy for $600-800 but who knows. Regardless, it's one of the most beautiful LEC editions, again all really due to the photogravures -- which are perhaps my favorite way to illustrate a book.
>7 Joshbooks1: I agree, the LEC is some of the best value you can get. That said, there are also some works, including many "classics" that you simply can not find in the LEC library. For example, Peter Pan. It's surprising, but for some reason the LEC never produced Peter Pan, so I'm thankful CTP produced an LEC-like magnificent edition!
With regards to Season in Hell, I doubt there will ever be a more beautiful edition than the LEC. I don't usually check out auctions, but if someone got a copy for $400 that is amazing. I'm not entirely sure you'll be able today to find a NF/F copy for $600-800 but who knows. Regardless, it's one of the most beautiful LEC editions, again all really due to the photogravures -- which are perhaps my favorite way to illustrate a book.
