Robinson Crusoe Fine Press Editions?

Being new to librarything, I'm not sure if this is a good topic for discussion. But I thought I'd give it a go. I collect any edition of Robinson Crusoe (Defoe, 1719), and have a handful of fine press editions--notably the ones you'd expect (Easton, Folio Society, Limited Editions Club). With more than 400 editions currently in my collection, I'd like to add more fine press editions of this title. Does anyone have any suggestions on which fine press editions of Robinson Crusoe are out there? And any leads on where to acquire them (other than abebooks)?

The Basilisk Press edition would be worth seeking out if you haven't already, notably featuring the woodcuts of Edward Gordon Craig, whose work was at one time intended as a companion piece to the Cranach Hamlet.

And don't overlook the Shakespeare Head Press who also did Crusoe in two volumes. Either the standard or large paper editions have the same pleasing typesetting of the contemporaneously-suitable Caslon - and you get twelve other volumes of Defoe into the bargain!

vialibri.net is an excellent search tool across a wide array of bookselling sources.

>2 biblioblivious: Thank you! I'd no idea Shakespeare Head had published a large-print edition. I have the standard 1927 three-volume set. I'll get hunting for the large paper edition. And the Basilisk Press edition sounds beautiful. That one will take some real looking.

>3 dpbbooks: Strange that I'm not already familiar with vialibri.net. It looks like a really terrific source. Thank you!

>4 mdcall: That's the one! Three volumes, I'd misremembered. The text block is practically identical to the large paper, but the latter is 20-25% bigger allowing for a more classical, as opposed to trade, page layout with the increased margins. If you're interested in tracking it down, there are variants in cloth binding, but the pick of them is the brown half leather by Riverside Bindery. Like with basically all the SHP library editions, the large paper editions were distributed by Houghton Mifflin for the US market, so searching by that publisher can sometimes return more results than just the terms "Shakespeare Head".

There is a 4 volume Riverside Press Large paper edition of 180 copies from 1908 designed by Bruce Rogers.

400 editions! So many questions spring to mind. Presumably the book has a special meaning for you. Are you happy to share?

I have read two novels in the past year in which Defoe's novel plays a significant role in a character's life. Gabriel Betteredge in Wilkie Collin's The Moonstone and the title character in The Book of Ebenezer Le Page by G.B. Edwards. Both excellent reads. I really must read Robinson Crusoe myself. The trouble is, I am not sure which of the 400 to start with!

>8 Pendrainllwyn: The Grabhorn-printed LEC edition would be a good one to go with.

>6 biblioblivious: Ah! Thank you for the Houghton Mifflin large paper edition tip. My edition is the cloth one. And I didn't know about the half leather edition...I'm on the hunt for both the half leather and the large paper editions now! Thank you

>7 Chemren: Okay...so the large paper is 4 volumes...awesome. Thank you!

>9 Glacierman: Thank you for your reminder of the LEC edition. I do have one copy of that 1,500-piece run...and mine is in fine condition. I love it.

>8 Pendrainllwyn: Oh wow...I'll have to read those two books. Thank you for sharing this with me.

I discovered Robinson Crusoe about 31 years ago. I was a young father at the time and the insights Robinson discovered really struck a chord with me. The book helped me reprioritize certain aspects of my life at a time when I needed it. I'd say that is what planted Defoe's masterpiece deep within me. The adventure of Crusoe's journeys and wanderings, of course, are enthralling. But the life lessons learned are the emotional connection I enjoy. Thank you for asking. :-)

>1 mdcall:

The Basilisk Press edition with Edward Gordon Craig wood engravings is a "Must Have" and your collection of Robinson Crusoe editions is incomplete without it. Note that there is a deluxe edition of 25 copies in full dark blue morocco binding with 10 original prints bound in and a standard edition of 470 copies in quarter dark blue morocco with unbleached sailcloth sides and one original print bound in.

>14 dlphcoracl: Oh wow! I have a copy of a limited edition (#110/500) by Basilisk, but I didn't know about either of the Morocco editions. My oh my. They must be beautiful! I'm drooling already over the deluxe 25 copies. :-) Thank you for this information!

>15 mdcall:

If you already own the standard Basilisk Press edition you are ahead of the game. The special edition I have described above is a superfluous but beautiful luxury. Congratulations on owning the standard - it clearly belongs in any Robinson Crusoe fine & private collection.

Colophon describing the 3 states of the Basilisk Press edition discussed above...



(Source: online listing)


Here is a listing of '21 original woodcuts and manuscript materials' by Edward Gordon Craig for $4.5k:
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=32441296638

Excerpt from the seller's description:

Edward Gordon Craig's original signed woodcut illustrations executed between 1927 and 1939. Craig worked and reworked this series over many years and the completed edition was not realized until the posthumous edition of 1979.

Does anyone know of a trade hardback edition featuring illustrations by EGC?

>17 mr.philistine: Nice!