Another new LE

Hot on the heels of the Mappa Mundi, here's another excuse to part with hard-earned cash:

http://www.foliosociety.com/book/BHLEL/holy-land-egypt-nubia

Very nice, very expensive, and I like the innovative slip-case too.

Beautiful set.

Have to agree with you on the slip-case Huxley - the page support block is something Folio should consider on more of their publications, not only LE's. I would prefer a slipcase of this design to a solander box for all Folio LE's. That would enable the heavier volumes to be stored vertically.

That sag protector is great.

I hate the Folio Society....or rather, I hate their timing...This is the month when I make the final payment on Night Thoughts. I can see this is another of those editions I will agonize over for months before finally biting the bullet. I just wonder what my feelings will be if they sell out before I decide--relief or frustration?

Ok, The Mappa Mundi will have to wait. This will be my next L.E. purchase. Period. Since Folio Society hinted at doing the David Roberts set in one of their surveys last year, I've been crossing my fingers for this to be become reality. And here it is! I give myself a week to decide on this one :-)

The newly designed slip case with the sag protector is really a good step in the right direction. I have wondered why FS have not implemented this before and I agree with Quicksilver that they should implement this to their current catalogue - not just LE.

#4
At least my willpower is working on this one (actually it's more a matter of no room--from the description it's slightly larger than Night Thoughts). But I did go to Amazon and order the Egypt Portfolio and the Pyramids Portfolio.

#5
This looks like the set you describe

http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Egypt-Nubia-David-Roberts/dp/0847823121/ref=sr_1_1?ie...

but it's a different publisher and looks to be just slightly larger.

Oh, to have unlimited space and funds.

It looks stunning! And the price is stunning too. (Though, in my opinion, more justified here than in King Henry's Prayer Book). On the consolation front, after reading about its dimensions I realized that even if I had the money, I couldn't accommodate it - the tallest book I could put into my bookcase is 16'' x 13''. :)

But I second and third and fourth the suggestion to use slipcases with sag protectors for all LEs. Just one thought - would a leather binding be damaged when taken out from and put back into the slipcase?

>8 haniwitch: "to have unlimited space and funds"

I sometimes dream about it too, but then it seems to me that part of the pleasure we derive from purchasing those books would disappear if we really could afford *everything*. (And also in such a scenario one wouldn't stop buying, and would have no time to appreciate the books themselves!)

Looks good but thankfully not appealing to me. I'm limited editioned out so I keep my fingers crossed that they don't put out something I won't be able to resist. 20" tall! Wow.

Can you lust over something with such a overt religious overtone. I WANT IT!

Well, that looks GORGEOUS! And FS has to do that to me right after I placed four orders for the Spring Sale!
Just need to start convincing myself that it is OK to spend $1.595 in a book. And better convince myself fast cause for some reason I don’t think this one is going to stick around too long.

Can anybody tell me (an Aussie) if the British advertised price (875GBP) includes 17% VAT or must that be added on top? I'm just trying to figure out why we antipodeans are asked to pay an extra $500 - can't be the shipping because we still have to pay that too.

>13 BillBloggs: There is no VAT on books in the UK. Of course that may well change in the impending austerity.

13: There has been lots of discussion here about the exact price difference you're talking about.

I don't remember the reason that FS gave for the difference, but I do remember that no one thought it was very satisfying.

>13 BillBloggs:

To be accurate, you should factor in 10% GST, payable if the shipment is over $1000, but that still leaves a sizeable discrepancy.

>15 gistak: Gistak, yes I have seen the previous conversations. I think it had something to do with maintaining a local office. I have a similar problem with a US based supplier of development software (not microsoft). Because I'm in Australia, I must pay a premium for their products even when they must be downloaded from the US server. That is, there is no physical product at all and obviously no inventory to be maintained locally. Again, the reason is that local prices are set by and for their local office. Well, I haven't upgraded their product since 2007 and probably won't until they come to their senses. The Folio pricing dilemma means that I am buying a lot of Folio books (new and used) from eBay in the US and locally. It just depends on the particular offer.

*bangs head on desk*
Oh why did I have to be born happy and poor when I could have been rich and loaded with books like this?
I am going through Folio withdrawal as it is without this evil temptation.

>11 Barton: most mystical poetry does have a sexual innuendo....:-)
Some of it should deal with book adoration...

Well, after thinking about this purchase for a few days I just gave in and placed my order for these magnificent books. I've been checking out the lithographs online (e.g. http://www.museum-tours.com/museum/roberts/roberts0.htm) and some of them in books I already own (none has a complete set). I just can's let this edition pass, since I know I'll regret it for ages. There goes my book budget ;-)

> 20
Congratulations friso and thanks for posting the link! Unfortunately my own budget is currently too restricted to spend that much money on a set of books.

#21
I know the temptation friso but hopefully I will be able to remain strong. I made the mistake of ordering some of his portfolios from Amazon. They arrived at the end of last week and have been trying to convince me to order the FS books ever since I opened them. They are absolutely beautiful. I'm especially taken by his Sphinx as it's so totally different from what we are familiar with (in his work it is still buried and only the head and shoulders are visible). The portfolios are probably about the same size as the FS books (thinner of course) so even if I could afford them I would have no place to put them. I bought Night Thoughts last year and it has to hide under the sofa. If I hadn't spent so much on the Spring Sale and if I had the room those books would be on their way to a new home.

>22 haniwitch:
Remain strong, haniwitch! (Derisive laughter.)

I have a few jobs starting in the summer, so I'm hoping the Roberts set will sell out before I get paid. I have seen these in mediocre reproductions and wanted them for years, and so the temptation to acquire the Folio set is overwhelming.

I'm just praying the FS doesn't bring out a 2 volume set of John Lloyd Stephens's Incidents of Travels book in Central America and in the Yucatan, illustrated with all of Catherwood's extant art. That might force me to take up embezzlement...

>>23 Django6924: The John Lloyd Stephens/Catherwood publication sounds like a great follow-up for next year to David Roberts publication for this year Django6924. Catherwood's prints are absolute works of art. Aargh the potential budget-strains!

The prospectus for this arrived today and it certainly looks a very impressive set. I'm quite glad that the price is well out of my range for consideration otherwise I would be sorely tempted.

Re David Roberts
I got the brochure yesterday. Perhaps some of you noticed this funny thing on one of the illustrations: Folio wrote that Roberts had been ashamed (I am not sure of the exact term they used) by degradations made by Westerners to some monuments and statues, with fingers removed and names engraved on stones. And facing this comment are the four Rameses in Abu Simbel, on the bottom stones of which Roberts facetiously engraved two names: Mahomet and his own, quite legible as "David Roberts RA".

Not every facetiously engraved name is necessarily despised by the locals. I was at the British School at Athens in the 1960s when the Director organized a trip for the newbies to visit the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion at sunset. As we happily admired the architecture and the stunning sunset, our local Greek guide was most insistent to show us something very special. With some difficulty he dragged us in his wake and pointed to a name carved into the marble base of one of the columns of the temple - "Look, look!" he said "Your Lord Byron" - and there was Byron's name that he had carved into the fabric. We all felt ashamed that he had defaced a great monument but Byron was a hero to the Greeks and they were proud he had left his mark on their heritage.

Whilst the defacing of any Ancient Monument is to be deplored, the graffiti itself has sometimes turned out to be useful!

In verifying historical accounts of Travellers, Archaeologists and Historians from ancient times to as recently as the early 20th century, the proof of their accounts and the provenance of artefacts has been confirmed by the records they left on the monuments themselves. This is especially true of Ancient Egypt and the inscriptions left in the Roman and Greek periods are, actually, fascinating (to me).

I guess it can be lengthy to engrave one's name in a stone in the sun, whether in Greece or Egypt. Won't you believe that Byron hired some Greek amanuensis to do this at Cape Sounion while enjoying the scene from a shady area?

28> Anyone who has visited Maeshowe on Orkney will know the truth of that. The Viking graffiti is spectacular.

http://www.maeshowe.co.uk/maeshowe/runes.html

> 29 Probably not true - but easy to picture when thinking of Byron!

> 30 Couldn't agree more - not only interesting, but one of the most idyllic spots on the planet.

Does anyone have/know where you can find a list of ALL limited editions ever produced by the FS?

cheers,

-astropi

ps Also pictures would be great, if at all possible :)

I second that list

One of those days…
Hard day at the office,
Coming back home thinking about that new FS LE I saw the other day
Pretty cool… but it was $1,595…
Getting home
Checking email
Let’s see what’s new on the FS page!
Ups! They added new pictures on that LE… uh,oh!
Can’t really spend that amount on a book though
Not to mention family WILL go ballistic
Quiet, pleasant dinner
Honey forgot to pick up the mail!… on my way!
Publicity Material for the new LE is waiting for me in the mailbox… BIG uh,oh!
Man! that looks good, and Egypt is my favorite travel destination
How many times have I been there drooling over the sites and monuments?
And the Holy Land. Has it already been 10 years since we went there? And wasn’t that one of the most interesting trips of my life?
BUT, it is over one thousand bucks!
Wait a minute! Next week is my Birthday!
Just placed the order
Feeling guilty went to bed
…one of those days…

There is no need to be penitent at all...

>34 penitent:

No, just take the family on that trip to Disney World you've been telling them you can't afford....

#34
Look at it this way penitent, the next time you have one of those days when you get home you can take out one of these beautiful books and be transported far away from the office and all its problems. I guarantee that after a few minutes you will have forgotten that day completely. And if your family complains just remind them that it’s a far better remedy than alcohol or drugs (which some people might be tempted to use to forget one of those days). ;-)

Now a few words of advice from someone who recently purchased Nights Thoughts (which is, amazingly, probably slightly smaller than the Roberts books by their description):

1. Start a weight lifting program. Trust me, you will need it if you have to pick the books up from the post office. I fully understand why they are being shipped in separate parcels. One thing FS should do is put the weight on their website for books like these so you can be prepared.

2. Be really, really nice to your postman and hope he lifts weights too. When I got my parcel I suddenly realized that postmen are the unsung heroes of society and they deserve whatever our government pays them.

3. Start looking for two very large spaces; one to store the books and one where you can lay the books out to read them. For the reading area think of something along the lines of a very large solid butcher’s block. These are not books that will be held in your hand or even on your lap (you can try but your knees will not thank you).

I would be tempted by the Roberts books if FS hadn’t done Night Thoughts but I can only handle one purchase of this size and price (although if I didn’t have such a small house the price wouldn’t be as much of a consideration) so I will have to be satisfied with the portfolios of his work that recently arrived from Amazon.

#38
Alas, I am constantly reminded how small my house is whenever I look at Night Thoughts which hides under my sofa (it was the only place I could find for it). Also those Big White Bags look so much bigger when sitting in the middle of my living room. Luckily once the books are out of the bags, boxes and bubble wrap they usually become more manageable and so far I have been able to find a place for everything (although most of my "regular" books now reside in the basement).

>32 astropi: Entry 707 in Folio 60 will provide you with cross-references to all up to and including 2006. There seem to be 38 books directly or indirectly referred to there, or 58 if you include the Folio Fine Press Editions. The last of those in Folio 60 is The Surinam Album, so there are plenty since - all of the Shakespeare LEs for example. I expect that, if you did the donkey work on listing the earlier ones, members of this group could help complete the 2007-2010 ones - although most are still on the website.

I had a chance to examine the Holy Land in the Members Room today. All I will say is that those of you that have ordered it are in for a real treat. But prepare to reinforce the floorboards and foundations of your homes - these volumes are truly huge.

As expected the paintings are gorgeous. These will be fantastic (but weighty) browsing volumes. There was also a lot more text than I anticipated.

I wont be picking this up. Much as I would love to own it it is not a "must have" volume for me; so, and in the absence of winning the lottery, I will hold back because I am certain that there will be new LE's along in the future that I will have to buy.

>41 Quicksilver66: Thank you for your opinion - I really like when members comment about LE when visiting the Members Room

> 42

You're welcome Ironjaw.

40: thanks, however I don't have access to Folio 60. If someone who has a copy has a few moments and can list the 58 or so books, that would be much appreciated by many I'm sure :)

>44 astropi:

The Folio 60 terminology is somewhat confusing, but the titles seem to be as follows:

EARLIER LIMITED EDITIONS (specially bound copies of books that were also issued in a standard format)

APULEIUS (tr Robert Graves): The Golden Ass (1960; illustrated and signed by Michael Ayrton; 75 copies issued);
MÜRGER (tr Norman Cameron): Scènes de la Vie de Bohème (1960; illustrated and signed by Dodie Masterman; 46 copies issued);
DEFOE: A Journal of the Plague Year (1960; illustrated and signed by Peter Pendrey; 49 copies issued);
BAGE: Hermsprong, or Man As He Is Not (1960; illustrated and signed by Cecil Keeling; 25 copies issued);
LOUIS-PHILIPPE, COMTE DE SÉGUR: Memoirs (1960; gravure plates; 41 copies issued);
BOSWELL: Life of Johnson (2 volumes; 1968; gravure plates; 200 copies);
BOCCACCIO: Decameron (2 volumes; 1969; illustrated by John Buckland-Wright);
THE BIBLE DESIGNED TO BE READ AS LITERATURE (2 volumes; 1970; old master drawings);
TOLSTOY: War and Peace (2 volumes; 1971; illustrated by Feliks Topolski; 2,000 copies);
MALORY: Chronicles of King Arthur (3 volumes; 1982; illustrated by Edward Bawden);
DEFOE: A Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain (3 volumes; 1983; contemporary prints, drawings and paintings);
GALSWORTHY; The Forsyte Saga (3 volumes; 1984; illustrated by Anthony Gross);
ANNE RADCLIFFE: Complete Novels (6 volumes; 1987; illustrated by Sarah van Niekerk);
SHAKESPEARE: Complete Plays (6 volumes; 1988; frontispieces by various artists);
ISHERWOOD: Mr Norris Changes Trains (1990; illustrated and signed by Beryl Cook; 100 copies);
BARRIE: Peter Pan (1992; illustrated and signed by Paula Rego; 120 copies);
RAPHAEL: Of Gods & Men (1992; illustrated and signed by Sarah Raphael; 100 copies);
WAUGH: The Loved One (1993; illustrated and signed by Beryl Cook; 100 copies);
MARLOWE; Dr Faustus (1993; illustrated and signed by George Tute; 150 copies);
OVID: The Art of Love (translated by James Michie) (1993; illustrated and signed by Grahame Baker; 100 copies);
NURSERY RHYMES (1994; illustrated and signed by Paula Rego; 100 copies);
GRAHAME: The Wind in the Willows (1995; illustrated and signed by James Lynch; 100 copies);
WAUGH: Brideshead Revisited (1995; illustrated and signed by Leonard Rosoman; 100 copies);
TOLKIEN; The Silmarillion (1997 & 2002; illustrated by Francis Mosley);
JOYCE: Ulysses (1998; illustrated by Mimmo Paladino; 1,750 copies)

FOLIO PRESS FINE EDITIONS (slim volumes, not limited in numbers but produced to a higher than usual standard)

MILTON: On the Morning of Christ's Nativity (1987; illustrated by Brian Hanscomb);
HOGG: Domestic Manners & Private Life of Sir Walter Scott (1987; portrait of Scott);
YEATS: The Tower (1987)
BRONTË SISTERS: Selected Poems (1987);
EDWARD THOMAS: These Things Also Are Spring's (1988; illustrated by James Bostock);
WALTON: Life of John Donne (1988)
ANGLO-SAXON ELEGIES (translated by Kevin Crossley-Holland) (1988; illustrated by hannah Firmin);
MACAULAY: Lays of Ancient Rome (1988);
BARNES; Dorset Poems (1989);
DEKKER: The Wonderful Year 1603 (1989);
POPE: The Rape of the Lock (1989; illustrated by Peter Forster);
OWEN: Poems of War (1989);
CRABBE: Peter Grimes (1990; illustrated by Alan Powers);
GRAVES: Love Poems (1990);
HENRY JAMES: The Aspern papers (1990; illustrated by Edward Piper);
POEMS FROM THE GREEK ANTHOLOGY (translated by James Michie) (1990);
WILDE: De Profundis (1991; illustrated by Peter Forster);
DE LA MARE: Motley & Other Poems (1991; illustrated by Ian Archie Beck);
KIPLING: Barrack-Room Ballads (1991; illustrated by Ian Ribbons);
EMILY DICKINSON: Woman In White (Selected Poems) (1991; illustrated by Jane Lydbury);

RECENTLIMITED EDITIONS

BIRD PAINTINGS OF HENRY JONES (1976; text by Bruce Campbell; no more than 500 copies);
ROCHESTER; Perfect & Imperfect Enjoyments (1992; illustrated by Richard Shirley Smith; 500 copies);
BENEDICTIONAL OF ST ÆTHELWOLD(2001; 1,000 copies with commentary volumes);
QUEEN VICTORIA: Our Life in the Highlands (2002; 1,850 copies);
CHAUCER: Works (Kelmscott facsimile) (2002);
TRACTATUS DE HERBIS (EGERTON MS 747) (2 volumes; 2003; 1,000 copies);
MALORY: Morte D'Arthur (2004; facsimile of version illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley; 1,020 copies);
LYDGATE: Life of St Edmund (2004; 1,010 copies with commentary volume);
QUEEN MARY ATLAS (2005; 1,000 copies with commentary volume);
CERVANTES: Don Quixote (2005; 1,250 copies);
YOUNG: Night Thoughts (3 volumes' 2005; 1,000 copies);
TOLSTOY: War & Peace (2006; 1,750 copies);
LUTTRELL PSALTER (2006; 1,480 copies with commentary volume);
JOHNSON: Dictionary (2006; facsimile of the first edition; 1,000 copies);
MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN: Surinam Album (2006; 1,000 copies with commentary volume).

>45 TabbyTom:
Thanks, TabbyTom. That was quite a bit of work to pull together. I flagged your post as a favorite so I can reference it whenever I need to.

Os.

45: thank you!

> 45

That was a labour of love. Thanks TabbyTom.

I was interested to see what the Society had published in the way of special editions, especially the Fine Editions series.

I missed out an early one-off LE published in 1976 (Bird Paintings of Henry Jones), and I inadvertently included Kevin Crossley-Holland's Norse Myths among the Fine Editions. I've edited my post to correct these errors.

FS just added a nice 3 minutes podcast on the website on this LE's page.

>49 TabbyTom: Great work, TabbyTom. If you're interested, Parenthesis #4,2000, the newsletter of the FPBA, has an article about the Fine Editions series which discloses the limitations and much more about these beautiful fine press editions. The FPBA has back editions, and I believe mine was sent from GB by John Randle at Whittington Press I believe in Herefordshire.

A possible addendum to your research is a book whose production was supervised by the Folio Society, The Laws of Oleron, 1960, 200 copies, Chiswick Press, Sangorski and Sutcliffe, a facsimile of some pages from a 15th century Black Book of the Admiralty manuscript for the Sexcentenary of the Court of Admiralty in England 1360-1960.(Folio 60 143.5)

For those looking for a cheaper alternative to the David Roberts FS LE, here's one from Powell's Books:

http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780847823123-3?utm_source=rau&utm_medium=em...

1> yes, a magnificent looking set. I wish I had the $1,595.00 to part with.

an e-mail newsletter was sent by the Society today on a new work covering ancient Egyptian history. In the p.s., the newsletter states:

"Our latest limited edition, The Holy Land and Egypt and Nubia, is also one of our fastest-selling. Already 500 of the 1,000 copies are sold. Click here for more info."

I'm quite surprised they already sold 500 copies. I never expected the book to be such a quick selling item, especially given the high price. Good for the society of course, and it gives hope for similar publications in the future. Maybe the Catherwood we discussed earlier in this thread? :-P

>54 friso_geerlings: "I'm quite surprised they already sold 500 copies. I never expected the book to be such a quick selling item, especially given the high price."

Interesting, considering the hard times we're meant to be going through.

I think FS is surprised itself. When I met Lord Gavron, he was amazed at how fast the Rubaiyat had sold out. And as he pointed out that LEs are consistently more profitable to FS than the normal editions, I suspect we are going to see more and more of them.

I am surprised by this as well. I am also surprised that the new LE Chaucer has not yet sold out.

Khaa - how did you get to meet Lord Gavron and what was he like?

Lord Gavron really personifies the Folio Society for me. He's the huge lover of books that you would expect and amazingly generous to FS (he buys all his own books and donated the building where the members room etc is). He seems a very sweet man with vaguely mad hair - a typical Lord. He has an office at FS and I've sometimes bumped into him there on his way to the House of Lords.

Thanks Khaa. I'll look out for him next time I go to the Members Room.

Could he be the FS Mole on this forum ?

I second the accusation. Shall we throw him in the water and see if he floats?

Not definitive; he might be a duck (or made of wood).

Every time this topic lights up as having an unread message, I can already hear the far off sound of a nagging wife and the rumbling from my rear that is (hopefully) the peristalsis of my wallet's stomach as hunger sets in.

>62 supercell:

The Tres Riches Heures looks fantastic. I've just ordered a dozen to give to my friends.....

____________________________

The man in the white coat was very nice and I'm feeling a lot better now. The cold compresses worked wonders and the delusions have stopped. My wallet has been safely impounded and thankfully my friends are none the wiser. They'll just get the tie as usual.

This got me wondering. Why do FS facsimiles cost in the hundreds, while facsimiles from other publishers cost in the thousands (The Domesday Book, St Albans Psalter, Hortus Eystettensis and now this)? Is it a difference in the reproduction technology, or the binding or else?

On an unrelated note, on the publisher's site, the Tres Riches Heures is listed as sold out. Just as a note. :)

Just spotted another new LE, a little more reasonably priced than the Tres Riches Heures.

http://www.foliosociety.com/book/ANS/aeneid

I may well be tempted by this one.

Talking of the Tres Riches Heures, during my student days my University library had a facsimile on the open shelves. I'm sure it fuelled my interest in beautiful books.

I am tempted by the Aenid, as well - particularly as the Society is using the Robert Fagles translation. A better choice than the antiquated translations used on other recent offerings, such as the Golding Metamorphosis and North Plutarch.

The new Aeneid is beautiful indeed. I hope FS will publish a "normal" edition of the same Fagles translation. I recently managed to find still-shrinkwrapped copies of their editions of Iliad (1996) and Odyssey (1998), and the Fagles Aeneid would look lovely next to them.

>69 supercell: I second all of the aspects within this post.

I for one would love a beautiful edition of the Aeneid. Also, the price is modest compared to some other LEs. Consequently, there are a few limited editions I would like to get my hands on... I don't suppose anyone on here is selling/trading any FS LEs?

cheers,

-astropi

>68 mboudreau: The FS did publish the Aeneid in the Dryden translation with a series binding to match the Iliad and Odyssey you have. You can find it on eBay occasionally if you want a cheaper alternative to the new LE.

The Aeneid is looking a distinct possibility as being my choice for my renewal books (as it counts as 4). But where does that leave Beowulf? Oh decisions, decisions! And what else will they bring out to tempt me before the autumn?

I'm with you RMMee. I had planned to get Beowulf when renewing. Maybe purchase Aenid with Beowulf as the free renewal offer?

There is a good chance that I might end buying this LE anyway, but in the moment I am a bit underwhelmed by the number and quality of illustrations. I would expect a bit more than 16 pages of photographs for an LE treatment of the Aeneid.

>75 Stephan68:

I agree that more illustrations would be better - might even swing it. What I would really like is to see a photo of pages other than the illustrations - hopefully one will be included when the advertising leaflet comes out.

>74 spacmann:

Mmmm - hadn't thought of that. Am I going to be able to get them to offer me Beowulf as my renewal offer?

I am thinking of getting the Aenid for my renewall commitment. It counts as four books straight away.

>77 Quicksilver66: Is that even possible to ask for LE as a renewal?

78: absolutely. They are however very expensive, typically more expensive then you would pay for "regular" books. Total cost to ship the Aenid to the US is $415.

>78 ironjaw:
do you mean as the free volume or as the commitment? As a commitment, it's worth 4 volumes. Las year, I bought the Moby Dick LE as my 4 volume commitment - no problem.

I also thought 78 was asking for the LE as a commitment. As a free volume, NO. In fact, I don't think LE ever go on sale...

I am talking about my membership commitment - not receiving the Aenid as a free volume. I doubt the Society would ever agree to that.

>76 RMMee:

Now that I have had the advertising leaflet, there is still not a picture of what the text pages look like.

As and when anyone receives a copy of Aeneid, I would be very grateful to have a description (or better still see a photo)

I received a letter from the Society two days ago, informing me of a slight delay in the production of The Holy Land and Egypt and Nubia. Originally it was scheduled for a mid-June release, and now "early July" is the new target. I hope my early ordering will get me this massive tome soon ;-)

> 85

They are probably having to hire a specially strengthened truck to transport the copies from the printer to the distribution centre!

Congratulations on your purchase friso, I envy anyone who has the cash and space to have bought this set, as it truly is gorgeous.

My order of the “The Holy Land and Egypt and Nubia” LE is showing as “dispatched” today. Someone said anticipation is half the fun… but it sure is killing me.

>87 penitent:

Before losing consciousness, would you mind leaving your copy to me in your will?

> 87 It's a pity that they are sending the volumes seperately, as the shipping container for the set would have been big enough to do double-duty should you be contemplating an eco-burial.

>88 Django6924: I don’t know what it is with this one; but even family members that have NO regard for the literary world have expressed interest for this set. But Django I gladly will add you to the list.

>89 HuxleyTheCat: Despite all the anticipation stress. I plan to hang around for a while. Thanks for the idea, but when my time comes, I’d like to go Viking style.

Just received my set of “The Holy Land and Egypt and Nubia” in two shipments over the last several days.

Copy #8 - the prints completely beyond words! Be still my heart.......

>91 EastBoothbay:

Congratulations. I would love to be able to acquire such delights. Maybe one day.

>91 EastBoothbay:

These look so beautiful in the advertisement - I can only imagine how lovely in person they are. Congratulations!

My copy (number 24) has also arrived a few days ago. I've been absorbed by the incredible beauty of the prints every evening since. I'm also quite surprised by the readability of the text, that I consider to be very intresting, well-written and often even funny. The quality of the printing is just perfect and so is the binding. The books are heavy, but actually just a bit more handleable than e.g. the Temple of Flora, which is a plus. It saves me back- and neck issues ;-)

Most surprising to me is the scope of the work. What an enourmous undertaking this must have been in the 1840's. All those hundres of lithographs in this level of quality: incredible!

I'll take some pictures soon to give an idea of what the book looks like in the context of a normal room, compared to the polished pictures FS offers on the website.

>91 EastBoothbay:, 94 Congratulations to both of you EastBoothbay and friso geerlings!

94> Friso, I am thinking of using the set for my renewal and would be grateful to see some photos.

Roger Ebert tweeted that he's drooling after this set as well:

They may cost $1,595, but man, I want me these books.

(The link in his tweet leads to a Folio Society advert posted on YouTube.)

Mine arrived today, copy #125. Each book came in a separate box. Run into the postman while he was depositing them in my doorstep and he warned: “Careful, those are heavy”. I’m a novice on the LE world, this one being my first LE purchase, but I have to say they exceed all expectations.
Now I just need some quiet time to thoroughly go thru them. This somehow is always challenging in my household. I’ll just have to wait till everyone is in bed and sneak downstairs for a couple of hours.

I took some pictures of copy 24, that now sits in my Library. The page also includes some pics of the Vincent van Gogh letters publication that was also carried by the FS for a while.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~pacfrodo/books_Juli2009/index3.htm

98: thanks, I always really enjoy your pics!

> 98 Be still my beating heart! Gorgeous images friso. Then I made the mistake of checking out the Rubaiyat, major book-envy is setting in! and then the fatal mistake of checking out the Wind in the Willows!! Why did I do that - I've upset myself now!

Oh well, we have the Star Trek Encyclopedia in common.

>98 friso_geerlings:

I hate you! I had thrown out my Roberts flyer and had forgotten about the van Gogh volumes until your pictures reminded me.

>98 friso_geerlings:: Great pictures! That model behind the books has me wondering if you're a mycologist.

>100 HuxleyTheCat:: I love the Star Trek Encyclopedia. Just to pick it up, read a page or two once in a while, and be back in one of my favorite fictional, but extremely clever imagined, worlds.

>101 Django6924:: Ghehe ;-) Sorry Django ;-)

>102 mboudreau:: No, just an IT-guy, nothing cool like a mycologist. I just really liked the detailed Somo-model on mushroom development, and bought one to "sit in my library" as a nice-to-look-at thing. I just need more space to give it a better place.

>103 friso_geerlings:: Even better then, I say as an IT guy myself.

>98 friso_geerlings: Friso

I see you have the Shakespeare Letterpress. Did you manage to get them in the same limitation number?

>98 friso_geerlings:

Beautiful! That Van Gogh set is amazing.

>98 friso_geerlings:

Lovely pictures. Who sells the VanGogh? I have not seen it on Folio's website.

> 105: I don't have the same limitation numbers on my Letterpress Shakespeares, Ironjaw. I must admit, though, that I also didn't ask for that, and also don't think I would care much if they were :-)

> 107: It was offered by the Folio Society some time ago, but of course it's not a FS publication, just something they sold with a small discount. Amazon also carried it during the initial print run:

http://www.amazon.com/Vincent-van-Gogh-Illustrated-Annotated/dp/0500238650/ref=s...

Currently, I only know the English edition to be available from the Van Goghmuseum webshop for $533. They probably have some stock of their own in the museum:

http://www.vangoghmuseumshop.com/ProductDetail.htm?productId=7770

I did read somewhere that there was going to be some kind of second printing by Thames and Hudson. They also mention on their website that the set will be "back in stock soon". See:

http://www.thamesandhudson.com/9780500238653.html

I hope this helps :-)

105/108: When I originally purchased the Letterpress Shakespeare series I was lead to believe I'd be provided the same limitation number (28) throughout should I choose to subscribe. I have since purchased the entire series (as has been published thus far) and with the exception of a couple of occassions have received different limitation numbers. When I called to inquire why was given some hooey about them not being able to provide the same number because they could not predict how many they would sale.

The FS never cease to amaze me.

They should learn something from the LEC they at least provided their customers with the same limitation number

I also received my copy recently, after two months of nail biting and hysteria. Mine arrived in one huge, huge box. I owe the postman big time. As all of you know by now, it's breathtaking. You always expect this from Folio but the actual books are always far more impressive than anything the brochures can show. I remember crying when the Night Thoughts arrived. As for the David Roberts, I am incredibly fortunate to have bought four of the original lithographs from volume one lo, many, many years ago at a wonderful bookstore dealing in collectible books and rare prints. I wish that establishment were still around. I paid very little for the lithographs. Who would have known? I should have bought all the ones they had. Anyway, I compared my prints with ones on the book and I must say that the quality of the Folio is sheer perfection and that the size is only slightly smaller than the originals, about 5 percent. The only significant difference is that the originals have very wide margins. I'm glad that Folio reduced the margins considerably, otherwise the volumes would have been just too difficult to handle. They are quite formidable as it is. To those of you who have acquired this set, congratulations. It's easily one of the top five or six amongst Folio Society limited editions so far. If asked about the others, I would throw in the Rubaiyat, The Wind in the Willows, Night Thoughts, the Kelmscott Chaucer and the Luttrell Psalter.

RalphDeMorgan, please, please no more posting about the David Roberts. I had just convinced myself that I didn't need that LE and now you have me going against my resolution. Here you are corrupting a mild mannered bibliophile and trying to turn him into a full-fledged bibliomaniac. At long last, sir, have you no shame?

This happened to me with the Pepys, too. I was prepared to let that one slide and through the undue influence of numerous posters from this group--in particular, a sinister figure aptly named "Pepys"--I wound up getting one of the last copies of it. If I held out for just a month or so longer, I'd be so much more wealthier today. I blame Richard Nixon.

Ah, but now you've got the Pepys, would you ever want to be without it?

> 112

Your lucky, I cry every night thinking about that I let it go.

Now my philosophy is: "if you've come this far, maybe you're willing to come a little further"

No, no, no, no--this is not the kind of response I was looking for. Can't someone post a screed denouncing the David Roberts? Surely there's something wrong with it: carrying the books around may result in a herniated disk; dropping the books on one's foot can lead to gangrene and death (a la Lully); viewing the plates excessively can cause Egyptian blindness. Help!

Peter Harrington has a first edition of David Roberts on offer. For a price comparison with the FS facsimile check out page 28-31 (page 15/16 respectively in the pdf counter) in the catalogue below:

http://www.peterharrington.co.uk/content/catalogues/71.pdf

But Harrington isn't exactly noted for bargain basement prices.

Thanks for the warning, HTC. I'll hold on and see if I can get it for around £275,000 elsewhere!

Here you go Boldface:

http://bit.ly/byhI1B

See, I've saved you £50,000 straight away.

I'll take a week's time-share on the shed in lieu of a finders fee ;-)

Thanks, Huxley. We've said it before, and we'll say it again - this group is so facilitating! Unfortunately, I'll have to sell the house, then live in the shed with my precious Roberts. You'll have to bunk up on the sofa, I'm afraid.

Hey, I've no problem with a well-padded sofa!

109/Texaco: I have 16 volumes from the Letterpress Shakespeare and all have the same limitation number.

122/Kdweber: Interesting. Shall be making another inquiry then.

My most humble apologies. I must try to be much less effusive in my praise. Until you mentioned it I didn't think of myself as a particularly corrupting influence, but now I see that I have been absolutely Mephistophelian. Shameless indeed. Please, please keep your thoughts on the Lully syndrome. I have it from some enlightened sources that the gentleman's untimely end was due to having dropped on his foot a particularly large, heavy and beautifully bound copy of his own Te Deum, published no doubt by an earlier incarnation of the Folio Society. Beware! I have also noticed that repeated viewing of the Roberts books have begun to have a deleterious effect on my eyesight. I'm constantly increasing the prescription on my bifocals. Don't let this happen to you!!! Hang in there for just a little bit and the thing will be sold out! Oh, what have I done to you? Will I ever sleep in peace again?

In my defense, I also blame Nixon.

#112: This is the answer from the "sinister figure":
When the Pepys LE was published in 2003, I let it slip away. (Er, to tell the truth, I didn't even know who Pepys was!) As I was a new FS member, I thought that they would have sold all the copies at once. When they advertised again for the second round in 2007, I couldn't resist...

PS : Are you aware that FS generously tips members in this forum when they incite other fellow members to buy LEs? (Or perhaps I had a dream...)

> 125 I must have had the same dream, and in mine the tips are much bigger when photos are provided.

>98 friso_geerlings: I wish I hadn't clicked on that link, I had convinced myself I didn't have any desire for the Roberts LE. But now I want that mushroom thing as well.

>127 overthemoon:

I can pass on the fungi art, but I have to have the van Gogh as well as the Roberts.....

Much Thanks to TabbyTom for the post from biblio 60, every member of the folio society should make sure that a copy of the most recent bibliography in on the shelf, good reference when looking for the buys in the used market and just general research. I have the Roberts set and love it. I do agree with some other posts that I may tear my hair out if they print "a 2 volume set of John Lloyd Stephens's Incidents of Travels book in Central America and in the Yucatan, illustrated with all of Catherwood's extant art", but I have sent emails to them about doing it, this would be a fine set. PLEASE, after I get the Roberts set paid for. Regards, Gerry

The status of my order for the LE Aenid has changed to "at warehouse". Can't be long to wait now. I am quite excited.

130 Mine too, and btw I shared with a couple friends (who would appreciate this) that you read a couple chapters of Moby Dick each morning and we all agree that you should run for King or President or something.

> 131

You know, early morning has always been my natural time for reading. I am usually tired in the evenings but, even at the weekends, I am up at about 6.30 with a cup of tea and a few slices of toast, and digging into my books.

>132 Quicksilver66: That is probably the best effective habit to have

opps
After reading all the glowing posts above, I ordered my first LE
Folio books: The Holy Land and Egypt and Nubia and the Oxford Thesaurus of English. Does anyone have comments about the thesaurus?

Congratulations RikZak on purchasing one of the most beautiful books published in years, being the David Roberts L.E.! I read somewhere that only 200 copies remain... Looks like a very succesfull publication for the Society.

Looks like there is a Golden Cockerel Four Gospels coming up for sale soon
http://pbagallery.com/search/item214820.php?

>137 chase.donaldson:

Let's not get in a bidding war with each other on this, chase--how high are you willing to go?

Oh jeez...I'm actually more eyeing the Arion Bible that is offered at the same auction. Of course I won't be bidding on it, but will definitely be looking at it. Speaking of the Arion Bible, just over a year ago, one of the 100 illuminated Arion Bibles sold for like 2K or something ridiculously low considering it is 11K new.
Actually, I have to confess that I generally don't advertise the deals and the auctions I find here on the forum if it is an auction I plan to bid on, or in the case of a question I was posed on another forum today, which Arion book I am currently seriously in the market to buy. Might be a little selfish, but I'm a guy on a budget, a corset-tight one, enforced by my wife.

That was a mere drollery on my part, chase--I have no interest in the GC Four Gospels at all. The illustrations are not to my taste, and I can't help thinking how many books I really want could be bought for what that book will sell for.

Oh how I am kicking myself! There was a LE Canterbury Tales that sold last night for 155 pounds!!! I tried to bid at the last minute, but alas, the new ebay system wont let you bid on an overseas item unless the seller explicitly says you can. I didn't know that until I clicked to bid, only to find out ebay wouldn't take my bid.

> 141

The same situation has happened to me before.

Now I know that, on the bidding screen, in a right hand box identified as "Other item info" the line "ships to:" indicates the sellers choice.

It is possible to send a message to the seller asking if that can be changed but, of course, not at the last minute.

> 141 I was tempted to have a bid, but was a little concerned at the condition, plus the fact that the seller had low feedback and no history of selling books. I'm not massively disappointed even though it went for such a low price.

> 141

Chase, I would love to be on a "corset-tight" budget that allowed such bids. ;-) I wasn't aware of that particular auction--perhaps it was originally listed some time ago--or I would have put it in my watch list just to see what it went for.

Any rumors regarding what the next LE will be?

145: I don't know but I want a Fairy Book, done in the traditon of the WITW and the Rubaiyat.

I want a Dante...

I want (I've posted it already a few years ago, but maybe the mole wasn't with us back then) an anthology of Chinese and Japanese poems, possibly including the original texts (maybe some of them done in brushwork calligraphy), illustrated with Chinese and Japanese art - woodblock prints, ink-and-wash paintings, scroll paintings etc. A nice way to do this would be a large two-volume set - China and Japan - with similar spines but differently designed bindings. Aesthetics is a must - the various elements - the poems, the illustrations, the binding, the design - have to fit and complement each other.

I don't think anything like that exists in the Western fine-press market, and if done well, it could be a masterpiece.

>148 BorisG: - I second that, BorisG. The very thought of a publication such as you describe makes me salivate. Of course, the major problem would be the choice of poets and translators, To keep costs down, the FS would probably need to use existing translations. One obvious choice would be translations by Arthur Waley since he is one of the very few translators who was capable of translating both Chinese and Japanese poetry.

Of course there is nothing like poetry translations to bring out the worst of amateur connoisseurs - but ignorance has never yet proved na obstacle to critics!

>一四八號 很好主意!
>148 BorisG: Great idea!

141> the new ebay system wont let you bid on an overseas item unless the seller explicitly says you can.

Strange, never happened to me on ebay. I bought about 10 books the last 3 weeks from at least 6 different countries and never ever had that problem...