1astropi
One of the most important and influential poems written, The Waste Land has seen quite a few fine editions. The one I was most interested in is the half-leather Thornwillow edition.
https://thornwillow.com/the-waste-land-ts-eliot
However, at $1170 it's far from "affordable" for most of us -- not that it's not worth it, but that's a lot of money. While contemplating all of this, the Thornwillow edition on my wish list was replaced by the magnificent Folio Society edition. Priced at $1500 that's not something most of us can just purchase on a whim.
https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/the-waste-land-limited-edition.html
However, at one point it went on sale to $1300 -- and the fact that it appears there were quite a few copies left let me to believe it may eventually be heavily discounted. As for why would there be so many copies left considering the quality and limitation? The answer is that this edition is ONLY for sale in the USA and Canada. So sure enough, it went on sale recently for $750 -- don't get me wrong, that's still a lot of money. However, it's absolutely on par with most fine press editions today of this quality. Below are some pics and thoughts --
Large! It's beautiful and large.
Clamshell is beautiful and sturdy.
The paper --
I need to get a new camera! It doesn't capture the details nearly as well as I'd like, but I try to convey some of it here --
I heard someone argue that Eliot did not want The Waste Land illustrated -- however, I've never seen that argument in any scholarly paper. It may be true, or maybe it's that such poems are not easy to illustrate. That said, I am all for an illustrated edition, and the FS hit a home run with Tom Phillips --
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Phillips_(artist)
Sadly, he passed away in November of 2022. The illustrations for this FS edition are among the last, or perhaps even the very last, work he completed. It's magnificent.
The illustrations look so much better in person -- it's just hard to capture all the detail. Honestly, you'll want to look through them with a magnifying glass -- in total, there are 11 hand-tipped plates!
The FS used to include "supplementary material" with their LEs. In some instances it was an entire companion book, and in other instances it was a pamphlet. In this case, there's no companion book/pamphlet which I'm fine with. However, I'm happy to say they do includes notes on both the text and illustrations which I'm very happy with --
At the end of the day, it's not hard for me to say that this is the most magnificent edition of The Waste Land I have seen. Apart from the Thornwillow Edition, there is also the Arion Press edition. The AP edition is really quite wonderful -- However, it does not include a slipcase nor clamshell (which is ridiculous), it's more expensive than the FS edition, and it has only one illustration. There is the Faber & Faber signed (by Eliot) edition from 1961. It has no illustrations nor supplemental text. It's selling point is Eliot's signature, and people typically ask around $10,000. There are already two copies of the FS edition on eBay for around $3000. The FS did apparently sell a good chunk during this sale -- they have 196 of 350 copies left, so slightly under half have found homes. People who paid full price said that while they're naturally disappointed they did not get this edition at the sale price, that they feel it was worth the full retail price and I have to wholeheartedly agree.
Bottom Line: The most beautiful edition of The Waste Land ever published.
https://thornwillow.com/the-waste-land-ts-eliot
However, at $1170 it's far from "affordable" for most of us -- not that it's not worth it, but that's a lot of money. While contemplating all of this, the Thornwillow edition on my wish list was replaced by the magnificent Folio Society edition. Priced at $1500 that's not something most of us can just purchase on a whim.
https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/the-waste-land-limited-edition.html
However, at one point it went on sale to $1300 -- and the fact that it appears there were quite a few copies left let me to believe it may eventually be heavily discounted. As for why would there be so many copies left considering the quality and limitation? The answer is that this edition is ONLY for sale in the USA and Canada. So sure enough, it went on sale recently for $750 -- don't get me wrong, that's still a lot of money. However, it's absolutely on par with most fine press editions today of this quality. Below are some pics and thoughts --
Large! It's beautiful and large.
Clamshell is beautiful and sturdy.
The paper --
I need to get a new camera! It doesn't capture the details nearly as well as I'd like, but I try to convey some of it here --
I heard someone argue that Eliot did not want The Waste Land illustrated -- however, I've never seen that argument in any scholarly paper. It may be true, or maybe it's that such poems are not easy to illustrate. That said, I am all for an illustrated edition, and the FS hit a home run with Tom Phillips --
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Phillips_(artist)
Sadly, he passed away in November of 2022. The illustrations for this FS edition are among the last, or perhaps even the very last, work he completed. It's magnificent.
The illustrations look so much better in person -- it's just hard to capture all the detail. Honestly, you'll want to look through them with a magnifying glass -- in total, there are 11 hand-tipped plates!
The FS used to include "supplementary material" with their LEs. In some instances it was an entire companion book, and in other instances it was a pamphlet. In this case, there's no companion book/pamphlet which I'm fine with. However, I'm happy to say they do includes notes on both the text and illustrations which I'm very happy with --
At the end of the day, it's not hard for me to say that this is the most magnificent edition of The Waste Land I have seen. Apart from the Thornwillow Edition, there is also the Arion Press edition. The AP edition is really quite wonderful -- However, it does not include a slipcase nor clamshell (which is ridiculous), it's more expensive than the FS edition, and it has only one illustration. There is the Faber & Faber signed (by Eliot) edition from 1961. It has no illustrations nor supplemental text. It's selling point is Eliot's signature, and people typically ask around $10,000. There are already two copies of the FS edition on eBay for around $3000. The FS did apparently sell a good chunk during this sale -- they have 196 of 350 copies left, so slightly under half have found homes. People who paid full price said that while they're naturally disappointed they did not get this edition at the sale price, that they feel it was worth the full retail price and I have to wholeheartedly agree.
Bottom Line: The most beautiful edition of The Waste Land ever published.
3astropi
>2 Lukas1990: My pleasure, if I can enable anyone I'm here for it :)
I believe the sale ends on the 15th.
I believe the sale ends on the 15th.
4kdweber
>1 astropi: Of course, if one bought the Thornwillow 1/2 leather through the original KickStarter it was only $590. The FS edition is really nice though overpriced at $1500, it’s very reasonable at $750. I would have bought it in a shot if I didn’t already own a copy of the Thornwillow 1/2 leather not to mention have a copy of the No Reply Press edition on order.
5vadim_ca
>1 astropi: Thank you for posting! I ordered a copy last Friday, together with a copy of "Selected Poems" by Thomas Hardy; however, they is still in transit. Looking forward to perusing both of them firsthand.
6What_What
No Reply Press also has a forthcoming edition, but they haven’t updated their status page in half a year. So who knows when that’ll be delivered.
7ChampagneSVP
>1 astropi: "There is the Faber & Faber signed (by Eliot) edition from 1961. It has no illustrations nor supplemental text. Its selling point is Eliot's signature, and people typically ask around $10,000."
I’d disagree with the statement that the selling point of the 1961 Faber & Faber edition is Eliot’s signature. It is a magnificent edition that has substantial merit quite apart from that. It was designed by the rightfully celebrated Giovanni Mardersteig and printed at Officina Bodoni on the hand press. The typeface (Mardersteig’s own Dante) is apt, the setting (by Mardersteig's hand) is beautiful, the larger size (I believe about 16pt, not sure exactly at the moment) is eminently readable, and the printing is unimpeachable with a lovely dark black ink and even impression. The paper is a thick and crisp cream colored handmade sheet from Magnani, the top edges are gilded and the other are untrimmed. The binding is quarter vellum with marbled paper over boards, spine titling in gilt, and gilt rule on the vellum of both covers. The marbled paper has embedded gold flake, as does the marbled slipcase. Sure, it’s signed by Eliot too, which certainly contributes to the price, but I don't believe that to be the main selling point. The main selling point is that it’s likely the most beautiful edition of The Waste Land ever printed.
I’d disagree with the statement that the selling point of the 1961 Faber & Faber edition is Eliot’s signature. It is a magnificent edition that has substantial merit quite apart from that. It was designed by the rightfully celebrated Giovanni Mardersteig and printed at Officina Bodoni on the hand press. The typeface (Mardersteig’s own Dante) is apt, the setting (by Mardersteig's hand) is beautiful, the larger size (I believe about 16pt, not sure exactly at the moment) is eminently readable, and the printing is unimpeachable with a lovely dark black ink and even impression. The paper is a thick and crisp cream colored handmade sheet from Magnani, the top edges are gilded and the other are untrimmed. The binding is quarter vellum with marbled paper over boards, spine titling in gilt, and gilt rule on the vellum of both covers. The marbled paper has embedded gold flake, as does the marbled slipcase. Sure, it’s signed by Eliot too, which certainly contributes to the price, but I don't believe that to be the main selling point. The main selling point is that it’s likely the most beautiful edition of The Waste Land ever printed.
8DenimDan
Re: other fine press versions of "TWL," Officina Bodoni printed two lavish Eliot poems for Faber, "TWL" (1961) and "Four Quartets" (1960). Each was limited to ~300 copies, printed by Mardersteig in Dante (of course) on Magnani paper, bound in marbled boards w/ a vellum spine. They are gorgeous volumes. They are also very expensive, with most sellers listing each for over $5,000. "Four Quartets" actually has a pretty major textual error: the last five lines of "Burnt Norton" section IV appear as the first lines of part V.
Edited to add: >7 ChampagneSVP: beat me to it!
Edited to add: >7 ChampagneSVP: beat me to it!
9Nightcrawl
>8 DenimDan: I’ve been curious about the error - (apologies in advance if this question is confusing, but) are the last five lines of part IV just misplaced, preceding the rightful first five lines of part V? Or are the correct first five lines of part V actually missing from the text and erroneously replaced by the last five lines of part IV. Obviously both are still major errors, but I feel the latter would be far worse - having lines missing from the poem completely.
From what I understand the error was carried over from the trade edition that Mardersteig used as the foundation for his printing, so the blame can’t be laid on Officina Bodoni entirely.
From what I understand the error was carried over from the trade edition that Mardersteig used as the foundation for his printing, so the blame can’t be laid on Officina Bodoni entirely.
10affle
>7 ChampagneSVP:
'Dante 14 and 12 point roman and italic' the bibliography says, somewhat enigmatically.
'Dante 14 and 12 point roman and italic' the bibliography says, somewhat enigmatically.
11ChampagneSVP
>10 affle:
Thank you! Eliot's notes at the end of the book would be the 12 point portion, with the preceding verse the 14 point.
Thank you! Eliot's notes at the end of the book would be the 12 point portion, with the preceding verse the 14 point.
12DenimDan
>9 Nightcrawl: The text of V is complete (no missing lines!), but there's a one stanza addition at the beginning that makes what rightfully should be V.1 into V.6. The last five lines of IV ("Chill / Fingers of yew be curled / Down on us? After the kingfisher's wing / Has answered light to light, and is silent, the light is still / At the still point of the turning world") appear as their own stanza as the start of V in Officina Bodoni.
To be fair, Mardersteig was basing his text off a later, faulty edition (by Faber, of course). And obviously he wasn't intending to print the authoritative text (it's not collated, etc.), so I don't consider it a printer's error. But the misprint does make for a one-stanza section IV of "BN," which is awkward if you're already familiar with the poem: there are two consecutive questions asked in IV, one in each stanza; it's an unfortunate small part of the poem to move. And if you're bothered by textual corruptions, it may sway a decision to buy what is an unassailably beautiful and expensive book. I can't help it; I got drilled in textual editing for a few years in my 20s. I've seen it a few times in a university's special collections, so I never intended to buy a copy for myself regardless.
To be fair, Mardersteig was basing his text off a later, faulty edition (by Faber, of course). And obviously he wasn't intending to print the authoritative text (it's not collated, etc.), so I don't consider it a printer's error. But the misprint does make for a one-stanza section IV of "BN," which is awkward if you're already familiar with the poem: there are two consecutive questions asked in IV, one in each stanza; it's an unfortunate small part of the poem to move. And if you're bothered by textual corruptions, it may sway a decision to buy what is an unassailably beautiful and expensive book. I can't help it; I got drilled in textual editing for a few years in my 20s. I've seen it a few times in a university's special collections, so I never intended to buy a copy for myself regardless.
13Nightcrawl
>12 DenimDan: Thanks for clarifying!
Being an undoubtable typographic and printing masterpiece only makes it that much more unfortunate I’m sure. It would likely prevent me from pulling the trigger even if funds allowed.
Being an undoubtable typographic and printing masterpiece only makes it that much more unfortunate I’m sure. It would likely prevent me from pulling the trigger even if funds allowed.
14Undergroundman
Thank you for the detailed review.
15Pax_Romana
This message has been deleted by its author.
16astropi
>4 kdweber: Thanks for noting that, I couldn't remember the kickstarter price. $590 is truly reasonable for the lovely Thornwillow edition. That said, for $750 I think the FS edition is far more worthwhile a purchase.
>7 ChampagneSVP: I certainly see your point. I should clarify, as someone that was looking for a fine press The Waste Land, to me, the real selling point for the F&F edition is Elliot's signature. As someone that very much appreciates an author's signature, I nevertheless could not justify that edition even if it were half the asking rate -- it's still just too much in my opinion.
>7 ChampagneSVP: I certainly see your point. I should clarify, as someone that was looking for a fine press The Waste Land, to me, the real selling point for the F&F edition is Elliot's signature. As someone that very much appreciates an author's signature, I nevertheless could not justify that edition even if it were half the asking rate -- it's still just too much in my opinion.
17affle
This is a distressing thread for those of us outside N America who would love to buy this at $750
18lgreen666
>17 affle: Quite so... I would have dearly paid this and so must console self that the No Reply version will easily eclipse it
19astropi
>18 lgreen666: must console self that the No Reply version will easily eclipse it
I'm skeptical it will "eclipse" it, but I'm sure it will be a lovely edition. Myself, as someone that appreciates illustrated editions, the FS is the way to go.
I'm skeptical it will "eclipse" it, but I'm sure it will be a lovely edition. Myself, as someone that appreciates illustrated editions, the FS is the way to go.
20abysswalker
This does look quite nice based on pictures in >1 astropi:
My understanding is that this Folio Society edition is about the same size as the Letterpress Shakespeare.
In contrast, the Thornwillow half leather edition (which I have) is a smallish octavo, about the same size as a slim trade hardcover. I love the Thornwillow edition, personally, but the form factor/page size difference might make a difference to someone deciding between the two (either pro or con), so I thought I'd highlight it.
The winning feature of the Thornwillow edition is the moonscape-looking paste paper over the boards. The faint gray color to the paper also suits the work, though the paper itself seems decent but otherwise unremarkable. The layout design is nice, but no Mardersteig.
I prefer the Officina Bodoni edition to either of these (also beautiful) editions, without considering the signature, and the paper is much nicer than either. But of course the price is much higher.
My understanding is that this Folio Society edition is about the same size as the Letterpress Shakespeare.
In contrast, the Thornwillow half leather edition (which I have) is a smallish octavo, about the same size as a slim trade hardcover. I love the Thornwillow edition, personally, but the form factor/page size difference might make a difference to someone deciding between the two (either pro or con), so I thought I'd highlight it.
The winning feature of the Thornwillow edition is the moonscape-looking paste paper over the boards. The faint gray color to the paper also suits the work, though the paper itself seems decent but otherwise unremarkable. The layout design is nice, but no Mardersteig.
I prefer the Officina Bodoni edition to either of these (also beautiful) editions, without considering the signature, and the paper is much nicer than either. But of course the price is much higher.
21astropi
Price is back to full. There are 177 copies left, so basically half sold. I suspect a few more sales and The Waste Land will sell out.
>20 abysswalker: Thanks for pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the Thornwillow edition. With regards to the F&F edition (aka Officina Bodoni) I agree it's lovely and the paper does look excellent. If it was around the same price as the FS edition, I might opt for it simply because I love editions that are signed by the author. That said, the F&F edition has no illustrations. If I had to choose between an unsigned Officina Bodoni or the FS edition, for me there's no question I'd go for the FS edition -- again, the illustrations are just fabulous.
>20 abysswalker: Thanks for pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the Thornwillow edition. With regards to the F&F edition (aka Officina Bodoni) I agree it's lovely and the paper does look excellent. If it was around the same price as the FS edition, I might opt for it simply because I love editions that are signed by the author. That said, the F&F edition has no illustrations. If I had to choose between an unsigned Officina Bodoni or the FS edition, for me there's no question I'd go for the FS edition -- again, the illustrations are just fabulous.
22FvS
I'm actually not liking the illustrations here at all. I think they get in the way of the poem and are not at all to my taste. And the typography of the text pages seems poor and the design of the cover is also not at all to my liking. it seems heavy handed to me.
I agree with the above comment that the Thornwillow edition in half leather is spectacular. Love the paste paper, also the paste paper endsheets, the letterpress work is very well done and the attention to detail of the binding is excellent. I am very much a fan of the page layout. I think the typography is super on this edition. I actually think its one of my favorite Thornwillow books and I think it is still well priced. I think it is hands down more interesting than the FS edition.
The edition that I have seen several times, but do not own and would love to get is, of course, the Virginia and Leonard Woolf's Hogarth Press edition. It is wonderful. Beautiful paste paper boards. It is a gem... also for its historic context. They worked with Eliot directly and the edition itself is a time capsule. But impossible to get without paying an arm and a leg...
I agree with the above comment that the Thornwillow edition in half leather is spectacular. Love the paste paper, also the paste paper endsheets, the letterpress work is very well done and the attention to detail of the binding is excellent. I am very much a fan of the page layout. I think the typography is super on this edition. I actually think its one of my favorite Thornwillow books and I think it is still well priced. I think it is hands down more interesting than the FS edition.
The edition that I have seen several times, but do not own and would love to get is, of course, the Virginia and Leonard Woolf's Hogarth Press edition. It is wonderful. Beautiful paste paper boards. It is a gem... also for its historic context. They worked with Eliot directly and the edition itself is a time capsule. But impossible to get without paying an arm and a leg...
23astropi
>22 FvS: We'll agree to disagree. Clearly you value the Thornwillow edition, and I think the FS is superior to it for numerous reasons, but to each their own. Different books for different tastes.
24ChestnutPress
>22 FvS: I am very glad to see I am not the only person unimpressed with the FS Waste Land.
25const-char-star
Was wondering why this reminded me so much of the FS Tristram Shandy LE and, yeah, it’s the same illustrator :).
>19 astropi: I have yet to be unimpressed by any of NRP’s books, so I’m hopeful it’ll be worth the wait. According to the workshop notes, it’ll be the next book to ship after Ivan Ilyich: https://www.noreplypress.com/workshop
>19 astropi: I have yet to be unimpressed by any of NRP’s books, so I’m hopeful it’ll be worth the wait. According to the workshop notes, it’ll be the next book to ship after Ivan Ilyich: https://www.noreplypress.com/workshop
26NathanOv
>22 FvS: It is very much a Folio Society book that has simply been done with nicer materials by different craftspeople.
I find it's more often than not the Folio aesthetic / general approach to book design that doesn't do it for me, as much as it is the lack of quality paper and letterpress printing on most of their editions.
I find it's more often than not the Folio aesthetic / general approach to book design that doesn't do it for me, as much as it is the lack of quality paper and letterpress printing on most of their editions.
27astropi
>26 NathanOv: ...book that has simply been done with nicer materials by different craftspeople.
Throw in letterpress and that's pretty much the definition of a fine press book :)
I fully respect that this FS edition is not everyone's cup of tea. Personally, the overall aesthetic is exactly what I wanted in The Waste Land -
+Beautiful vellum binding (half-bound)
+Lovely Zerkall mould-made paper with old-skool gilt
+Fabulous illustrations by Tom Phillips along with his signature
+Letterpress Printed
In fact, about my only "complaint" is that it's a bit on the large side, or maybe I'm just used to smaller books. At any rate, I'm glad people have different taste, would sure be boring if we all agreed on everything.
Throw in letterpress and that's pretty much the definition of a fine press book :)
I fully respect that this FS edition is not everyone's cup of tea. Personally, the overall aesthetic is exactly what I wanted in The Waste Land -
+Beautiful vellum binding (half-bound)
+Lovely Zerkall mould-made paper with old-skool gilt
+Fabulous illustrations by Tom Phillips along with his signature
+Letterpress Printed
In fact, about my only "complaint" is that it's a bit on the large side, or maybe I'm just used to smaller books. At any rate, I'm glad people have different taste, would sure be boring if we all agreed on everything.
28Glacierman
Well, if I was an Eliot fan, I certainly wouldn't buy this edition. It's a picture book; the pictures do not appeal to me. This is the type of work that works best with pure typography.
29NathanOv
>27 astropi: I did not question whether it's fine press, as I do not want to restart that old argument, I just said that this is very much in line with their normal output. It’s just upgraded in a couple of very specific areas that aren't going to make it for those who don't already appreciate the Folio Society's general approach to bookmaking.
30astropi
>28 Glacierman: Exactly the opposite for me -- I love the illustrations and just typography is boring -- not to mention I would feel a bit cheated paying $1000+ for a book of 434 poetic lines with little else. But again, to each their own.
>29 NathanOv: Ah, gotcha. Yeah, I think that's a fair point.
>29 NathanOv: Ah, gotcha. Yeah, I think that's a fair point.
31Glacierman
>30 astropi: "But again, to each their own."
Indeed, indeed! As my late wife used to put it: "To each his own," said the old lady as she gently kissed the cow.
Indeed, indeed! As my late wife used to put it: "To each his own," said the old lady as she gently kissed the cow.
32astropi
>31 Glacierman: Always enjoyed that saying!
33jroger1
“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” — Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
34FvS
A Virginia Woolf collector friend of mine mentioned to me last night that Eliot was dead set against any illustrations accompanying his poetry. He felt it interfered with the imagination of the reader and the direct connection between the poet and the reader. Apparently he said that he wanted his words to trigger the images in the reader's mind directly, not filtered or directed by an artist.
Interesting notion. There are many books where I think the illustrations are directly linked to the text and integral to the experience (usually children's books like Winnie the Pooh and Charlotte's Web). But for modernist literature and poetry, I can see this point of view. I am not convinced, for example, that Matisse's illustrations for Ulysses help the text in any way... the original Shakespeare and Co Edition, without illustrations is the model. The Waste Land calls out, to me, for clean elegant typography. Beautifully printed. And elegantly bound. No illustrations.
Interesting notion. There are many books where I think the illustrations are directly linked to the text and integral to the experience (usually children's books like Winnie the Pooh and Charlotte's Web). But for modernist literature and poetry, I can see this point of view. I am not convinced, for example, that Matisse's illustrations for Ulysses help the text in any way... the original Shakespeare and Co Edition, without illustrations is the model. The Waste Land calls out, to me, for clean elegant typography. Beautifully printed. And elegantly bound. No illustrations.
35ChestnutPress
>34 FvS: I wholeheartedly agree. Some works just need a beautiful typographic treatment, fine presswork and materials, all presented in a handsome binding. I was very pleased that Griffin decided to have no illustration in his second edition of Preludes (my favourite of Eliot’s work). For myself, the most beautiful and enjoyable treatment of any work of Eliot’s is the Rampant Lions Press edition of Four Quartets.
36Taishan
Is anyone able to post photos of Thornwillow’s edition of The Waste Land? Is it illustrated?
37Nightcrawl
>36 Taishan: It is not illustrated.
38curiousbook
>2 Lukas1990: nice but in no way $750 nice . Can’t believe anyone is willing to pay $750 for something like that and it has FS on it. To me FS associates with cheap and affordable books of only above average quality
39abysswalker
>38 curiousbook: this edition is a fine press edition printed letterpress by Hand & Eye Letterpress and bound by hand that just happens also to be published by Folio Society.
Your brand associations are in this case an unwarranted prejudice.
Your brand associations are in this case an unwarranted prejudice.
40curiousbook 
>39 abysswalker: so you mean FS did not do anything besides placing their name on it and hiking up the price? What a great book publisher!
41abysswalker
>40 curiousbook: that's what a publisher does. Greenlights the project, makes the product happen, and markets it. Same role as a producer for films.
Sometimes a publisher has more vertical integration of production functions, but that's not actually all that common outside of craft-focused private presses. For example, even some of the finest of the fine presses currently operating (such as Barbarian) use external binders. It's not at all strange.
Most publishers contract out most of the design and production work.
Other examples: Conversation Tree designs in house but binding is done by Ludlow and printing done by Nomad.
I mention all this in detail because, far from being a bad thing, it's actually, in my opinion, quite admirable that FS has chosen to contract some of the best craftspeople currently operating to make this limited edition rather than use their standard mass production contractors along with some bling and artificial scarcity. I didn't personally purchase this edition because I already have another fine press edition of The Waste Land that I am happy with. But $750 is a good price for a folio sized book of this quality and materials given current labor and other costs.
Sometimes a publisher has more vertical integration of production functions, but that's not actually all that common outside of craft-focused private presses. For example, even some of the finest of the fine presses currently operating (such as Barbarian) use external binders. It's not at all strange.
Most publishers contract out most of the design and production work.
Other examples: Conversation Tree designs in house but binding is done by Ludlow and printing done by Nomad.
I mention all this in detail because, far from being a bad thing, it's actually, in my opinion, quite admirable that FS has chosen to contract some of the best craftspeople currently operating to make this limited edition rather than use their standard mass production contractors along with some bling and artificial scarcity. I didn't personally purchase this edition because I already have another fine press edition of The Waste Land that I am happy with. But $750 is a good price for a folio sized book of this quality and materials given current labor and other costs.
42Glacierman
>41 abysswalker: Beat me to it.
43ultrarightist
>41 abysswalker: Spot on
44antinous_in_london
>40 curiousbook: Yawn. Only here for a month & already trolling across various threads…?
46NathanOv
>39 abysswalker: Not to feed the troll, but I’d disagree that it “just happens” to be published by Folio Society.
It absolutely has fine press production values executed by world-class craftspeople and probably cost a few hundred pounds per copy in materials alone.
However, the design is Folio through-and-through, like that cover that feels like it’d be just as at home on a paperback, and little design choices like the 22-carat gold blocking bragged about in the colophon that you’d be unlikely to see from a fine press publisher.
In my opinion, it’s very much an elevated Folio Society book rather than a Ludlow or Hand & Eye production that just happens to sport their logo.
It absolutely has fine press production values executed by world-class craftspeople and probably cost a few hundred pounds per copy in materials alone.
However, the design is Folio through-and-through, like that cover that feels like it’d be just as at home on a paperback, and little design choices like the 22-carat gold blocking bragged about in the colophon that you’d be unlikely to see from a fine press publisher.
In my opinion, it’s very much an elevated Folio Society book rather than a Ludlow or Hand & Eye production that just happens to sport their logo.
47CenSur
>40 curiousbook: What has the Folio Society ever done, besides investing capital, taking financial risks, and spending countless hours on design, packaging, marketing, publicity, typesetting, managing a sales network, and carefully curating for the right illustrators and materials?
48curiousbook
>47 CenSur: and finding someone who will pay $750 for something like that
49curiousbook
>46 NathanOv: thanks for taking your time defending FS. After your one page explanation, I changed my mind and impressed with FS now
51Taishan
>45 abysswalker: Thank you very much for taking the time to post, that’s perfect! A very nice edition.
