What is Your Holy Grail?

Nearly all collectors of fine & private press books have a running Wants List of books they wish to acquire. Most often, there is one special book on the Wants List that is of overriding importance. It may be because the book is of particular literary interest to the collector, it may be due to unique book design, superb typography, the need to complete a series, etc. Whatever. One book seemingly reigns supreme as the object of our affection and attention.

Currently, what is the ONE private press edition you wish to add to your collection that you lust over?

Yikes, just one? I guess that’s the whole point of a “Holy Grail”…

That’s a tough call. Of the ones that may potentially be within reach (eventually) the Bruce Rogers Odyssey might take the top spot due to a combination of book design and literary significance.

If I may cheat and add a runner-up, the Foolscap Mandeville.

Barbarian Press “Pericles” is my white whale. (Assuming I’ll never reach the Arion Press “Moby-Dick”.)

Direction of the road. Foolscap press.
Simply unobtainable.

Ashendene Thucydides. I've held it once. Magic!

It is probably The Life of Saint David (Gregynog Press). Haven't seen a copy for sale for less than 5000$. This book comes to my mind first.

>1 dlphcoracl: This one is easy. It is a copy of the original rejected printing of Peter Scupham’s ‘Natura’ for Gruffyground Press. It doesn’t have the typo errors that crept into the reset published version. I know of only one copy in existence and it would be a highlight of both my Gruffyground and Scupham collections

I have an either/or situation: either the Nonesuch Iliad/Odyssey set OR one of Wm. Morris' Kelmscott fantasies. I will likely see neither of those on my shelves.

Easy... Ezra Pound's A DRAFT OF XVI CANTOS Illustrations by Henry Strater. Paris: Three Mountains Press, 1925 -- I know it isn't ever going to happen

>5 gmacaree:

Hi Graham:

I will post photos of a copy in fine condition (almost unheard of) later today. The white pigskin is always yellowed, dried, soiled, etc. Incidentally, see my post No. 820 on this link - food for future thought.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/347482#n8285129

Since >4 wcarter: already mentioned Direction of The Road, I’ll add Ascensius Press’s “The Maine Woods”

Not sure what "big" title I'd list, as there are quite a few. So I'll go instead for a "small" title that I covet and likely will never find - Mimpish Squinnies from The Lone Oak Press.

Definitely Direction of the Road for me as well, although there are others. Better to be searching for a couple white whales than just one in the big, wide ocean of literature.

>1 dlphcoracl: Clearly the Ashendene Tutte le opere di Dante Alighieri. If it should show up on the market in the future, it will be most likely outside my financial means.

>1 dlphcoracl: Mason Hill Press, First Epistle of John - only 50 copies
This one checks all the boxes for me (though to say that I lust over it is kind of contrary to the text!): fine printing, Biblical collection, text.

Sophie Schneideman had one but I missed it--the catalogue arrived too late.

For myself:

Adonais by P. B. Shelley, Essex House Press, 1900.

The Essex House Press published a series of small books printed on vellum with hand-colored frontispieces and hand-illuminated initial letters, then bound in limp vellum. Embossed on the front cover is the legend: "Soul is Form". This series of 14 volumes is entitled "Great Poets" series. I own 13 of the 14 editions, but lack 'Adonais'. Unfortunately, it was issued in a limitation of only 50 copies and I have never seen one at auction or from fine & rare booksellers.

>4 wcarter: I am eternally distressed that I didn't notice Direction of the Road was one of the high-level Kickstarter rewards for the Ursula K. Le Guin documentary in time to claim it back in 2016. I don't think I'll ever get another opportunity.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arwencurry/worlds-of-ursula-k-le-guin/rewar...

H.P. Lovecraft's own copy of the Necronomicon

Actually, the Kelmscott Chaucer in the elaborately tooled white pigskin binding.

>8 Glacierman: "the Nonesuch Iliad/Odyssey"

It's a bit surreal knowing that I own a copy of someone's holy grail

>18 ultrarightist: H.P. Lovecraft's own copy of the Necronomicon

Posthumously rebound in his own skin, one presumes.

>17 ambyrglow: Well, one came up for sale since then in 2022, though unfortunately it was sold before the catalogue went out.

Perhaps we’ll see another popup in the next 5-6 years and one of us will get lucky that time around!

>20 Shadekeep: Yes, of course!

I guess many people in this thread could afford their holy grail (if it came to market) by selling some of their existing collection. Is anyone ever tempted by this? I sometimes contemplate what it would be like to empty my private press bookcase and have just two or three of the world's great editions instead. But I can't bring myself to do it.

>23 ubiquitousuk: I’ve actually been giving this some thought over the past couple of weeks. Not emptying my shelves, but selling of some Folio LE’s perhaps and maybe a fine press book or two with which it would be harder to part. Just don’t know if I’d end up having regrets.

>23 ubiquitousuk: No, not that, but I have given consideration to simply not buying any books for a year or so, saving up, and then purchasing one of the fine press royalty.

>23 ubiquitousuk: I sold or traded a significant portion of my collection over the past two years. Part of the reason was to fund several expensive purchases (some books, some art). Mostly, though, I came to realize that a lot of those books just sat on my shelves, collecting dust, and that others might actually enjoy these books, some of which rarely come to market.

On my grail: "For the Hundredth Time: Gabberjabb Number 5" (Perishable Press, 1981). Of the eight gabberjabbs, this one has the highest limitation (200 copies), so it's by no means the rarest. Nor would it be the most expensive (#s 6, 7, 8 are currently offered for $6,000 each). I've actually placed an order for this one on three different occasions, only to be told that it was no longer available each time! It represents one of the many turning points in Hamady's printing/publishing: this is the first time he used Gill Sans and Bifur types; several of the 31 books he printed after this use Gills Sans, some of which are the most beautiful uses of that type I've ever seen. And he began to employ collage much more frequently after this one as well. I would happily trade any number of desirable books from my collection for this one!

I am a huge Melville fan (by far my favorite author) so I have to go with AP's Moby Dick. Because that's kind of boring I will give a backup (grail-lite, my "only one" grail is first answer) - Nawakum Press's Norfolk Isle & The Chola Widow. >23 ubiquitousuk: I get enough joy out of my collection that I would not liquidate to purchase holy grail book.

It is/was : Pantagruel illustrated by André Derain, Skira, 1943.

I won a copy (in sheets) in good condition Tuesday pm from an auction house in Paris!
One of the copies in roman numeral, reserved for the printing house, engraver, etc..

Since years, I had two collector's dream : the Pantagruel and Tartarin (ill. Dufy). Now that I have both, I should start thinking about the next one!

>1 dlphcoracl: The Ashendene Malory, of course.

Before Rizzoli released an edition, I probably would have answered Codex Seraphinianus. Happily they spared me from sparring with the art world for that one.

>28 Maretzo: Maybe Le Chef-d’oeuvre inconnu? :)

Edit: forgot this one was published by Ambroise Vollard not Skira.

That said, my actual holy grail is one of the hardbound copies of The Man with the Knives by Ellen Kushner. 21 were produced by Temporary Culture. I have never seen one for sale on the secondary market. I have never even seen one of the 400 paperbound copies on the secondary market.

>31 Lukas1990: Balzac's chef d'oeuvre inconnu illustrated by Picasso is out of reach!

Vollard produced some of the finest !
I always keep an eye for the Cirque de l'Etoile Filante by Rouault. My new Holy Grail l

If my grail needs be holy, then I’d have to name the Clover Hill “Psalms”. That’s a really gorgeous design.

>34 kermaier:

Do you mean the edition of the Psalms designed and printed by Sebastian Carter at the Rampant Lions Press? Is so, this was done for Deighton, Bell & Co., not Clover Hill Editions.

https://booksandvines.com/2014/10/07/the-psalms-of-david-rampant-lions-press-197...

If so, I agree - this is a gorgeous book with flawless design and letterpress printing, on Barcham Green mould-made paper, no less.

>35 dlphcoracl: Sorry, my brain momentarily stopped working — I meant the Mason Hill Press “Psalms”.

>36 kermaier:

Equally lovely, and difficult to find, as all Mason Press editions are.

>21 NathanOv: They definitely do pop up every few years. I was luck enough to find one from a private seller~5 years ago. Don't give up! It's absolutely worth the search.

>38 cdavidemmons:
Spoken like a Galahad!

One of the seven copies on vellum of the Cranach Press Hamlet, lettered A-G, with three sets of proofs. Seen here in a 2017 Peter Harrington video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9mFV1FAfuw
The only copy as of the 2017 video to ever appear on the market.

A more realistic runner up would be pairing Limited Editions Club Wuthering Heights with the additional suite of lithographs

I can’t possibly pick one, a couple of mine have been mentioned: “Direction of the Road” and “The Maine Woods.” A couple others for me are Nawakum’s “Outside” and Chester River Press’s “Heart of Darkness.”

>18 ultrarightist: HPL's copy of the Necronomicon is now in the library of Miskatonic University. You will have to break in and steal it . . .

>35 dlphcoracl: I thought it right to point out that this book is still available directly from Sebastian Carter. The price is £200 which included shipping for me in UK.
The purchasing could not have been easier taking just four days from first enquiry to delivery today.
Very pleasing all around. I feel fortunate to have been able to purchase a brand new copy at the price.

The deluxe edition of Gregynog Press’ Revelation

Goethe’s Faust in original German by Julius Schroeder with illustration from Sepp Frank has equally visceral illustrations, but the cover and binding is too austere to compete

Paradise Lost by Arion Press is undoubtedly high quality craftsmanship, but frankly it doesn’t feel that special of a publishing.

>44 CenSur: "Paradise Lost by Arion Press is undoubtedly high quality craftsmanship, but frankly it doesn’t feel that special of a publishing."

It is indeed of very high quality craftsmanship. To me, its specialness is in its whole as the ideal reading copy. Other editions may have better materials (e.g. goatskin or vellum binding, handmade paper, etc.) or spectacular illustrations, but if I wanted to read Milton's work from beginning to end, the AP edition is my #1 choice.

>45 ultrarightist: It is indeed of very high quality craftsmanship. To me, its specialness is in its whole as the ideal reading copy. Other editions may have better materials (e.g. goatskin or vellum binding, handmade paper, etc.) or spectacular illustrations, but if I wanted to read Milton's work from beginning to end, the AP edition is my #1 choice.

I don't disagree with your assessment but I found myself with a dilemma - given the density of the work and time to wade through in reading, I knew I could not read this version without dinging it in ways that would be too painful for me. I also did not want to just look at it. So I moved it on and will read this one in a cheaper hardback or whatever. It truly is a beautiful book.

The St James Park Press edition of The Twelve Labors of Hercules

>44 CenSur: The edition of Faust you mention was my Holy Grail for quite a while. Tastes differ, I like the look of hard vellum bindings (assuming they remain in decent condition, which is rare for this book).

After buying a standard edition a couple of years ago, I doubled down earlier this year when presented with the opportunity to acquire copy number I. It includes the artist's original sketches and ink drawings. I haven't purchased many books since 2022, otherwise it would have been out of my reach.

The book is still in Germany and sending it by mail seems too risky. I will pick it up when visiting next time and post some pictures of the original art then.

My current Holy Grail is the Cranach Presse Hamlet (agree with post 40 on that), it wouldn't even have to be one of the copies printed on vellum for me. Of course there is no way I will ever be able to afford it, but will probably check out the quality of the 1967 facsimile instead.

>48 teppi2: fascinating! Do you have any suggestion for an untranslated Faust edition aside from the Cranach press one? You could also include non-fine press recommendations, seeing that, there aren’t many active German fine presses

>48 teppi2: RE: Cranach Hamlet. I once had a copy of the 1972 full facsimile edition published by Benjamin Blom. It was a very, very nice production, vellum spine and corner tips. Beautiful book! I'd grab one in a heartbeat had I the wherewithal.

>49 CenSur: The Cranach Press edition was Hamlet, not Faust.

For Faust editions, I can provide most detail about the time of the Weimarer Republic (1918-1933), as this is one of my collecting focus area. I have three editions, all are absolutely stunning:

- The edition from Dr Schroeder already mentioned (still my preferred one).
- Graphische Kunstanstalt Paul Bender / Zollikon Zuerich did an edition in 1929. Calligraphy and illustrations are done by Johann Holtz. I only have the B edition, but a copy of the A edition is showcased on Books and Vines.
- Munster Presse did a wonderful edition in 1923 with illustrations by Oskar Graf. This is absolutely massive, same size as the Dr Schroeder but twice as thick. It contains both Faust I & II and is printed on handmade Van Gelder Paper. Illustrations are wonderful in my opinion, but quite different in style from Frank's.

I am still hunting down a couple others which I cannot judge yet:

Illustrated:
- Dr Schroeder did Faust II as well with illustrations by Bruno Goldschmitt. I haven't got this one, yet. I only ever saw one in bad condition and one that was overpriced, but believe there are some recent listings... alas, no more purchases for me for a while.
- Eigenbroedler Verlag did an edition in 1925, illustrated by Arthur Kampf.

Not Illustrated:
- I believe the 1906 & 1910 Doves Press edition is in German.
- From 1922 to 1924 Ernst Ludwig Presse did a three volume edition (I, II and Urfaust).
- I haven't seen it, but I vaguely recall there was a 1920 edition by Bremer Presse.

In addition there are some inexpensive editions from Askanischer Verlag (not my cup of tea) and Diederichs. For the Diederichs I would try to get the 1909 version, not the later re-prints. Then again, I guess the 1909 version is much less affordable.

Absolutely not reason to go for less than fine press when looking for a German language Faust, assuming you have some budget. And of course the above list is by no means complete.

>50 Glacierman: Thanks for confirming the quality of this edition. Looks like there was a 1967 facsimile from Editions Leipzig and a 1972 one by Benjamin Blom. Both look nearly identical on pictures, but I guess that is to be expected as they are facsimiles of the same book. One of those will go on my list (once I can spend on books again).