LE: Travels in Arabia Deserta

I see that there is a new LE. http://www.foliosociety.com/book/ADB

I am unfamilair with the work, but it immediately interests me. One to possibly consider for purchase, at least in a non-LE edition. Anyone else familiar with this work?

I think Doughty is worth reading and owning I have a 1936 edition with an introduction by TE Lawrence (is this the FS option for a reproduction? ) and I also have a 1989 edition and a Hogarth biography of Doughty . I don't think it is too hard to come by . Unless there is something wonderful about the FS edition I think I am happy with my present little collection.

>1 brother_salvatore: Have you seen the LEC version? It is profusely illustrated, printed by letterpress, boasts an interesting wallet-fold binding, and can be had for less than $30 on ABEbooks!

Here is a more expensive offering, but with good pictures:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Limited-Editions-Club-Travels-in-Arabia-Deserta-Charles-...

Now that lec editions states it has 455 pages.
The folio society LE states it has 1328 pages.

Seems the lec may have printed only part of the work

Doughty has a remarkable writing style. and his travels are fascinating. I would buy this if I could afford it. Failing that I will make do with my tatty Penguin classic.

Must have..... It's been in the offing for a while. I was fearful of a hefty price ticket given that it is two volumes and half-bound in leather. This is considerably cheaper than I had feared. I am most tempted and may well get this in the second half of the year. I love the marbled covers - very apt for a book about the Arabian desert. Sounds delightful all round.

I've just ordered. Having a particular interest in T. E. Lawrence, Doughty is of especial interest to me. I've always wanted the first edition, not because it's the first edition, but because it is well-printed and complete. But copies I have seen always seem to be in relatively poor condition while costing quite a lot. The Folio edition costs quite a lot, but it is obviously very handsome and has all those wonderful photographs as well as the original illustrations. With the imminent arrival of Castle Hill Press's Lawrence correspondence volume 6, which will feature much of the correspondence between Lawrence and Doughty, I'm in for a treat this summer.

>3 aaronpepperdine: & 4 I very much like the LEC edition but it is an abridgement: "The Text as Abridged and Arranged by Edward Garnett, with a Prefatory Note by Mr. Garnett, a General Introduction by T. E. Lawrence, and Illustrations by Edy Legrand."

I bought my copy (in fine condition) last year for $24.

New LEs seem to be coming very frequently this year - three in five months so far ( Bird Paintings and van Gogh were the earlier ones).
Presumably the FS is finding these profitable despite some LEs still being on sale eight years after release.
I don't think I'll go for this one though. One LE a year is enough.

From the three LEs they published so far, that's the one that actually interests me. Not sure I am ready to spend the money for it just now though....

> 9

A few of the older LEs like the Liber Bestiarum seem to sell rather slow indeed, however I received a mail form the FS today that there are less then a hundred copies of the sketchbooks left.

I'm sworn off Folio LE's since I'm so far along in the Letterpress Shakespeare that I have to scrape my pennies together for the next few volumes. Thank goodness it is almost complete! So every LE that comes out that doesn't tempt me too much is a relief. If it wasn't for Shakespeare, some of these would have found their way onto my shelves. Travels in Arabia looks pretty nice!

>3 aaronpepperdine: Thanks for pointing out the LEC edition. I'm definitely going to pick that up. If I like the abridgement, I'll search out a complete edition. Even though I'd love to get the new LE, it's just too much for my wallet.

Just placed my order, I have refrained from getting the sketch book because of this one, and the Kelmscott later on.

Details of this LE have now been added to the LE list in the FSD wiki at:
http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Groups:Folio_Society_Devotees
The LE list is steadily lengthening!
All members should consult the FSD wiki site for any information they need about FSD and the FS past catalogue.

It looks lovely, but I do wish they had produced this in a standard two-volume edition in a more reasonable price range. I can't justify £495 for it, but would very much like to have a copy of the unabridged version. I am pretty disappointed, as I thought (maybe naively given some other comments) that this might be around the £295 when I first heard it announced.

FS really need to think about its entry-level LE offering. The last five LEs produced over the last six months (quite a rate) have all been at a price point out of reach of most (Just So Stories, Birds Drawn For John Gould, Poems of Thomas Gray, Travels In Arabia Deserta, Van Gogh Sketchbooks), and whilst I am fully supportive of the LE programme, failing to allow customers to join in the pleasure of Limited Editions at a lower price point takes the programme ever further from the core aim of Charles Ede's "dream of publishing books that would be affordable to everyone". If you look on the FS website in the section showing past (sold out) LEs, you find a much more balanced range of prices to cater for a wider range of wallets (based on final selling price, so excluding any early subscriber discount):

Less than £200 = 6
£200-£300 = 3
£300-£500 = 2
More than £500 = 7

And the last five? Less than £200 - None. Less than £300 - None. Less than £400 - erm, surprise, None (based on current price of £445 for the Sketchbooks).

Come on FS, buck up!

That presumes that they are trying to target the same people they target with the standard editions. The way things had been going, I wonder if they do not try to diversify a bit - making the more expensive editions (and they are expensive because of materials and work and so on) allows them to get into the market for fine editions...

Don't get me wrong - I'd love cheaper LEs. But... considering the quality and what is in this one - the price is pretty reasonable...

>17 AnnieMod: I don't disagree with you Annie. And I am certainly not criticizing FS for wanting to expand into the market for higher end fine editions, or in any way suggest that the quality of the recent LEs does not warrant the price tags applied. I would just rather they didn't create such a financial gulf between their standard catalogue and their LE programme, but rather included within the LE programme some more affordable titles as they have traditionally done in the past - as well as, not in place of, the higher end items which clearly appeal to those that can afford them (and of course to those who cannot!).

I've not been tempted to buy any of the LEs so far this year (like Warwick I could only permit myself one a year and am saving myself for la Fontaine if it's reasonably priced). But if the Folio Society understandably uses LEs to plump its bottom line just as airlines offer first and business class to prise open larger wallets, hopefully they'll be able to continue the 'economy' standard editions at the level of affordability envisaged by Charles Ede.

Incidentally, how about a Folio Air Miles scheme, to reward Terminal Addicts: "Folio Gilt Points" for longstanding loyal Members, accruing points to discount a future purchase? Mole, bags I extra points for the idea!

>16 Conte_Mosca:

I will second that.

The binding of this new LE are similar to Pepys LE, but its price tag is out of proportion.

I would like to see more books in the style of Faust or The Apocrypha or Paradise Lost. Glorious books without the high price of the LEs.

>21 N11284:
I agree. I wold love the FS to publish the Bible in the same format as the 2006 large format Apocrypha (one of the most beautiful standard editions). Doing it in separate books for the old and new testaments wold be perfect.
The FS version is in my collection at:
http://www.librarything.com/work/12987780/book/80060932
Way off topic again, aren't we :-)

>22 wcarter: So as the party probably guilty of initiating our meander into wild pastures, I shall try and find the path again...

...so I think this is a beautiful looking publication, which I would dearly love to own (if only I could afford it!)

Are we back? :-)

Have to say I was excited at first but then I saw "half bound in leather" and "marbled paper" and gave up hope. And the price point....whyyyyyy?

I have the 1937 definitive Random House edition($60). Don't see $700 extra worth of value in this LE, sadly. And I must be in a minority, but I really hate marbled papers. Give me full leather every time.

Also heard there's going to be a Goya LE sometime next year so I'd rather save up for that...

>3 aaronpepperdine: The LEC edition is abridged.

Does anyone know what the next LE going to be?

It should be Fifty Fables of La Fontaine, unless there are any surprise LEs before then.

> 26 Hasn't that been announced (somewhere on Joe's blog) for sometime later this year, like October? I was hoping/expecting the Horace next. I am really keen on that, way more than La Fontaine, but am worried about costs.... :(

>27 groeng: You may be right. I got the impression La Fontaine would be ahead of Horace, as the blog confirmed that the Blake illustrations were all complete and had been delivered, whereas (admittedly in January) "we have been forging ahead with trials on the William Morris manuscript of Horace’s Odes, which have been fraught with difficultly due to the incredible intricacy of his original work, and in particular the wide variety of gold and silver tooling Morris employed. The binding is also particularly tricky, with handsome leather doublures – I doubt whether this attractive hand-binding technique has ever been attempted on an edition of this size, and the prospect is somewhat daunting..

I may have just drawn an inappropriate conclusion though. Mind you, if they publish Horace ahead of October, and the La Fontaine, that will be an incredible 7 LEs in less than 12 months. Quite a step up in the LE programme.

> 28 Just checked and found it here, see Joe's reply to the first comment: http://www.foliosociety.com/joesblog/tuesday-29-january-2013/#comments

There has been much talk in Joe's blog about the difficulties of producing the Horace volume. So who knows when that might be ready? But I do sincerely hope there will be another LE or two before October - I simply cannot live without the excitement a new LE produces in my household!

I've found the recent LEs remarkably easy to resist. The finest travel narrative ever? Hmmmm. Just So Stories? More like so-so (now if it had been the Jungle Book or Puck of Pook's Hill, I might have been tempted, but I've never liked this rather babyish collection of stories, even when I was a child.) And so on. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason behind the selecctions either, nothing to encourage me once I've bought one to buy others. All in all, too easy to say 'no'.

I have ordered, though not without a certain grumpiness. I've been looking for a decent copy of Doughty for some years without success, so I was enthusiastic when it was mooted in the 2011 'would you buy' survey, but expected a regular two-volume set. I bought three LEs last year, and was hoping for a year off this. But I've had the postal flyer now, and it's simply too attractive to pass. The publicity material is exasperating, however - nowhere can I find details of the size, or the typeface, which are fairly basic information for any FS book, let alone one in this price bracket. This is not endearing bumbling, but rank incompetence - is there no one in the wretched marketing department capable of spending an hour drawing up a checklist of data for inclusion when a book is announced?

And while I'm in the mood for a rant, I'll veer off topic and mention that with this week's copy of the TLS, a Folio Society flyer was enclosed, offering books for sale, without mention of membership. Postage is free, a free pen comes with one book, and one of the nice notebooks free with a second. As it happens, two or three of the books offered are lowish priced ones that I want, which I had saved up as the full price qualifying purchases for an old-style set sale. It will be more sensible for me to buy these from the flyer, and get the goodies, than to buy in the ordinary way as a member. But I thought that members were always guaranteed the best deal - or at least as good as open-market sales? Hrrmph.

>31 affle: But I thought that members were always guaranteed the best deal - or at least as good as open-market sales?

Don't remember reading that in the description :) The only price guarantee is on new books - "We guarantee that our members will always receive the best price on new books." - which is the 20% off we are getting. It should be logical but... if it's not written...

>32 AnnieMod: I dare say you're right, Annie. But the implications of the next sentence are a little wider: 'If a friend admires your Folio titles, remind them that they’ll always get the best deal by becoming a member.' Always. I maintain my hrrumph.

This thread has enabled me to buy a LEC copy of Arabia Deserta from Abe. Looking forward to reading it, as I quite enjoy travel writing!

> 34 - It is close to doing the same for me. I certainly won't pay $790 for an FS copy; that is a price I cannot justify.

>34 scholasticus:, 35

If you need any more temptation, be aware that the Heritage version seems to my eye quite similar to the LEC, and is even cheaper. I think I paid $6 for mine. It does not boast the wallet-fold binding, but it does have a slipcase.

>36 aaronpepperdine:

Thanks! I do love the wallet-fold binding, though, so that's why I went with the LEC.

>35 coynedj:

No kidding - I won't pay 790 for it either; the only two LEs I've justified so far are Liber Bestiarum (medievalist and all - heh) and Moby-Dick.

I might eventually be persuaded to justify the Getty Apocalypse, but I doubt it.

> 38 - you have two more LEs than I have. The Moby Dick did tempt me though, I must admit.

>39 coynedj:

Especially with the $100 off last year...

>39 coynedj:

Funny thing? I had never wanted to read Moby Dick until I saw the FS LE. Funny how life works sometimes.

I know FS would get me if they ever did a LE of Les Tres Riches Heures du duc de Berri, though. So I sincerely hope that FS never creates a LE of that MS; I'm having a hard enough time staying away from the Getty LE.

>40 AnnieMod:

If FS offers that $100 voucher again, that'd net me Getty, guaranteed.

> 41, 42

I am not sure if you are aware that the Getty Museum offers a low cost alternative to the FS LE:

http://www.amazon.com/Illuminating-End-Time-Apocalypse-Manuscript/dp/1606060716/...

The content is identical to the FS LE, including the reproduction of gold in metal foil, at a fraction of the cost.

>43 Stephan68:

I have a copy of this, actually, and normally it'd be enough to make me stay away from the FS LE, but a major part of my work in medieval history tends towards apocalyptism, so...yeah.

> 40 -

I never got the $100 offer. I posted at the time about the fact that they decided that after 25 years as a member I wasn't worthy of it. Someone said I should call them up, but I decided not to - even with the $100, I already have 3 copies of Moby Dick including the University of California version of the Arion Press edition. The FS version looked stunning, but I try to buy new titles instead of multiple copies.

>45 coynedj:

But it was $100 off any LE
Yeah I remember that you mentioned - but mail gets lost - it is possible that they did mail it and it never made it there. Who knows. :)

> 46

I have never received any of the voucher offers that FS has sent out over the past few years. Zero.

>47 coynedj:

I 'd call them and check why. It is possible that your name is in a list somewhere and just does not get into the mailing lists... Happened to me with another publisher - had a few pre-orders and then they got the name in the no-mail list instead of the general population one.

> 48

I still get mailings for sales and new offerings, so I know that I'm not on a no-mail list. If I ever see a voucher mentioned here that I am aching to use, I'll give them a call.

I have not been tempted by any LE for the past 6 months or so, but Doughty is a must have for me and I have put my order in. He was an intriguing writer with a unique style - I don’t think there has ever been another travel writer quite like him, as interested in his language as much as where he was travelling. I have seen an advanced copy of this in the Members Room - it’s a beautiful edition, similar to the LE Pepys. The marbled endpapers are beautiful. Can’t wait for my copy to arrive.

Just to reiterate, pretty sure the LEC/Heritage edition is abridged. The full deal is two thick quarto volumes.

David good to see your back on LT. I'm also considering putting in an order.

>53 cronshaw:
It's under Production details
Book size: 11” x 6¾”

>54 koszakedv: Just been added...

ETA Still no typeface...

Yes I wondered that too yesterday; finding it odd that no measurements were listed. Good to see that it's up now

> 52

Thanks Faisel. I'm always dipping in and out of here but I ought to post more.

David, have you made any interesting purchases since last?

Not so many, Faisel. I bought the FS reissue of the Once and Future King a few weeks ago and I have had a few more books privately bound. I also bought the beautiful new FS edition of the Rubiyat. My bibliomania has, of necessity, been held a little in check over the past year as I have put my resources in my other obsession, my Morgan sports car (Morgan is realy the Folio Society of the automotive world). But now I have some spare income to start buying books again - which is probably a bad thing for my bank account.

>59 Quicksilver66:
Another lover of both fine cars and fine books - marvelous!

>59 Quicksilver66: I met a man in Oregon who had installed a BMW V8 from the X5 in his Morgan, which was apparently exciting.

> 60

I think the two go together. Also, it an excuse to move into another beautiful branch of bibliomania, car books ! I have some beautifully illustrated car books. None published by the FS, alas.

> 61

Sounds good. I have a Ford Cyclone 3.7 litre V6 in mine (the same engine as used in the Ford Mustang) - it's as much excitement as I can take as the speed, acceleration and noise can be pretty terrifying at times.

>62 Quicksilver66:
David,
I also have a very large collection of automobilia books, some being fine and limited editions, but I agree, the FS will never branch into this area of publishing.
If you check my profile you can see that I have tagged all these books in my collection.
Is this the furthest off-topic any thread has ever gone?

> 63

Warwick,

I had a look at your automotive collection and we clearly share some similar interests (and books). I noticed quite a few Jaguar books - I am also a fan of the marque and have my eyes on an E-Type. Looks like you are also an admirer of Standard-Triumph. Great British sports cars. But no books on Morgan - shame ! I also have the Gentlemans Guide to Motoring, which I thought was quite amusing.

PS - this is not the furthest off-topic thread in the Devotees by a long chalk and you ought to have experienced some of the massive off-topic rows we used to have on this site which reached truly biblical proportions.

Wow, the book hasn't even shipped yet and Island Books is already trying to sell a marked up copy:

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=travels+in+arabia+deserta+moroc...

>65 JustinTChan: I don't know which is more remarkable, the pre-shipment listing or the mark up. Interestingly the bookseller gives no limitation number.

I assume they have a publisher's copy?

>67 JustinTChan:
I suspect they have no copy yet, but have applied to FS for a copy, that they will sell on at a profit when received. If you buy it from them now, they will give some excuse for the delay until they are able to supply the book.
Island Books has a bit of a track record with these and similar practices.

7>

Saving up my pennies for this.

In response to an FS survey, I replied to them eons ago suggesting strongly that they publish Rory Stewart's 'The Prince of the Marshes' and 'The Places In Between'. Both books are excellent, but the latter in particular is one of my favourite books. The quality of the writing and of the insight into the country concerned in each book is second to none. Non-fiction page-turners both!

Hopefully they - and my other suggestion: Fitzroy MacLean's classic 'Eastern Approaches' - will seduce JWB 'ere long...his kind words about Rory in the Doughty sales blurb are I trust a good omen!

>69 Polar_bear:

Rory Stewart is a remarkable man. I would buy anything of his that FS chose to publish. His insight and intelligence are penetrating, all the more so for his calm and measured delivery in interviews. I was devastated when he became a politician.

>70 boldface:

I guess that he is one of the few people who have done so because they genuinely want to "make a difference". I hope that he will join, and rise through, the ministerial ranks without trace - uncorrupted by the process of ascending the greasy pole - and then suddenly emerge as a future leader of this country.

EDITOR: Stop. That's enough hero worship!

> 70, 71

Lets hope he does a better job than the current crop of imbeciles in Westminster. And I am not making a party political point - they are all imbeciles.

>72 Quicksilver66: That's a bit harsh. They are not all imbeciles. Some are merely crooks and charlatans :-)

Originally this edition was slated for a late-June delivery, now I see the website has changed it to a mid-July delivery. Along with, "Temporarily Out of Stock - Order now for delivery late July 2013". I'm hoping I'm in the mid-July batch!

>74 Sand_Man: I was in the Members Room yesterday and unfortunately they have confirmed it has indeed slipped to late July.

I picked up a copy of the Heritage Press abridgement over the weekend, from a local shop at a mere $8.75 - just a wee bit cheaper than the Folio LE, but yes an abridgement. It is in excellent condition, though the slipcase has seen better days.

So how many people here have bought it? I was tempted after receiving my $100 voucher...but still hesitant. Just doesn't seem to be enough original content to justify the $690 (after voucher) price tag...The map is a nice touch, but technical, modern and not really a work of art.

I was going to get it and I am still interested. I cancelled my order however - due to budgetary constraints as I have just blown a significant portion of my budget on buying the 3 volume india paper History of Middle Earth. I am a Tolkien nut and had been eyeing these books for some time - when an unopened mint set came along, I could not resist.

I will propably re-order Arabia Deserta later in the year.

David, congratulations on the History of Middle Earth. I certainly hope we get to see pictures, though I am not sure I need further enabling!

Hmm Interesting David. I too would like to see pictures.

>78 Quicksilver66:

The History of Middle Earth is a tremendous work of scholarship and absolutely full of fascinating variants, early versions, etc., of Tolkien's work. The greater part of the enterprise is devoted to the numerous version of the stories that were eventually published as The Silmarillion, but The Lord of the Rings is certainly not neglected.

That india paper set is highly desirable, although you'll have to be careful turning those ultra-thin pages. I collected the original editions as they came out. The twelve volumes (thirteen, now, with the recent publications of the Index, uniform with the earlier volumes) take up quite a lot of shelf space. The last three or so of the original volumes, published by Harper Collins (who bought out George Allen & Unwin), are marred by wood-pulp paper which has browned quite badly. All the Unwin volumes are perfect.

I also echo the request for pictures of your new prize!

> 79 - 81

I will gladly post some pictures and will try and do so over the next few days.

The first thing I did with the books though was to remove each volume from the slipcase and store the slipcases in the back of a cupboard. I then placed each volume in an Adjustable Lyfjacket - you know, those plastic book covers that can be used to protect hardbacks and paperbacks. I have laid the books down on their sides as each volume is very heavy with 2,500 - 3,500 pages per volume. The reason I have done this is that I want to use the books to read and refer to and the "naked" books and the slipcases are covered in a cloth that mars very easily. Ultimately I would love to get these rebound in morroco - some day, perhaps.

The original editions were lovely, Jonathan. But yes, the George Allen and Unwin volumes were far better quality than Harper Collins - most of my Tolkien books are George Allen and Unwin. Very sad that this old school, quintessential and gentlemanly English publisher was swallowed up by Harper Collins.

I also have the George Allen and Unwin Lord of The Rings on India Paper (and boxed) - a gorgeous edition.

>78 Quicksilver66:
I did not know you were a fellow Tolkien enthusiast. I am going through a bit of a Middle Earth Renaissance having read the Hobbit earlier this year and currently making my way through the Lord of the Rings.

Sadly I've never read the Lord of the Rings. With my current reading list, I think it'll be a couple of years. Waiting for my niece to learn English, she's five now, do you think seven's pushing it?

I first read the Hobbit at 9, and LotR at 10, and have loved them ever since. Your niece should cope with The Hobbit at 7, but leave it a couple of more years for LotR.
I have read LotR nine times now, and try to repeat the experience every five years or so. It well deserves to be one of the most widely read and owned book sets in English.

I agree Dr. Carter, I am waiting for the right moment. English which would become her third language would be a bit challenging at an early age, but how I am saddened not being able to read those wonderful fairytales of Aesop and such.

Personally I am saving it for when I get my Eames Lounge Chair, Kusmi tea (or a great glass of wine), and a decent understanding of classical music to build oneself a great vinyl collection of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.

- 83

Yes Les Mis, I love Tolkien and re-read him regularly - since I was 13 in fact. Did you see the Hobbit film? Visually spectacular but a rip of on the book. Christopher Tolkien recently slated the Jackson movies saying he has completely ruined his fathers vision. I think he has a point.

-84

7 is probably old enough to understand the Hobbit but not Lord of the Rings.

- 85

I agree.

- 86

I am still waiting for an Eames Chair as well !!!!

Arrived yesterday (Wednesday):

>88 kdweber: I'm green with envy. Enjoy!

- 88

Very nice. The ultimate reading chair.

>87 Quicksilver66:
Even though Jackson omitted Bombadil and changed the flight to the ford in the Fellowship amongst other things, I thought overall he done a good job with LotR.
However is am very disappointed with the Hobbit. All that nonsense about being hunted and by a pale orc and the likes. Bah!

>91 LesMiserables: I know that most Tolkien fans will consider this heresy, but thank goodness Jackson omitted Tom Bombadil. I have always found him highly irritating - the Middle Earth equivalent of Jar-Jar Binks. Other than the irritation factor, I found the fact that the ring had no power on him a bit of a plot flaw, and Gandalf's explanation for not using Bombadil as the ring bearer wholly unconvincing.

But what do I know. I was introduced to The Lord of The Rings by my mother who was a great fan, and she loved Tom Bombadil and his constant use of authentic old English metrical speech.

>92 Conte_Mosca:
I rather found his explanation believable; TB being a scatterbrain man of the moment than one concerned with the worries of the world.

>93 LesMiserables: He just needs a good slap and told to get his head out of his behind. There is no place for Bombadil in a world ruled by Sauron, and he is supposed to be bright enough to know that! But whilst I get the premise that Tom Bambadil frankly "doesn't care", you would think they might at least try having that conversation with him first, rather than discarding it without much thought, and going with what to me was a much higher risk strategy. Mind you, I wouldn't have wanted to travel with him as part of The Fellowship unless you taped up his mouth.

Perhaps I am overthinking it simply to reinforce my anti-Bombadil prejudices ;-)

Wow, I now really feel I've missed something in having never read Tolkien! And so much for Travels in Arabia Deserta!

Actually this Tolkien read is for me the result of a decision to return to some long loved epics that should be reread again. LORD OF THE RINGS, LES MISERABLES, WAR AND PEACE all due for an airing. I wont be going back to Clarissa, Atlas Shrugged in the foreseeable future.

War and Peace has stood on my TBR pile for so long it'd feel like a major furniture rearrangement if I were actually to read it.

>99 EclecticIndulgence:

The problem is that if you buy the deluxe Hurin, then you also have to buy the rest of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tolkien-Deluxe-Slipcase-Collection-New-Sealed-Lot-Hobbit...

Unless you've found this version of Hurin for $50, in which case I shall be deputizing you to do all of my book shopping in the future:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/J-R-R-TOLKIEN-THE-CHILDREN-OF-HURIN-SIGNED-SUPER-DELUXE-...

OT much??

New in the group? :) At least we are still talking about books... :)

Not new at all.

Off Topic is standard format in this forum. Some longer threads may cover a dozen topics totally unrelated to the heading. Its what makes this forum so interesting.

>105 wcarter: Hence my love of Herodotus (covered elsewhere recently), but that is another digression entirely! :-)

Digression is better then oblivion. by the time FS handing out the LE, it will be right on track again.

> 100

I have the "super de luxe" Children of Hurin. Its a stunning book - the equivalent of a Folio LE, and signed by Christopher Tolkien. However, you can buy it for a lot less from the Harper Collins Tolkien website.

It would be great to start a fresh new topic thread for all this Tolkien talk. I'm a huge Tolkien fan and would love to learn more about this History of Middle Earth set.

"De luxe" sounds like Volvo marketing hype from the 1970's.

"Super de luxe" sounds like some Detroit marketing hype of the same era.

> 110

These were not actually terms used by the publisher.

This is what I would consider "super de luxe":

http://www.neatorama.com/2011/08/26/j-r-r-tolkiens-silmarillion-as-an-illuminate...

Unluckily I will never be able to get my grubby fingers on it.

>112 J_ipsen:

That's lovely. Hope the Tolkien Estate snatches that one up for publication.

>112 J_ipsen: That is incredible. Have you posted that link on the Tolkien thread? I'm sure it would be greatly appreciated there.

Does anyone know the current status of this Book ? thanks.

Single, wants a date.

Furthermore, more than half the limitation still available for any harem.

116>

I have arranged a date online like 2 months ago, obviously she is not that much into me.

Limited Edition dates often take a little longer with their finishing touches, before your first ones.

I think with the Ramadan starting yesterday, it's going to take at least a month before anything happens

Travels in Arabia Deserta is now in the Members Room for all who wish to pop in and emit some cooing and aahing. It is handsome. I particularly like the way Folio has done the large accompanying map: cloth-backed, folded and pasted to the inner recto board of the buckram bound map case. The inner verso board of this case carries a plate with the limitation number (so unusually the limitation details are not in either of the two volumes). The map is cut into sections which are pasted on to the cloth backing leaving a gap of about 3mm where the cloth folds are, so avoiding any crease wear to the map itself, a great touch. The volumes themselves are very attractive with the numerous sepia photos and also many in-text line illustrations, making it the work very visually pleasing to flick through - these line illustrations don't seem to be mentioned much in the advertising blurb.

If I win the lottery I would get it just as soon as I'd regained sobriety, but as I said above, I can't otherwise justify the price to myself for this particular work, as beautiful as this set certainly is, and even if it is a significantly lower limitation at 780 copies than the usual Folio limitation of 1000. There is just one small (and very subjective) quibble on looking closely at the volumes in the MR: that the 'alveolar' spaces (the bubble areas) of the marbling seem rather pale and ill-defined set against the stronger smart wavy colours of the 'interstitial' (intermediary or background) areas - sorry I don't know what the proper terms are for these different areas in marbling*. In this respect the marbling reminds me very much of that of the last 250-300 of the LE Pepys Diary completed after Ann Muir had sadly passed away, where the later sets had notably fainter 'alveolar' detail than the earlier batches. But this must also be a matter of individual taste and many may actually prefer the fainter marbling bubbles. In any case, this remains without doubt a very elegant and well produced set.

(*If someone could enlighten me as to the correct terminology for these marbling areas I'd be very grateful!)

>121 cronshaw:

Thanks for your comments, cronshaw. On the whole, reassuring. But does the marbling on the MR copies not look anything like the marbling shown on the website, then?

The photo on the website seems very fair and accurate as a representation. Up close in the MR there seemed to me to be a somewhat greater contrast between the stronger background colours and the fainter bubble areas. Whether this is due to a lighting/photographic effect on the website image, the peculiarity of my own eyesight, or whether it is simply the uniqueness of each individual work of marbling, I couldn't say.

Regardless, I do think it a gorgeous covetable set if you have the spare pennies.

(Edit to add that perhaps the paler marbling bubbles better evoke desert sands?!)

Thanks for the update. hope I can get them within 2 weeks.

>121 cronshaw:

Thanks for the detailed report! I have the Pepys set and the marbled sides were disappointing as is. The 780 copy limitation for Travels seems arbitrary. Would prefer a 1000 and full leather binding. If Travels was full leather, I would buy it in a second as I'm studying and currently obsessed with all things Arabic.

Has anyone seen the Buckram slipcase for these volumes? If so, can you please describe it?

The web site does not have a picture of the slipcase...

>126 laughriot: The display volumes in the MR weren't housed in a slipcase when I popped in to inspect them a few days ago, so sorry I can't advise. I would imagine that it would be an extra sturdy slipcase along the lines of the one used for the LE Macaulay's History of England.

I will show a photo of it soon, they said it will start shipping around next week.

>128 kafkachen:

Thank you sir

Ping kafkachen :-)

16 characters received in single message, but no Travels in Arabia Deserta on sight.

Ah sorry, for some reason I missed that you were waiting on your copy!

Just received an e-mail announcing that the book is available.

Got the email. Had the LE $100 voucher that was about to expire, already own all the cheaper LEs, so gave in and ordered, adding another ten month plan to my collection.
They are also giving me yet another Year Round Things To Do! Aaaaaaarrrggh! I will have enough for a bonfire! Thus a begging email followed my order asking for a ntebook, or mug, or teatowel or another LE voucher, or absolutely anything instead.
I'll see what happens.

>134 wcarter: Warwick, after my second YRtTD, I started asking for replacements in the form of notebooks, mugs etc. and they've accepted to do this on all subsequent orders (there have been quite a few). Therefore I see no reason why they shouldn't accommodate you as well.

>135 Smiler69:
They have done so. Mug on the way.

I received my copy (no. 8) today. It's beautifully done. The map is superbly presented and the photos (duotones to be precise) are wonderfully sepia. I'm glad to say the marbled sides by Jemma Lewis are not at all washed out as some have feared and are fully up to the standards of the much lamented Ann Muir. A nice touch is the embossing (dentelles) along the edges of the leather spine and corners.

>137 boldface: Delighted to hear you're pleased, Jonathan. The publication delay meant I couldn't take delivery before heading for my summer spell in SW France, so I had to hold delivery to early September. I did see one in the MR before I left, and liked the look of it, but I'm impatient to have my own. Especially frustrating, as, like you, I ordered before the £50 voucher came. Did you resist the voucher temptation? I fear I did not, and succumbed to The Aeneid.

>138 affle:

Yes, I did resist the voucher, because it wasn't enough against the more expensive LEs which I can't afford at the moment. I already have the Alice. I hope you like the Aeneid. It certainly sounds tempting.

Have a nice time in France!

I received my copy No 236. A beautiful set!

Mine has arrived, #377.

Is anyone else's missing its ribbon markers?

>142 Sand_Man:

Yes. I was only wondering about that myself, earlier. The website clearly states ribbon markers.

>143 boldface:

I've already written to FS about it, waiting for a response...

>144 Sand_Man:

Assuming that copies are bound in batches, as usual, I wonder how many are affected.

>143 boldface:

FS also said it would be a Jun publication. it is almost August now , guess their information is far from accurate.

However, I will like to have a copy without ribbon.

Apart from the ribbon marker issue, anyone buy the LE who already owned a previous printing?

Was just curious if you think there are sufficient 'extras' to justify the price? Thanks.

>145 boldface:

I heard back from FS: They said they actually became aware of this issue today, that some copies appear to be missing the ribbon markers, and the binders are currently investigating how this could have happened. FS is more than happy to exchange any 'ribbonless' copies for new copies that have ribbon markers. Unfortunately if we chose to exchange we'll have to wait another four weeks or so for the next batch to get produced.

Personally I prefer ribbon markers, so I'll be sending mine back for another copy with ribbons. Otherwise I must say how striking a production this is. Absolutely gorgeous! And definitely well worth the wait.

Mine has no marker, and I am happy like it is. I noticed that using the ribbon can cause damages to the gilded edges.

I'm still not sure whether to ask for another copy, as I don't want to sacrifice the low number 8 or risk a less satisfactory marbling. Is everyone pleased with their marbling?

Now listed as "out of stock" and delivery in Autumn (that's fall in the USA and Spring in the Southern hemisphere). I wonder if this is in order to add ribbon markers to all in-stock copies?

> 150

FS may let you keep your limitation number, Jonathan. When I had a defective LE they offered to repair it so I could keep the number.

> 151

I should think so. I can't imagine it selling out quickly.

>152 Quicksilver66:
Actually I have heard a couple of weeks ago that nearly 500 out of 780 had already sold.

I placed order perhaps the first day it was online. any ROW already receive it ?

>152 Quicksilver66:

Yes, hopefully, but I remember when I had a defective Ulysses, I had to have a much higher number. However, that was some years ago. Things may be different now.

I have just taken delivery of my copy with limitation number 20. A very nice set with beautiful deep marbling. One thing is missing though, my set does not have any ribbon markers. I have placed my order relative late on the 25th of July, using my £50 voucher just in time before it would expire. Think at the time of my order Folio must have been aware of the missing ribbon marker issue. Unsure. Luckily I am also not bothered with the missing markers and therefore I will not be returning my set, in fact I do not like ribbon markers ;-)

BTW, I am in ROW (the Netherlands)

Got my set this afternoon, number 241, although I ordered it before 7th May.

No ribbon, and some minor defect to the marble paper. (excessive gum splatter on surface). will show some photo later on .

My copy of the 1926 Jonathan Cape reprint of this book arrived today. It's a lovely fat volume in good condition, 'complete and unabridged' according to the title page, with the two volumes compressed into one on thin paper, retaining separate pagination (pp 623 + 690) . Impressive fold-out maps and illustrations. Preface by Lawrence. Doughty's work is certainly one that merits the FS luxury treatment (and larger scale), but as I've said elsewhere, I think the pricing is just a little too high on the FS LE - a pity, as I really like the FS design and use of photography, from the evidence on the website.

>158 Firumbras: Congratulations on the 1926 Jonathan Cape reprint. You maybe interested in its print history that I've compiled. Well I am!!! Be in mind that it's not an exhaustive list.

Editions:

1888 - First Edition - First published by Cambridge University Press.
1920 - Second Edition -
1921 - Third Edition - Philip Lee Warner, publisher to the Medici society, ltd., Jonathan Cape, new edition, type reset, Jan. 1921, reprinted Sep. 1921 incl. first, second and third preface.
1923 - Third Edition - Jonathan Cape and the Medici Society Limited
1926 - J. Cape ltd. & the Medici Society limited - Thin-paper ed. in one volume. Complete and unabridged.
1927 - reprinted as above in one volume. Complete and unabridged.
1930 - reprinted, Jonathan Cape Ltd.
1933 - reprinted, Jonathan Cape Ltd.
1936 - Jonathan Cape Ltd. - New and definitive ed in 2 vols.
1937 - reprinted, Jonathan Cape Ltd.
1953 - Limited Editions Club, one volume edition abridged.
1953, Haritage Press
1955, Doubleday
1964 - Jonathan Cape Ltd. - New and definitive ed. reprinted twice
1968, P. Smith
1979, Dover Publications
2000, Adamant Media Corporation, paperback
2010 - Cambridge Library Collection
2013 - Folio Society Limited Edition, in 2 vols, and separate vol. incl. folding coloured maps

The Cape ‘Definitive’ edition of 1936
The Cape ‘Definitive’ edition of 1936 was published in 2 vols. in a format matching that of 1935 Seven Pillars in beige dust jacket (ca. £650.00 (2014))

The first Cape edition reset of 1921
This important Cape edition is entirely reset, with a new preface by Doughty and an essay by T.E. Lawrence. During the Great War Lawrence urged the British Government to issue serial parts of this work as a handbook for officers serving in Arabia. Following hostilities he lobbied to republish the whole book. Duckworth and Doubleday declined and eventually Medici employee Herbert J. Cape, who appreciated Doughty's work, took up the challenge and produced this brand new edition of 500 copies, being the first ever book from Jonathan Cape, Publisher, on 15th January 1921, sold at a nosebleed inducing price of nine guineas (about £1000 today). Six large paper copies signed by Doughty and Lawrence were produced, and a quick reprint followed without the Lawrence note, withdrawn by him "because it's in bad taste". HOWARD, Michael: Jonathan Cape, Publisher (1971).

> 158

Congratulations - a lovely book. I was looking at a copy of that edition (but rebound in fine morocco) in a London bookstore last week. Its a lovely edition.

> 159

Very interesting publication history. Thanks Faisel. I wonder why the Lawrence intro was deemed to be in bad taste ? If its the same intro as the one included in the FS edition, it seems pretty harmless.

The book with its companions - thanks ironjaw, for the interesting publication data!

And another:

That's a very nice copy indeed

>159 ironjaw:

Excellent research, Faisel, and very interesting. Thanks. Are you aiming to collect them all?

Thanks for the info!

Arabia Deserta was the third limited edition I purchased and I am so glad I did! It has made me absolutely ravenous for similar fate and I have been busily acquiring all those travelogues of exploration in the near and Middle East which date to the turn of the century. The footnotes of Layard's Ninevah and Babylon were very helpful in that respect....

I have to say, I appreciate the LE more and more. At the time of purchase, I thought the map was dead-weight which nevertheless inflated the price, but I find myself studying it's liner(?) notes wanting to know more. Geology, especially, was something I'd never really considered before in my travels.

169: Them's fighting words! Well, to be honest, I can't say that Twain today would not be considered controversial, but then again he always was. As for racism, Twain himself said

"I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me."

Here's one (of many) articles on Twain

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-mark-twain-racism-20140519-stor...

"Mark Twain was a man of his times who reported on things as he saw them. He ridiculed and made fun of everybody, indiscriminate in his criticisms. I mean, he wrote these things 150 years ago, at a time when this was how most people thought. Twain wrote to be funny and controversial, like the comedians of our era who routinely insult audiences. He was the Lenny Bruce of his day."

Well, that's at least how some people see him. I would like to know where and how you came to the conclusion that he is "racist and a bit of an asshole".

>166 boldface:

Why thank you my dear friend. You know that I'm a Lawrence fan so, any reference to him and so forth is always an interesting pursuit, and then I also find everything about travel in that time in the middle east an interesting read. Call me odd but I find researching editions fascinating. I'm using these collected information for my LT book collection. I try to find as much info about a given title and add these to the comment field. Much like you have done yourself :)

>167 jlallred2000:

How fascinating. Would list these editions as already explained I find travelogues of exploration a must acquisition for my collection around the turn of the century. I actually collect The Royal Geographical Society's Hints for Travellers. I have three editions the earliest 1878. These editions were given out to travellers by the Society so they could gather properly and accurately geographic and astronomic data. A revised edition solely for antarctic was created especially for the Discovery Edition 1901 called The Antarctic Manual

>170 astropi:

I haven't read Twain so I was a bit surprised by that quote but indeed I am pleased to hear about his manner of thinking and that quote surely is one of the best I read so far and deserves well respect. My mother is from India and living and growing up in Denmark you assimilate to Danish values and culture so I was indeed shocked to hear when I went to University in the UK from a fellow Indian about the caste system. All I can say is my stomach turned. How repulsive.

>172 EclecticIndulgence: Twain stipulated that his autobiography should wait until 100 years after his death, so it's coming out now. 2 volumes so far.

Yes, I have it. It's published by one of the American university presses and it's also online. I'm away from home at the moment, so I'm afraid I can't give you any more details.

172: You're the first, and only person, I've heard call Twain an "asshole". If you're going to do that, I think you should have some concrete evidence rather than just "well, I really didn't like the vibe in that one book of his". I have not read "The Innocents Abroad", although I probably will at some point. Of the 4 or so Twain novels I have read, I see nothing really negative about the man. In fact, I hold a rather favorable opinion of him for quite a few reasons. I will say that he was very sarcastic, so if you don't understand sarcasm, you probably will not enjoy his works.

I have to admit I am no fan of Twain either. I wouldn't go as far as to call him an a-hole, but I have never really connected with the man or his work.He has always struck me as arrogant, self-important, curmudgeonly, and yes, sarcastic. I may just be biased against him for his literary attacks on two of my great heroes, Jane Austen and George Eliot, who as authors far surpassed him (just my opinion of course).

I do not believe Twain was a racist, but it is not an unreasonable or uncommon conclusion to draw from a reading of some of his work. His work was of a time of course, and there are things he wrote which some find offensive today, and many do still accuse him of racism. Personally, despite my feelings about the man and his work, I don't hold to that view.To give him credit, whilst some of his characters displayed racist attitudes (Huck Finn was a satire of racist attitudes) , he never did personally. Quite the contrary, he spoke of the American "shame" of race relations following the abolition of slavery. He even paid for the education of several black students, saying "“We have ground the manhood out of them, & the shame is ours, not theirs, & we should pay for it.”

> 178

Well, I would add that attacks on the literati by the literati aren't all that rare...
That's part of the fun. As long as it's words only, sans violence.

One of those 'last chance to buy' emails from FS received this morning; Travels in Arabia Deserta is down to eight copies remaining...

>180 davidjbrown10: Sold Out.

>181 bookfair_e: Gosh, those last eight bolted at full camel-racing speed.

It looks as though The Golden Ass will be the next to sell out, unless the White Rabbit gets a move on.

>182 cronshaw: It looks as though The Golden Ass will be the next to sell out

The Golden Ass has been threatening to be the next LE to sell out for what seems a very long time.

I was able to purchase a mint condition of this set online from a British bookseller on the abebooks.co.uk website last week.

The price I paid was just US$ 436.17 ($418.29 for item + $17.88 for shipping to California, USA), which I found to be a bargain (anything close to 1/2 the original price for a Folio Society LE in fine or mint condition I consider a bargain)

Now waiting excitedly for the book set to arrive.

>184 folio_fl_and_ep: WOW that is a heck of a deal. I’ve been keeping my eye out for two years and have never personally seen a good condition copy in that price range. Great find congrats!

So as was announced in the Dracula LE thread FS mysteriously found 6 additional copies of this LE at the bottom of a drawer. I've purchased one and vmb443 has as well as one other anonymous person. Who will get the (for now) last three?

Really excited to finally receive this. I've been after it for a few years and it just hasn't come together. This is everything a FS LE should be in my eyes.

I thought it a good idea to move this over to it's own thread and leave the Dracula thread to the discussion of that book.

>186 Sorion: im massively tempted by this, it looks like the type of LE which the FS dont seem to do that much anymore
im going to sleep on it, and if there are copies left in the morning, i may take the plunge

>186 Sorion: Down to two now :-)

>187 stumc: Hope it lasts for you!

>188 Dr.Fiddy: Nice, Good decision! (post enablement reassurance achieved.)

>186 Sorion: I too was pleasantly surprised by these ‘fresh’ copies. I’ve been sort of in the market for this LE as it is the one I’m most enamored with. I took a good, hard look today and in the end decided against it. All-in it would cost me north of €600.- and while I can just afford it, I can’t justify the price to myself. The Riddley Walker being the other LE I coveted, I removed it from my wishlist this Summer due too its size. As the sale price could not be beaten I definitely ended my pursuit. I learned that limited editions are out of my range, unless I find bargain priced ones. And I’m fine with that realization, as the standard to fine editions FS puts out are already of a quality hardly matched.

>190 NLNils:

Here is a suggestion:

Travels in Arabia Deserta is certainly one of the finest travel books ever written but you will not read this in its entirety nor will the vast majority of readers. There are vast swaths of this book that are tedious reading at best and downright boring at worst. It may be blasphemy but this is certainly one of those books that benefits greatly from a rigorous and judicious abridgment.

Edward Garnett (1868-1937), a noted British critic and publisher, did just that. Garnett is best known for his discovery, support and advocacy of several of the most important British literary figures of this period including John Galsworthy, Ford Madox Ford, D.H. Lawrence and Joseph Conrad. His abridgment of 'Arabia Deserta' greatly improves one's reading of it with minimal loss of information. The Garnett abridgment was utilized in the Limited Editions Club edition (1953) and it is one of the best of the later LEC editions, with illustrations by Edy Legrand made along the same travel route taken by Doughty. It features an innovative binding with fine linen cloth-covered boards and a wraparound envelope-like flap that simulates a travel portfolio and it was letterpress printed on Curtis special paper (fine quality). Collectible copies can always be found for less than $100.

>190 NLNils: good bargains can be found, albeit not « deep » ones. I remember getting mine for around 650 AUD ( 350 GBP ).

>191 dlphcoracl:
I read both volumes of Arabia Deserta from cover to cover and found it fascinating. He was an extraordinarily brave (intrepid, foolish?) adventurer who came close to being murdered numerous times.

>193 wcarter: Me too. One of my favourite LEs in both content and form. But I admit to having eclectic taste.

>189 Sorion: woke up to find its sold out! probably a good thing as it would have been my fifth LE this year, which would have been a bit excessive.
i will keep an eye out for it on the secondary market

>195 stumc:

Never mind. There's always next year. . . .

(10/10/2020: HEADLINE: FOLIO FINDS SIX MORE COPIES OF ARABIA DESERTA AT BACK OF WAREHOUSE!)

A good looking copy (fine/near fine) has just been listed on ebay.co.uk for auction commencing at £465 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333358880583
Number 55 of 780

(No connection to seller etc)

>189 Sorion: Thanks! I think this will be a great upgrade/supplement to my copy of Thesiger in Arabia...

Amazing, I have a copy and will always buy travel literature. I’m also quite a sucker for anything T.E. Lawrence

>193 wcarter: I'm with you, Warwick. The archaic prose style takes a little getting used to, but once you're used to it, it's an extraordinary, gripping read. I wouldn't want to have curtailed the pleasure with an abridgement and I've never come across an edition as comprehensive, well-illustrated and beautifully produced as the Folio LE. Worth every penny.

>186 Sorion: Seems like they opened yet another (smaller) drawer...
Now, it's back again, with one more in stock...

Just pulled the trigger as this edition looks like a beautiful production; in my opinion far superior to the design of the LEC. I hope I won't regret it.

>202 SebRinelli: Congrats! I’m eagerly waiting for mine too...

>201 Dr.Fiddy: cant believe i missed it (again)
ah well, Dracula should arrive today as a consolation

>204 stumc:

Don't worry, there'll be another one along shortly, possibly before they find 50 Pomonas.

>205 folio_books: every now and again i think "should i have purchased Pomona in the sale?"

>206 stumc: Why should somebody want that if he or she is not particularly fond of apples or facsimiles of naturalist books? There are so many other wonderful books out there waiting for you to get purchased!

I appreciate and understand that there are people who enjoy and treasure the Pomona. It has the attributes of a classic Folio Limited Edition. Thing is, a book about pears by definition targets a very narrow demographic. I think that's what Folio forgot when they published it, hence the increasingly desperate attempts to "lose" the remaining copies. I certainly don't believe they've sold anywhere near the number they claim for this year. All that achieves is to seriously damage their public credibility.

I'll try very hard not to mention the H. P*m*n* again, promise.

Go on Glenn, buy one. You know you want to. You'll probably get a low number. It's likely more useful than, say, the Surinam Album, which I haven't reopened since the day I bought it. When you've seen one blue-bummed bandicoot you've seen 'em all.

>209 Jayked:

If they dropped the price low enough, I would. It's a Folio LE after all. But it's one of those where a 50% reduction doesn't even get close. Anyway, they've sold out. Haven't they?

>209 Jayked: When you've seen one blue-bummed bandicoot you've seen 'em all.

Was it gnawing on a pear?

>210 folio_books: "Anyway, they've sold out. Haven't they?"

Didn't you read the colophon?

Strictly limited to 980 copies, plus 20 copies hors de commerce and 250 copies behind a curtain at the back of the warehouse which may surface from time to time at the discretion of the publisher.

>207 SebRinelli: i dont know whats more crazy, to buy a FS LE about pears at half price in the sale, or spend more on a Dracula LE when i already have a nice penguin clothbound hardback edition!
the joys of FAD

Still no regrets here from buying my Pomona shortly after its release. It came down from the shelf only today, to indulge my curiosity about the Wyken Pippin, an obscure fruit these days but co-parent with the mercifully still widespread Cox of the excellent Laxton Superb apples I'd just bought at Aldi (other supermarkets are available).

>213 terebinth: Herefordshire Pomona is an awesome limited edition. It was always on my wishlist. At the time, I didn't have the funds for it, but now I have it via the sale. It's huge, heavy and packed full of apples and pears. Two days ago I made a big pot of cinnamon/nutmeg stewed apples and I was thinking if we didn't have apples, life would be horribly devoid of good fruit.

Here to Pomona and the ones yet to be discovered in the warehouse or in someone's truck.

I stay with what I love and I never have regrets. Once I do my purchasing research and decide how useful a book will be to me, this will usually determine if I will pursue a book. I didn't buy Lovecraft LE or even the I am Legend LE because I didn't see any point in getting these books for my collection. Everyone has their opinions, that's what makes book collecting so individualized. I'm beginning to think that a person's library can tell a lot about a person then any tester can achieve from a personality test.

I just received my copy of Travels in Arabia Deserta here in Germany. That was extremely quick considering that I ordered yesterday morning!

However, as feared I have some mixed feelings about this edition. The overall design is apropos. In fact, I couldn't think of a better one. The binding is beautiful and of high quality. I like the little details like blind stamped ornaments along the marbled paper sides. These are lovely as well. The very sturdy slipcase has a leather label to the back allowing it to be shelved backwards in order to avoid sunning to the spines. It is a little bit tight though.
While the ‘outside’ is just a perfect example of what I like about limited editions, the interior feels pretty standard. The paper used is Abbey Wove which they also use in many standard editions. I do acknowledge that these are already hefty tomes which basically prohibit the use of more substantial paper. Still, I am a bit disappointed. Maybe unjustified so. Furthermore, there are more interesting types they could have used for this edition. Currently, I am undecided whether to keep it or not. My fault that I pressed the trigger too fast in fear of missing out! They clearly state that this edition is printed on Abbey Wove.

Edited because of typos.

I made up my mind and decided to forsake the copy. Any of the devotees interested in it before I send it back to Folio Society? It doesn't have any flaws (I checked it) and is in mint condition, of course.

I am based in Germany.

>216 SebRinelli: I’d be interested, if no one’s claimed it yet.

>217 const-char-star:
I've send you a PM!

Received my copy today: #630/780
I’m very happy with my first LE :-)

I was mesmerized by the sepia photographs that were included in the Travels in Arabia Deserta. FS stated that these photos were taken from the Bonfils whose photo studio in Beirut provided the photos that illustrate many aspects of Travels in Arabia Deserta, as they would have looked in the author’s time.

The photos in that book made me want to look for similar photos and by chance, I came upon these two great books that were produced in Germany in the 1920s-1930s of North Africa and Arabia.

Note the links are for illustration purposes only to show the beauty of the photos in these two books. I have no association with the website and you can probably find these books cheaper elsewhere.

https://www.debooks4u.com/arabia-photo-book-1920s-w304-gravure-pics-palestine-sy...

https://www.debooks4u.com/north-africa-in-1920s-morocco-tunisia-photogravure-boo...

>220 folio_fl_and_ep:
Fascinating photos, particularly of Jerusalem and Beirut.

>220 folio_fl_and_ep:

Those photo collections are fantastic. Thanks for linking to them.

>220 folio_fl_and_ep: Beautiful images, thanks for sharing.