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No Reply Press

1c_schelle
Ene 9, 2020, 6:35 am

I just found a Kickstarter for Edgar Allan Poes The Masque of the Red Death by the No Reply Press (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/237275479/the-masque-of-the-red-death?ref=user_menu). Has anybody of you heard of the before or owns/seen one of their books in person? As their books look quite interesting I backed the Hardbound Collector tier.

2MobyRichard
Ene 9, 2020, 11:25 am

>1 c_schelle:

Never heard of them, but pricing looks good.

3ultrarightist
Ene 9, 2020, 11:07 pm

I've never heard of them, either. Looks like they have been in operation for a year or less. I'm willing to give them a chance. I pledged as a Hardbound Collector, giving me four hardbound titles. Thanks for bringing them to the group's attention.

4wcarter
Ene 10, 2020, 12:28 am

I went the whole-hog, and ordered the leatherbound edition. I am a sucker for leather.
May order more from them after I see this edition in six months.
Thanks for the link >1 c_schelle:

5kermaier
Ene 10, 2020, 12:37 am

Looks very interesting, seemingly in a similar vein to the Thornwillow Press offerings (albeit without their track record).
I’ve pledged for a hardbound copy, which I hope will make a nice companion to my copy of the South Street Seaport Museum Press edition of Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum.

6gmacaree
Ene 10, 2020, 9:11 am

If you're so inclined you can order directly through the press rather than Kickstarter -- I assume this way means more money goes to them.

7elladan0891
Editado: Ene 10, 2020, 2:18 pm

Interesting. Deckled edges give hope of nice paper, but the typographical layout is bugging me somewhat - that thin column with asymmetrical negative space (a LOT of white space for the outer margins)... It can definitely work, as with Folio's Letterpress Shakespeares, where wide margins let the poetry breathe. But LP Shakespeares have the room - they're something like 14"x11". Here the book is much smaller. Ah well, maybe I'll try it out in paper wrappers.

Edited to add: Their claim of Poe being neglected is really odd. On the contrary, Poe is published by everybody and their dog, both in regular and fine editions. There are so many different works out there, and yet new publishers usually jump into the game with 100500th version of Poe, Sherlock Holmes, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Dracula, etc. Yawn.

8sdawson
Ene 10, 2020, 11:26 am

Thanks for the heads up here. Backed.

9kdweber
Ene 10, 2020, 2:05 pm

>7 elladan0891: I just checked, and I have Poe books by ten different publishers in my library. On the other hand, this didn't stop me from checking out the No Reply Press and signing on to their Kickstarter (cloth edition).

10elladan0891
Editado: Ene 10, 2020, 2:27 pm

>9 kdweber:
Poe is surely popular. That's why, of course, he's a safe bet for a starting publisher. I get that. But I still find that boring, even though I'm considering getting a copy myself :)
But what really prompted my comment is the bizarreness of their claim.

11astropi
Ene 10, 2020, 2:29 pm

I really like the hardbound book! Although, $65 for just one single Poe story... not sure I can justify that. Tales of Mystery and Imagination is 12 stories, so that amounts to $780...

12kdweber
Ene 10, 2020, 2:51 pm

>11 astropi: The Pegana Press sold Dark Dreamlands (1) by H. P. Lovecraft and is now selling Dark Dreamlands (2) for the same price ($400). Makes the No Reply Press pricing seem positively enlightened.

>10 elladan0891: Couldn't agree more.

13gmacaree
Ene 10, 2020, 2:58 pm

I just received confirmation that ordering directly does indeed ensure that more of the money goes to the press and less to Kickstarter, in case anyone was wondering whether my guess was correct.

14RATBAG.
Ene 10, 2020, 3:10 pm

>9 kdweber: Ooh. Can you list them?

15RATBAG.
Ene 10, 2020, 3:10 pm

16grifgon
Editado: Sep 26, 2023, 2:26 am

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

17c_schelle
Ene 11, 2020, 4:04 am

>16 grifgon: Hi Griffin,
thanks for taking the time to post here and taking the feedback here into account.

It's interesting to me that Poe is dropped from the curriculum. We had to read The Black Cat in my english course 11th grade in germany. Even my realtively small library (at least compared to most other memebers of this forum) contains 2 editions of Poes works (One form the Etherial Vision Kickstarter and one from the Tartarus Press), but well crafted books are always welcome.

As indicated by Griffins post about the big support for the Kickstarter we should consider calling this forum the Fine Press (Enablement) Forum ;-) I'm looking to buy way more books recommended here than would be optimal for my bank account.

18lumi_ra
Ene 11, 2020, 4:11 am

grifgon

Best wishes for the campaign! I just backed for a hardcover. Can't wait to see more from your press.

I have a Trovillion book myself, "Love Letters of Henry VIII", it's lovely.

19astropi
Ene 11, 2020, 4:16 am

12: Have to disagree, to an extent. The Pegana Press books include specially commissioned and beautiful illustrations. The books are much larger. Also letterpress Lovecraft is harder to come by then Letterpress Poe. Also it's four tales, so about $250 if assuming $65 per tale. Regardless, I agree Pegana is very expensive. I will say some of the other NRP titles sound much more unique and interesting in my opinion.

20hiphopopotamus
Ene 11, 2020, 8:01 am

>16 grifgon:

Great to see you on the forum, thanks for the information.

I have also backed the standard hardcover option - it seems to me like an excellent and under-tapped pricepoint for a classic short story in letterpress (as do others, clearly, from the speed that the kickstarter counter is dropping).

I look forward to seeing more from you in the future.

21Sorion
Ene 11, 2020, 1:42 pm

As a fellow Portlander I had no choice but to support them in this endeavor. I chose their hardbound collector tier and am looking forward to seeing a local printer get off the mark in a big way. Also I'm a sucker for anything Poe or Tolstoy and can't pass up the chance to pick up both in private press formats.

22sdawson
Editado: Ene 11, 2020, 1:57 pm

>21 Sorion:

Oooh, you had me at Tolstoy! Or Dostoevsky.

>16 grifgon:

Glad to see your introduction here and hear a bit of the back story. I hope for great success for No Reply Press. I can not be the only one who is curious about the name though...

-Shawn

23gmacaree
Ene 11, 2020, 2:58 pm

>22 sdawson: I almost hope Griffin doesn't reply ...

24wcarter
Editado: Ene 11, 2020, 5:58 pm

Strangely, they seem to reply to requests very rapidly!
I have reserved copy "C" from the 26 leather bound editions.

>16 grifgon:
I have added Trovillion Press to the Fine Press wiki here.

25sdawson
Ene 11, 2020, 5:53 pm

26grifgon
Editado: Sep 26, 2023, 2:26 am

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

27grifgon
Ene 11, 2020, 8:17 pm

>24 wcarter: wcarter:

That's wonderful! I love the Trovillions' work. They have a wonderful story too. If I remember correctly, their hometown (where the press was located) became sort of a haven for fascists before and during the Second World War. They used their press to stand up to the local menace, at considerable risk to their own lives!

28ultrarightist
Ene 12, 2020, 12:43 am

>24 wcarter: Perhaps you should add the Jericho Press, too, which is also new to me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho_Press

29wcarter
Ene 12, 2020, 1:20 am

>28 ultrarightist:
Jericho Press is already listed, in the Active List, above the Inactive List in which Trovillion Press is listed.

30elladan0891
Editado: Ene 12, 2020, 10:29 pm

>16 grifgon:
Welcome! I'm glad you didn't take offense at my remark. Wishing you and your partners best of luck and much success.

Do you have any near future plans to publish longer works? Perhaps a ~100-page novella?

31grifgon
Ene 14, 2020, 3:17 am

>30 elladan0891: elladan0891

Exactly my thinking. So far, we've stuck to short stories and essays because our cylinder press is *extremely* low-tech. Each spread is inked and printed manually. Most big letterpress operations use Heidelbergs (which, after the setup, are basically automatic) or at least Vandercooks that have electric roller which are self-inking. The success of this campaign will probably mean that we can acquire (or rent access to) a better machine. We'd still want the machine to be hand-operated, but a self-inking cylinder press that could do 4-up rather than just 2-up would be nice!

I think after "The Masque of the Red Death" is completely shipped, we'll likely plan on something around 100 pages for our next edition — just as you suggest. We have a few interesting leads. The incredible Shakespeare scholar Stephen Greenblatt may be willing to write us an introduction to one of the plays. I've been in discussion with the Isaac Assimov estate about getting the rights to one of his works — they have been very stingy in the past with giving out rights, but for the reason of some "publishing politics" they seem receptive to us.

32ironjaw
Ene 14, 2020, 4:42 am

>31 grifgon:

Thank you for your update. I would cherish to see a production of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea or even Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet.

33SebRinelli
Ene 14, 2020, 4:48 am

>31 grifgon: That sounds extremely promising on the technical part. Fingers crossed. I also much appreciate your contributions here on the forum. Somehow, this interaction makes me feel more connected to your edition.

Please allow me fsome feedback on your plans to publish yet another letterpress edition of one of Shakespeare's plays. There are already many beautiful and very collectible letterpress editions out there, i.e. the one of Folio Society or the Limited Editions Club who have published Shakespeare's oeuvre in its entirety. Officina Bodoni, Julius Schröder, Shakespeare Head Press, Thornwillow, Cranach Presse, Alberto Tallone, Ganymed, Anvil Press, Caliban Press,... I guess the list could go on forever, have all published various plays or the sonnets. Unless you take a unique approach like the Barbarian Press did with their Pericles, your edition will most likely engender little interest, at least in my case.

What about Catullus' mini epic 64 (!), the homeric hymns, one or two of Orwell's essays (imagine illustrations done by Walton Ford!), Shelley's poems with some calligraphic work (hard to find in an affordable edition. Please correct me if I am wrong), or one of Wilde's tales (same like with Shelley's poems)?

I guess, I wish I could start a fine press at some point :D

34hiphopopotamus
Editado: Ene 14, 2020, 7:42 am

>31 grifgon:

I'm in complete agreement with >33 SebRinelli: on the Shakespeare, there is already so much choice... and I'm also in vigorous agreement with his suggestions too - one or two of Orwell's essays (shooting an elephant/such such were the joys) would be a particularly inspired choice; to me these types of publications, and by that I mean the *slightly* more obscure publications from authors that are extremely well-established in the more "traditional" novel canon - seem so overlooked by private presses.

I'd also like to see some more "modern" plays (ie less than 100yrs old) in letterpress, particularly with modern artistic interpretations - anything by Noel Coward and an interesting artist would have me camping at your door.

>33 SebRinelli: - if you do start that press, do let me know ;)

35dlphcoracl
Ene 14, 2020, 11:20 am

>33 SebRinelli:

Seb: Similar to Wm. Shakespeare's works, Oscar Wilde's short stories and tales have been published ad nauseum in fine and private press editions - no need for another. If you are interested in Oscar Wilde, I can make numerous recommendations for you to explore.

36kermaier
Ene 14, 2020, 11:43 am

>31 grifgon:
If you're considering Asimov, perhaps some Ray Bradbury would be in order?

37SebRinelli
Ene 14, 2020, 12:29 pm

>35 dlphcoracl: I would be delighted!

I know only of the Arion Press edition and the early Folio Edition but in both cases the illustrations do not appeal to me.

38RATBAG.
Ene 14, 2020, 1:20 pm

>31 grifgon:

Please
Please
Please
Please
Please consider Lovecraft's The Colour out of Space.

Thank you and keep up the good work! Best of luck and success to you.

39dlphcoracl
Editado: Ene 14, 2020, 4:16 pm

>37 SebRinelli:

Below is a summary of numerous Oscar Wilde fine & private press editions that are worthy of consideration:

1. The House of Pomegranates and Other Stories, Methuen & Co. With sixteen illustrations by Jessie M. King (1915). The Jessie King art nouveau illustrations are absolutely stunning. This book is difficult to find in collectible condition and it is expensive, typically $1200-$1800 depending on condition.

2. The Oscar Wilde set from Methuen and Co. (1908). This is a 14-volume set printed on hand-made paper with limp vellum and gilt bindings. These books are often sold separately.

3. The Oscar Wilde books from Charles Carrington & Co. (Paris): Carrington published a 14 volume deluxe set on Japan vellum paper with full limp vellum and gilt bindings in 1908. These books are often sold separately and they are indeed luxe. Be certain the book you are purchasing is from the deluxe edition of 80 copies and not a lesser edition.

3. The Ballad of Reading Gaol: numerous private press editions worth considering including: Old Stile Press, Roycrofters, Carpathian Press (the deluxe edition of 25 copies in full green morocco binding by master bookbinder Anthony Wessely is especially sought after).

4. De Profundis: Officina Bodoni and the Folio Society Fine Press edition from 1991.

5. The Fisherman and His Soul, Grabhorn Press, 1939. Limited to 200 copies. Stunning.

6. The Young King and Other Stories (1953). This is one of the oldest and best FS titles, with beautiful wood engravings by John Gaastra which are colored in black, red and varying shades of blue.Printed letterpress (I think) by the Shenval Press in Great Britain. Be certain it has the original dust wrapper, with a design that matches the design on the covers of the binding. Elegant little book.

7. The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, Beehive Books, 2018. This is not letterpress but the illustrations and binding design by Yuko Shimizu are worth the price of admission. Also includes a distinctive slipcase with die-cut, foil blocked design. Only $100 and for a large quarto-size book. Beautiful and a personal favorite. Link below.

https://beehivebooks.com/shop/fairytales

40elladan0891
Ene 14, 2020, 4:01 pm

>37 SebRinelli: LEC also published several Wildes:

1937 The Ballad of Reading Gaol
1938 Salome in two volumes in French and English; LEC's baby brother, Heritage Press, also did a completely different Salome exclusive (not sure what year)
1957 The Picture of Dorian Gray
1968 Short Stories
1973 Lady Windermere's Fan and The Importance Of Being Earnest

FS published several different editions of Wilde's works throughout the years, check the link below and search for "Wilde":
https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Groups:BOOKS_PUBLISHED_BY_THE_FOLIO_SOCI...

41elladan0891
Ene 14, 2020, 4:26 pm

>31 grifgon: I've been in discussion with the Isaac Assimov estate

Nice, wishing you best of luck with Asimov! Just try to avoid that double-s typo when conversing with his estate ;)

42kermaier
Ene 14, 2020, 4:57 pm

>37 SebRinelli:
And the Bowler Press edition of The importance of Being Earnest -- really nice little production.

43grifgon
Ene 14, 2020, 7:11 pm

>33 SebRinelli: SebRinelli: I agree entirely, both on the dullness of another Shakespeare, and that Barbarian's Pericles is the exception that proves the rule. Our interest at the moment is more regarding what Stephen Greenblatt's contribution might be. I've found that great scholars tend to allow themselves a little more leeway in the ideas they present in small editions than in big trade editions. I think Neil Rudenstine's introduction to the Thornwillow Sonnets is a good example. But generally, I'm in total agreement.

To you and hiphopopotamus' point, George Orwell would be fantastic. His estate is notoriously reluctant to give out rights. I have tried and will keep trying. The other one is Borges' estate. But I'll keep knocking on that door until they let me in.

>35 dlphcoracl: dlphcoracl: I am studying your list of recommendations carefully. I really like the Arion illustrations. Is there anything by Wilde that you think has been seriously overlooked by publishers (fine and otherwise)?

>36 kermaier: kermaier: Absolutely! Ray Bradbury is a personal favorite of mine, and his work can inspire such great art.

>41 elladan0891: elladan0891: This is what happens when you post during the halftime of an extremely close Trail Blazers game. Thanks for the help: I hereby declare you an honorary editor of No Reply Press. Welcome to the team! (I've just panic-searched my correspondence with the estate and thankfully not a superfluous S in sight.) :D

44supercell
Editado: mayo 4, 2020, 5:36 pm

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

45dlphcoracl
Editado: Ene 14, 2020, 8:00 pm

>43 grifgon:

No.

Frankly, Oscar Wilde is well represented in the fine & private press literature. I omitted the Arion Press book because SebRinelli mentioned that he didn't like the illustrations. Incidentally, the least expensive of the choices listed - the vintage Folio society book published in 1953 - is a jewel and the coloured wood engravings are distinctive and beautiful. The short story collection is also well chosen. Of the expensive editions, the Methuen & Co. book illustrated by Scottish artist Jessie M. King (1915) in the original blue binding with elaborate artwork on the covers is beyond compare, truly a desert island book - with prices to match (see links).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/JESSIE-KING-OSCAR-WILDE-FIRST-EDITION-1915-HOUSE-OF-POM...

https://www.nocloo.com/jessie-marion-king-a-house-of-pomegranates-1914/

46SebRinelli
Ene 14, 2020, 11:39 pm

>39 dlphcoracl: >40 elladan0891: Thank you very much for your recommendations! I will give them a carefull consideration.

47gmacaree
Ene 15, 2020, 12:01 am

Melville's Bartleby, the Scrivener might not be a bad choice. There's the Indulgence Press version, but it's a popular enough (and well-taught enough) work that there must surely be demand for more than 100 copies in the fine press world.

48RATBAG.
Ene 15, 2020, 12:20 am

>43 grifgon: Borges would be quite stunning, methinks.

49jveezer
Ene 15, 2020, 3:02 pm

>31 grifgon: Please, please, please consider some writers outside of the Western White Male Canon. As I've been writing about on my blog, The Whole Book Experience, the WWMC has more than it's share of books published by fine and private presses as it does in the publishing world at large. Maybe some Harriet Wilson, Ambai, Roxane Gay, Louise Erdrich, Ursula Le Guin, Anne Carson, Simone Weil, Woolf, Clarice Lispector, Anaïs Nin, Dubravka Ugrešić, Niviaq Korneliussen, Waubgeshig Rice, etc. There are so many to consider...

50dlphcoracl
Editado: Ene 15, 2020, 4:46 pm

>49 jveezer:
>31 grifgon:

Many of the authors you (>49 jveezer:) have listed are truly obscure and I think you need to separate the wheat from the chaff with your female author recommendations. Better choices, imho, may be a short story from Mavis Gallant, Alice Munro or Doris Lessing or a selection of poetry from Elizabeth Bishop or Jorie Graham. Publishing works from authors outside of the WWMC that few other people have ever heard of is a surefire recipe for a small, fledgling private press to go out of business very quickly. Feminist literature may be your cup of tea but it does not cast a very wide net.

51kermaier
Ene 15, 2020, 4:51 pm

I have a book from Michael McCurdy's Penmaen Press (1978, limited edition of 200 signed by the authors and illustrator) called Banquet, which presents five short stories by Joyce Carol Oates, Maxine Kumin, Rosellen Brown, Jean McGarry and Lynne Sharon Schwartz, with wood engravings by Gillian Tyler.

>49 jveezer:
While it's a very nice production, with very good fiction and artwork by women, Joyce Carol Oates is the only author whose name I knew already.

>50 dlphcoracl:
On the other hand, if the Penmaen Press was able to make it work financially 40+ years ago, perhaps others should feel emboldened to try something similar today.

>49 jveezer:
On the other other hand, the Penmaen Press printed a trade edition simultaneous with the signed, limited edition, which changes the financial picture.

>50 dlphcoracl:
On the other other other hand, if a trade edition was justified then, perhaps at least a limited edition could be made to work now.

Of course, Penmaen Press had a lot more history and work under its belt than No Reply Press has so far, so maybe the situations aren't as comparable as I've implied.

52LolaWalser
Editado: Ene 15, 2020, 5:37 pm

>50 dlphcoracl:

Feminist literature may be your cup of tea but it does not cast a very wide net.

Literature by women authors isn't necessarily correctly nor aptly described as "feminist literature". As for the width of the net, women authors address themselves to as wide an audience as white men do.

Feminism is a special topic and therefore addresses people interested in that topic, but not exclusively people of one gender. I didn't get from jveezer's post that they were thinking specifically of feminist works.

>49 jveezer:

Seeing the criticism you got, I feel an obligation to thank you in public for reminding us that non-male non-white authors worthy of fine press treatment exist.

53dlphcoracl
Editado: Ene 15, 2020, 5:57 pm

>52 LolaWalser:

I understand the difference between a female author and a feminist author. A number of jveezer's suggestions were indeed feminist authors, i.e., writers concerned with gender identity, female inequality, etc., specifically: Ambai (aka C.S. Lakshmi), Roxane Gay, to a lesser extent Anaïs Nin (erotica rather than feminist issues). I am not suggesting that adventurous readers should not explore them but I AM saying that a small private press just starting out can, and should, focus on authors (both male and female) with a wider and more general reading audience. The female literary figures I suggested will appeal to a much wider and less specialized readership.

54grifgon
Ene 15, 2020, 5:55 pm

>49 jveezer: This is a little "hush hush," and not yet 100% assured, but we are in the final steps of putting together an edition with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I heard her speak last year and was blown away. I got in touch immediately afterward and she and her agent were receptive. If it works out, we would be publishing an essay called, "Literature As Religion". Currently just waiting on some publishing house bureaucracy to clear up...

I mention this because her essay addresses EXACTLY the point you make.

>50 dlphcoracl: I've met Jorie Graham a few times and would love to work with her... Would especially love to persuade her to write an introduction sometime. Hopes and dreams!

55jveezer
Ene 15, 2020, 7:21 pm

>54 grifgon: Adichie would be a "must have" for me. Love her work. My list of suggestions were authors with short works that would be easier for the press you are currently working with. Of course I would love to see Half of a Yellow Sun but that would probably take a Heidelberg. We Should All Be Feminists would probably sell out quickly I'm sure! ;)

>50 dlphcoracl: Sure, I would love to see those authors. At least they are women, feminist or not. But I would be more happy to see writers of color.

>52 LolaWalser: Thanks for your words!

56Glacierman
Ene 15, 2020, 8:25 pm

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie? Who is that? Obviously not my cup of tea. If I've never heard of this person, then I don't run in those circles. Which is fine. Others do and others are obviously interested.

Which means that no matter what you do, you will gain the interest of some and loose the interest of others. That is just the way the ball bounces.

57grifgon
Ene 15, 2020, 9:52 pm

>56 Glacierman: Oh I highly, highly recommend her work! You are exactly right: Any pick of title is going to excite some and give others a big yawn.

58gmacaree
Editado: Ene 15, 2020, 11:57 pm

>54 grifgon: I would love Adichie. I'd also be interested in classical works from outside the standard canon -- Kalidasa comes to mind, as does Attar of Nishapur. Outside of Melville my main collecting interest is in Chinese literature, especially poetry, so I'd find releases along those lines irresistible.

In terms of more modern work, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston are under-represented in fine press. I will also take this opportunity to continue my minor quest to see Stephen Jay Gould given his due :)

59RATBAG.
Ene 17, 2020, 6:37 pm

And, backed! :)

But oddly enough, I wasn't asked for a shipping address, did this happen to anyone else?

I am - sort of - new to Kickstarter.

60jsg1976
Ene 17, 2020, 8:04 pm

I went back to my copy of Tales of Mystery and Imagination (the Calla Editions version that also has the Harry Clarke illustrations), and Masque of the Red Death is only 7 pages long - and not small type. Even assuming really large margins/type for this version, i feel like it would be hard to stretch this out more than 24 pages or so. I appreciate what they’re doing (and I backed them for the bookmark), but to me that is just too much money for a story that short (even with letterpress and and all the care they are taking to make this a beautifully designed/printed book). Hopefully when we see the longer format work >16 grifgon: references above it’ll be at a not-too-much higher price point.

61sdawson
Editado: Ene 17, 2020, 8:15 pm

Shipping won't happen for a long time, I think this was a June production date. Typically Kickstarter projects ask for shipping address just before they are ready to ship.

62Niurn
Ene 18, 2020, 5:39 am

I backed the hardbound and I’m delighted to see such an interesting exchange with the NRP editor. Thank you.

63RATBAG.
Ene 18, 2020, 10:29 am

>61 sdawson: Ah, noted. Thank you!

64U_238
Oct 13, 2020, 10:33 pm

Have any others received their copies?

I received mine and am quite happy with it; can share photos if there is interest.

65const-char-star
Oct 13, 2020, 10:46 pm

>64 U_238: I’m looking forward to receiving mine, but it hasn’t shipped yet. I suspect the recent break-in at their office may have pushed the shipping timeline a bit. Which state did you end up getting?

66kdweber
Oct 13, 2020, 11:39 pm

My copies were stolen. Should take awhile to replace.

67edgeworn
Oct 14, 2020, 5:28 am

Apparently, my copy was also stolen. Mid November at the earliest I understand for a copy to be sent to me.

68mnmcdwl
Oct 14, 2020, 9:59 am

I haven’t received my copies yet and also assume it is due to the break in—I have all 6 of their books on order and my understanding from the Kickstarter post is that the production of Preludes was particularly affected. I am looking forward to when they eventually come, and hope that the press is able to get back on its feet soon.

69SebRinelli
Oct 14, 2020, 12:23 pm

I feel very sorry for you guys and for No Reply in particular. What a blow!
I got my copy last week and I am very happy with it. Considering the asking price a printing job well done wrapped in a nice and very well executed binding.

70gmacaree
Oct 14, 2020, 2:20 pm

I'm still waiting on mine -- I don't think I've heard anything about it, but obviously with 2020 being 2020 some hiccups are expected and entirely forgivable

71c_schelle
Oct 14, 2020, 2:52 pm

>64 U_238: I haven't hear from them personally since August. Since I also ordered Preludes and opted to have everything sent in one go I wasn't expecting the books yet.

I hope they will recover soon from the break-in.

72U_238
Oct 14, 2020, 5:32 pm

I will try to take a few photos and share them. Was also quite saddened to hear about the break-in at their store.

73sdawson
Oct 14, 2020, 6:25 pm

I am still waiting as well. The break in has hampered this I believe.

74const-char-star
Editado: Ene 11, 2021, 11:22 am

It looks like No Reply Press is doing another Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noreplypress/a-scandal-in-bohemia-by-arthur...

This one is a letterpress edition of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes short story “A Scandal in Bohemia”. Some very attractive looking pen-and-ink illustrations, from what I can tell.

75punkrocker924
Ene 11, 2021, 11:44 am

I pledged for the leather on this one. The artwork looks beautiful to me, perfect for Sherlock Holmes.

I got the collector package on their last Kickstarter and went for slipcases, and was very happy with the books I received. My only complaint was that each was a little short, but A Scandal In Bohemia looks much longer, so I'm happy that's been addressed, and for a similar price.

76Dr.Fiddy
Ene 11, 2021, 2:32 pm

I pledged for the De Luxe version. It'll be my first No Reply Press book, so really looking forward to it 😊

77jsg1976
Ene 11, 2021, 2:43 pm

If I didn’t already have a letterpress version of this story (Thornwillow’s), I would have subscribed. Really happy to see them moving on to larger works though.

78jeremyjm
Editado: Ene 11, 2021, 4:16 pm

>77 jsg1976: Despite it's inclusion in the Thornwillow edition, I backed this as I particularly like the artwork.

No Reply also announced an edition of 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock'. This was also recently printed by Thornwillow as part of their Dispatch series. The No Reply edition is a larger format, and includes an introduction by Christopher Ricks.

79punkrocker924
Ene 11, 2021, 4:19 pm

>78 jeremyjm: I receive the monthly chapbooks from Thornwillow and got their Prufrock, which was slightly underwhelming, so I jumped at the No Reply Press Prufrock when I got the broadside advertising it. Looks like an altogether different/better with moldmade and marbled papers and the introduction by Ricks. I can't recommend his lectures enough, by the way, for anybody interested in great old school literary criticism. Many are available on YouTube.

80const-char-star
Ene 11, 2021, 4:20 pm

>78 jeremyjm: Yeah, they had Prufrock cooking for awhile, but they hadn’t posted pictures of the mockups until very recently. It also looks to be the largest format book they’ve produced so far (7 x 10¾ in).

81jsg1976
Ene 11, 2021, 5:06 pm

>78 jeremyjm: >79 punkrocker924: >80 const-char-star: well, thanks to your enabling, I’ve subscribed for the Prufrock, despite having the Thornwillow dispatch version, as this is qualitatively different. It’ll be my first No Reply publication, so I’m really looking forward it.

82filox
Ene 11, 2021, 5:39 pm

>74 const-char-star: The artwork looks amazing, too bad I'm not at all interested in the title....

83wcarter
Editado: Ene 11, 2021, 7:09 pm

Ordered the quarter-leather edition of A Scandal in Bohemia with Solander box.
Very pleased with the other No Reply editions I own.

84astropi
Ene 14, 2021, 10:36 am

I'd love to see some pictures from those of you that have a volume or two :)

85wcarter
Editado: Ene 14, 2021, 11:40 pm

86astropi
Ene 15, 2021, 12:09 am

>85 wcarter: thanks. Those are advertisements by the press, correct? I much prefer pictures by people that have the book and can point out what they like, or don't...

87wcarter
Ene 15, 2021, 1:28 am

>86 astropi:
No, a mixture of my photos and press photos.
If they do not satisfy you, try this -
https://www.librarything.com/topic/328752

88const-char-star
Ene 17, 2021, 7:25 pm

For those on the fence about backing “A Scandal in Bohemia,” be advised the quarter-leather De Luxe copies are 4/5ths of the way sold through with just 6 copies remaining at the early bird price.

89booksforreading
Jun 4, 2021, 8:26 pm

For these of you who might not know, today and tomorrow are the last days of subscription pricing for The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot (https://www.noreplypress.com/limitededitions/prufrock?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=60ba9cfe35bfda7a91928f62&ss_email_id=60ba9edf87efa338d055052a&ss_campaign_name=Prufrock%E2%80%99s+Last+Day&ss_campaign_sent_date=2021-06-04T21%3A45%3A18Z)

I cannot recommend No Reply Press books enough. Each of their productions is better then previous one, and I think that this is one of very promising fine press publishers in the USA!

The only association that I have with them is that I am a happy customer.

90whytewolf1
Jun 4, 2021, 9:40 pm

>89 booksforreading: Yes, the edition looks magnificent. I've ordered mine.

91kdweber
Jun 4, 2021, 9:58 pm

>89 booksforreading: Already ordered.

92ultrarightist
Jun 5, 2021, 12:41 am

>89 booksforreading: I second the assessment and sentiment

93ChrisG1
Jun 5, 2021, 11:44 am

I noticed No Reply Press is located in Portland, Oregon - which interested me, as I live in the area. Here's a short feature article about them from a local paper: https://www.southeastexaminer.com/2021/01/no-reply-press/

94kdweber
Jun 5, 2021, 3:44 pm

>93 ChrisG1: Hmm, I've been to OMSI, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, hiked and biked the Tilikum Bridge but I've never been to Ladd Circle.

95filox
Jun 5, 2021, 6:43 pm

>89 booksforreading: Eh, I think they're an interesting new press but the one book I have from them isn't great. I'll try to find some time and post a pictorial review.

96const-char-star
Jun 5, 2021, 7:22 pm

>95 filox: Which book and what are your criticisms, if I may ask?

97punkrocker924
Jun 5, 2021, 8:41 pm

I have several of the No Reply Press books so far and I agree with the sentiment that they get better each time, Prufrock arrived this week and it's amazing. Though it's obviously a finer book than Masque of the Red Death with marbled paper and an author's signature, I think my favorite is still Masque because I just love the illustrations with the black on red. I'm curious to see what they do next because so far all have appealed to me except one.

98ironjaw
Editado: Jun 6, 2021, 10:00 am

I also had an issue and contacted the proprietor and explained my concerns. I was told I had received a defective copy and a replacement would be sent. Griffen is attentive and understood my concerns. I was thrilled to be offered a replacement. They are getting better with each release and they are tweaking and improving their releases. I can't fault the service and fast response and I believe they are the ones to watch in this space. What's great is they are affordable

99grifgon
Jun 6, 2021, 12:28 pm

Thanks for the kind words everybody! We've certainly been working hard to improve with each edition, and we're starting to gain the confidence to undertake bigger projects. (I manage the press, and am happy to answer questions of any nature about our work.)

>95 filox: You're more than welcome to return the book for a refund, or to trade it out for another of ours if you want to give another a try! The last thing we want to do is saddle you with a book you don't particularly like!!!

>97 punkrocker924: Here's a sneak peek. The printing just finished after nearly two years of work on it. No Reply's biggest limiting factor is the press machinery itself — we use a tabletop platen press and a Vandercook Universal I proof press. Basically, this means that every page is printed by hand, and the impression is supplied entirely by arm strength. This proved enormously tricky for this next project, because the woodblocks are so big. So, each woodblock (I think there are eight of them) had to be overprinted multiple times to get the black ink to be, well, black. We're really pleased with the results in the end, and excited to have worked with two such eminent artists. (In the case of Michael McCurdy, we started this process over five years ago, and he has since passed away. I think this may be his final fine press project.)



100Lukas1990
Jun 6, 2021, 1:26 pm

>99 grifgon: That looks stunning! Wow!

101whytewolf1
Jun 6, 2021, 2:21 pm

>99 grifgon: That looks fantastic, and I looove Adichie! So exciting!

102jveezer
Jun 6, 2021, 4:18 pm

ADICHIE? *tries unsuccessfully to stop hyperventilating*...

103kermaier
Jun 6, 2021, 6:06 pm

Prufrock looks like it will be beautiful, but I think the format is too large for the poem, so I passed. I’d much rather read an octavo than a slim quarto for work like this.

104MobyRichard
Jun 6, 2021, 7:20 pm

>99 grifgon:

Ver impressive! Is there a preorder list?

105mnmcdwl
Jun 7, 2021, 6:26 am

>99 grifgon: That is some beautiful press work and an exciting choice in authors. It’ll definitely be another No Reply Press book that I can’t wait to order and see in person.

106SebRinelli
Jun 10, 2021, 4:41 pm

>102 jveezer:

Not what I would call a traditional fine press but letterpress:
https://www.toc.berlin/products/pre-order-now-toc-2-half-of-a-yellow-sun-by-chim...

107jveezer
Jun 10, 2021, 5:39 pm

>106 SebRinelli: Looks nice. I would love to re-read the book in that edition and see how it reads and feels in the hand. Too many other competitors for my book budget to justify a buy myself however.

108gmacaree
Jun 11, 2021, 1:33 am

>106 SebRinelli: Dear me, I think I'm becoming enabled

109RRCBS
Jun 11, 2021, 8:19 pm

>106 SebRinelli: do you own this book? I ordered it this morning but then later noticed on their website that the books have “sewn and glued binding”… which I guess is true of most sewn books. Still worried!

110SebRinelli
Jun 12, 2021, 2:59 am

>109 RRCBS:
No and as I said, I wouldn‘t consider it fine press despite the fact that it is printed letterpress. I own another book of the same printer and the printing is flawless, crisp, and has a deep black. However, in my opinion, letterpress needs to be done on beautiful and heavy paper to really shine. In your case, I would expect a high end hardcover signed by the author with a printing that is pleasing to the eye but no wow factor. For 138€, that is really good value.

111RRCBS
Jun 12, 2021, 5:53 pm

>110 SebRinelli: I reached out to TOC and they advised that the book does have a sewn binding. I didn’t expect fine press, but to me a sewn binding is a basic expectation at that price (not to mention why bother with letterpress then glue the pages together). They responded really quickly with a lot of serial and pictures. Really looking forward to the book and to their future output!

112SebRinelli
Jun 12, 2021, 6:26 pm

>111 RRCBS:
Fair point and I am glad to hear it is sewn. Thanks for clarifying with them!

113whytewolf1
Editado: Jun 12, 2021, 7:08 pm

>111 RRCBS: As I understand it, it's really not that unusual for books to be sewn and then glued for extra strength,

114CenturyPress
Jun 12, 2021, 10:21 pm

>113 whytewolf1: I think you're correct. From my understanding, almost all books that are sewn are technically 'glued' afterwards. For hardcover books at least, a piece of mull (cotton weave) is applied with glue over the sewn signatures to keep them together and the backbone of the book flexible.

Glue itself might get a bad rap if we're discussing something like perfect binding, where the pages are not sewn, and glued directly into the spine of the book. Discount paperbacks are typically made this way.

115Glacierman
Jun 12, 2021, 11:15 pm

>114 CenturyPress: You are correct. Some modern designer binders use new techniques that do not require gluing, but these are not by any means standard. The majority of hand binders stick to the tried-and-true that you have described.

116RRCBS
Jun 13, 2021, 5:25 am

>113 whytewolf1: Agreed, but I’ve been let down before and wanted to make sure.

117gmacaree
Jun 17, 2021, 5:06 am

>116 RRCBS: Mine just arrived -- definitely sewn, nice production. I think the type is a little too small and the paper a little too thin, but €140ish for a signed letterpress version of a novel of this length (and calibre) is a very good deal, and complaints seem a little churlish.

That said, I'd have paid at least double for a slipcased edition with nicer paper and perhaps a 1" increase in page size all around.

118ironjaw
Editado: Jun 18, 2021, 5:36 am

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

119RRCBS
Jun 18, 2021, 7:17 am

>117 gmacaree: I just got mine too and quite happy with it! They have a subscription program that gives you a book every month…not interested in that but hopefully that means that they’re planning on coming out with more books soon!

120gmacaree
Jun 18, 2021, 10:37 am

>119 RRCBS: Yeah, I'll be keeping an eye on them

121cpg
Jun 18, 2021, 12:48 pm

>114 CenturyPress:

It seems that a large percentage of books that aren't discount paperbacks also have perfect bindings. It's a shame.

122ErikSpiekermann
Jun 21, 2021, 3:04 pm

>117 gmacaree: the size of a book to read (like a novel) is defined by a few things: being able to hold it in your hands limits the width (our hands haven't changed since the Venetians defined the optimal page size more than 500 years ago); the size of the press is another factor: we need 8 pages in a forme to make it economical to print and bind. A forme with 6 pages or 12 is printable, but costs way more at the binders (I'm not talking about a run of 10 books, but 1000). On our Heidelberg Cylinder at p98a, where the TOC books are printed, we can print 8-up of this size (135x215mm; 5.3x8.5 in) with ease. Thicker paper would mean the pages wouldn't lie flat without two hands holding a spread down, plus with 464 pages the spine would be too thick for the width of the book. Good letterpress printing is not defined by the depth of the impression, but by the least possible deformation of the characters. The lines have an average of 55 characters, i.e. 8 average English words plus spaces. That is considered the most comfortable line length. Slightly larger type (as we have it in our first book by Deborah Levy) would be possible from a legibility point of view, but would have required another 32 pages, 2 formes recto/verso. That would be another almost 2 daysof printing, plus the problem with binding mentioned above.
We’re not aiming at the Fine Press market, but at people who actually read the books (thus contemporary authors) and want an object that is worth keeping (or giving away). Our motto at p98a.berlin is Preservation through Production. We can keep our presses running and we can train younger people if we make the equipment do what it was designed for: printing thousands of publications to a high standard of design and production. A print run of 1000 makes it reasonably priced. The books are carefully set in typefaces chosen for each project. No automatic line breaks, elaborate colophon, carefully chosen endpapers, cover stock and hand-printed dust covers. Instead of a slipcase, we have a cardboard box that can serve as slipcase but also protects the books in shipping. Blind embossing, head bands, etc are all standard.

123ErikSpiekermann
Jun 21, 2021, 3:07 pm

>119 RRCBS: we have more titles in the works as I write this. John Banville “The Sea” is at the proof reader’s, Richard Sennett “The Craftsman” is on my computer being typeset. One more to come this year, then at least 6 titles for 2022. Each one individually designed and bound.

124ErikSpiekermann
Editado: Jun 21, 2021, 3:30 pm

>110 SebRinelli: letterpress used to be the only method around until the 60s. Newspapers, brochures, tickets, magazines, books – everything. Good letterpress doesn’t need heavy paper or a deep impression. Kissing the page is how we learnt to print. Heavy impression would kill metal type and create a smudgy image. Thanks to the hipster printers in US cities, using polymer plates on their Heidelberg Windmills, letterpress made a comeback and thus survives, but at the expense of the art of fine printing. With no type to damage, people now expect type to be embossed in thick cotton paper. That works for business cards and wedding invitations, but not for books. Also, beautiful paper can be thin although that would be more difficult to print on.

125whytewolf1
Jun 21, 2021, 3:29 pm

>123 ErikSpiekermann: Hey Erik. Thanks for the "sneak peek" at the upcoming titles and the targeted number of releases for next year. I am very pleased with my copy of "Half of a Yellow Sun" and am looking forward to your future releases!

126ErikSpiekermann
Jun 21, 2021, 3:31 pm

>124 ErikSpiekermann: thanks. Good to hear. I have the privilege of designing and typesetting our books. Which means that I get to read first what Birgit, our publisher, choses.

127gmacaree
Jun 21, 2021, 6:09 pm

>122 ErikSpiekermann: A thoughtful response, thank you. I promise not to be offended by the suggestion that we don't actually read our books :)

128SebRinelli
Jun 21, 2021, 6:09 pm

>124 ErikSpiekermann: great to see you on this forum! I moved to Berlin a few weeks ago and eversince wanted to visit p98a.

Most on this board are very well aware of the printing history, tradition, and techniques.
I also think I described the quality of your printing in very fair words if not praised it for what it is. However, I feel entitled to my opinion, and clearly stated it as my opinion and I still feel that the results differ if you print on (dampened) Richard de Bas, Magnani, or Barcham Green. Wild Carrot, H.P.M. or Horton Tank are certainly no hipster presses but enjoy a stellar reputation and printed with a certain impression.
I think it is very unfair to compare their books to wedding cards.

129grifgon
Jun 21, 2021, 6:25 pm

>128 SebRinelli: +1 to your comments, thank you.

There are many, many splendid letterpress shops in the United States that work hard to bring the joys of letterpress to readers and book collectors. They employ a variety of choices around impression. There's no supreme authority about what on the bite/kiss spectrum is best. For my tastes, I think Phil Abel at Hand & Eye and the Elsteds at Barbarian Press nail it. Enough impression to see and feel, but not enough to make it a distraction.

My opinion: Without a little bite, what's the point in printing letterpress as opposed to other "kissing" technologies?

130ErikSpiekermann
Jun 22, 2021, 9:40 am

Yes, Phil does great work. He may well soon use our polymer plates and he prints on a Heidelberg very much like ours.
We do print with a bite, but not the deep impression that people now want on their business cards.
There are, however, physical and mechanical constraints when printing on a cylinder press. We print a full form with 8 pages. If we just had one small page in the press, we could pretty much emboss the type. But the pressure would have to grow by the square with every doubling of the page size. That’s the physical part. Mechanically, there is only so much a Heidelberg can stand before the bearings break. There are special cylinders for embossing and die-cutting, but ours isn’t one of those.
It is difficult to discuss the physical property of a printed page if not everybody has held those pages in their hand.

131ErikSpiekermann
Editado: Jun 22, 2021, 10:19 am

>128 SebRinelli: I am only pointing out what popular letterpress is doing these days. I am glad that polymer plates helped letterpress survive and, of course, we print with a bite. You’re right: why else would we print letterpress if not for a deeper impression and blacker black than watery offset?

There are, however, limits – not only mechanical ones as I explained above, but if you press small type like 9 or 10pt too deeply into soft or even wet paper, you lose definition. It’s ok if you print 14 or 16pt type as the Folio Society’s Shakespeare editions do. But our books cannot be that size, nor that volume, as they are meant to be held in your hand, not placed on a table.

If we printed books on the materials you mentioned and especially on dampened papers, we would have to print each sheet by hand, preferably on a platen press or even a Columbian or other antique press. But we want our books to be affordable and just offer that little bit extra typographic and printing quality that normal hardbacks cannot (or will not) provide. So we need a reasonable run (998 in our case) and we need to fit more than a double spread in each forme in order to be able to bind them mechanically rather than by hand. I own plenty of Fine Press books myself, but none of them I would read in bed or in a comfortable chair. Nor do any of them contain 464 pages of contemporary literature by today’s authors. The TOC books open a new category – not fine print, but quality letterpress at an affordable price. Post-digital printing with all the advantages of digital type and none of its disadvantages.

When I’m done with my work on TOC books, I’ll go back to printing a very short run of a folio with the work of Louis Oppenheim, a German graphic- and type designer who died in 1935. We have his type (made by the Berthold foundry in Berlin) in many sizes, from 12pt to 40 line, in metal and wood, and I'll print them from the original type in a short run on a proofing press. Not on dampened paper as that cannot be done on a proofing press, but certainly on heavy stock with a noticeable impression/bite, while taking care not to destroy the fonts. They are rare and irreplaceable.

132ErikSpiekermann
Jun 22, 2021, 10:09 am

>127 gmacaree: there is reading and there is reading. I read my Shakespeare edition from the Folio Society. But I don’t read it as I do a contemporary novel of 464 pages. Folio Society books are objects and then literature. TOC books are literature that also qualifies as beautiful objects, for a reasonable price.

133ultrarightist
Jun 22, 2021, 10:11 am

>129 grifgon: "Without a little bite, what's the point in printing letterpress as opposed to other "kissing" technologies?"

Hear, hear!

134ErikSpiekermann
Jun 22, 2021, 10:14 am

>129 grifgon: BTW: Phil Abel would take exception at being thrown in with “…many splendid letterpress shops in the United States…” as his shop is in London.

135ErikSpiekermann
Jun 22, 2021, 10:15 am

>133 ultrarightist: quite. You’ll see that our printing has as much bite as both legibility and press work allow

136ironjaw
Editado: Jun 22, 2021, 10:28 am

>135 ErikSpiekermann:
Erik, thank you for being here and sharing your thoughts and ideas. It’s rare we receive an insight into what goes into publishing and the decisions taking. I quite enjoy reading your posts and Griffen as well from No Reply and this makes it all worthwhile

On another note, when I was living in Copenhagen, I visited Berlin so many times, driving down. Loved the city and had such fun.

137grifgon
Editado: Jun 22, 2021, 12:10 pm

>134 ErikSpiekermann: I'm sure the Elsteds would also take exception, considering they're in Vancouver, but I don't think I said either one is in the United States. Rather, I said that they nail their printing impression. I don't think they'd take exception to that?

Edit: This gave me a chuckle — a minute after posting this I received an import duty notice for a pallet of sheets from Phil. Suffice it to say, I *wish* he was in the United States.

138grifgon
Jun 22, 2021, 12:26 pm

>131 ErikSpiekermann: I really like your approach to the TOC books. That "they open a new category" sounds right. It sounds like you're taking all the advantages of modern book publication — digital typography, machine binding, thinner archival papers, etc. — without losing the artistic integrity that most modern trade books abandon. In my opinion, that fills a much-needed space in the world of publishing and book arts.

Will TOC embark to publish original titles? In other words, do you and the TOC team see the company as an independent publishing house as well as a maker of well-made books?

139ironjaw
Jun 22, 2021, 1:04 pm

>135 ErikSpiekermann: On another note, I was pondering the annual membership of 12 volumes. I think your approach, design, ans signature with a limited 998 run hits the spot. Have you considered an introductory newsletter just like the Limited Editions Club as a companion printed on nicer paper and letterpress. That would tip me over but I’m still hesitant as I don’t know your publication schedule and what books are forthcoming. Other than that I like your approach.

140birgitmschmitz
Jun 22, 2021, 3:52 pm

>139 ironjaw: hi, I‘m Birgit and I’m working at TOC with Erik. As publisher I‘m working at the programm:
2021
Deborah Levy, The Cost of Living
Chimamanda N. Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun
John Banville, The Sea (nesrly ready to print)
Richard Sennett, The Craftsman
William Boyd, Any Human Heart
2022:
Claire Messud, The Woman upstairs
Wolfram Eilenberger, The Time of the Magicians
And 4 more TBA.

All contemporay fiction and none-fiction, most of them prize winning or with an impact on writing, literature and society.

141birgitmschmitz
Editado: Jun 22, 2021, 4:00 pm

Would you mind to explain, what is “ an introductory newsletter just like the Limited Editions Club as a companion”? Sounds like a pretty good and nice idea?

142birgitmschmitz
Jun 22, 2021, 3:59 pm

>138 grifgon: At the moment we focus on limited edition, but there are a few ideas for original title, some translation from German. For information about new books, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.toc.berlin. There are some great authors on the list for 2021: Banville, Sennett, Boyd.

143abysswalker
Editado: Jun 22, 2021, 4:06 pm

The Eilenberger title was new to me, and looks intriguing, so I thought I would highlight the full title for others here:

Time of the Magicians: Wittgenstein, Benjamin, Cassirer, Heidegger, and the Decade That Reinvented Philosophy

(By Wolfram Eilenberger)

144birgitmschmitz
Jun 22, 2021, 4:13 pm

>143 abysswalker: thanks. It‘s a brilliant book on brilliant minds. And very entertaining.

145ironjaw
Editado: Jun 22, 2021, 5:44 pm

>140 birgitmschmitz:
Dear Birgit, guten Abend!
Thank you for coming here online on LibraryThing to share your schedule and thoughts. I appreciate you and Erik taking your time to connect with prospective readers such as myself. Your venture excites me very much and the publishing list sounds quite interesting though I must admit I have not read any of them as my interests are more towards non-fiction but I am slowly and progressively working through fiction to become an all rounded individual. But that's the purpose of being here to find authors and books unfamiliar to one self.

What I find appealing is that you include the author's signature, limitation, ribbon marker, letterpress, uniform binding as well as affordability. The price point matters to me so it sparks my interest that you can provide all this while also being affordable. Could you care to share whether the spines are Smythe sewn or glued? Also have you thought about including Man Booker prize titles? Or would that increase the price?

With regards to the letters, I was referring to the American publisher Limited Editions Club (LEC) founded by George Macy in 1929 that published one fine press book a month on subscription and with their books included an A4 newsletter named Monthly Letter that included information on the book, author, illustrations, paper, printing and publication as well interesting tidbits and notes. They were and still are a delight to read and formed an introduction to the book. I have included an example of the 1939 version of Hamlet by The Limited Editions Club, (myself being born in Denmark and having lived there for many years before moving to the UK) in PDF available on Google Drive.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Snu4URnvB3UJxcQvQkaZpzG23GCokEO8/view?usp=shari...

146LBShoreBook
Jun 22, 2021, 6:09 pm

>145 ironjaw: Their next publication is the 2005 Booker prize winner. I am not familiar with it but I tend to like the Booker shortlist books so will likely purchase that one when it comes out.

147ironjaw
Jun 22, 2021, 6:57 pm

>146 LBShoreBook: that’s good news. I must admit I haven’t checked all the titles in the list provided by Birgit. I only looked one or two so I’m happy to hear this. How are you finding your TOC edition?

148LBShoreBook
Jun 22, 2021, 7:32 pm

>147 ironjaw: I like it. I think the descriptions on these boards are accurate - the cover and paper are pretty basic but there are nice touches throughout - they even have a few pages at the end that describe the font and why chosen, why they chose the cover art, etc. It's priced pretty well for what it is.

149ironjaw
Jun 23, 2021, 3:55 am

>148 LBShoreBook: which one did you buy?

150birgitmschmitz
Editado: Jun 23, 2021, 4:10 am

>145 ironjaw: wow. This is a great suggestion.
For the binding: it is sewn. We will put more photos of details on the website soon. We have just won the German prize for Best Bookdesign: https://www.stiftung-buchkunst.de/de/die-schoensten-deutschen-buecher/2021/alle-...
They mention the very smooth “Aufschlagverhalten” (I don’t know what the right technical term in English is, something like light book opening 🤔).

151ironjaw
Jun 23, 2021, 6:52 am

>150 birgitmschmitz: congratulations with the award. I believe what you here a overall package is quiet unique especially in Europe (sad that we are out due to Brexit so I’ll have to whether I’ll be charged any custom charges and taxes when order from you). What I’m trying to say is that it’s a positive breath of fresh air from Germany when for the last couple years most interesting publications have come from the US. That’s always had me worry about shipping charges

152LBShoreBook
Jun 23, 2021, 12:51 pm

>149 ironjaw: Half of a Yellow Sun

153const-char-star
Ago 2, 2021, 9:10 am

Look like No Reply’s Above All Else Do Not Lie is available for preorder as of this morning: https://www.noreplypress.com/limitededitions/above-all-else-do-not-lie

154SebRinelli
Editado: Ago 2, 2021, 3:19 pm

Just placed my order. Beautiful piece of work. Congratulations, grifgon!

155ultrarightist
Ago 2, 2021, 4:21 pm

I also placed my order today. The woodcuts look amazing.

My only complaint with No Reply Press is that they do not live up to their name. They always reply to my queries. :-)

156kdweber
Ago 2, 2021, 4:52 pm

I've ordered a copy as well.

157SDB2012
Ago 2, 2021, 7:46 pm

I still can't believe I let The Masque of Red Death slip by.

If anyone has a copy they'd part with or know where I can find one, let me know.

158jsg1976
Editado: Ago 3, 2021, 1:00 am

In case anyone wants to read the commencement address that is the subject of No Reply’s latest to decide whether you’re interested in subscribing for this book, it is available here: https://speakola.com/grad/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-harvard-class-day-2018

159booksforreading
Ago 3, 2021, 12:30 pm

>158 jsg1976:
Thank you very much!

160ultrarightist
Ago 3, 2021, 4:20 pm

>158 jsg1976: Thanks. I am purchasing it primarily because of the beautiful woodcuts and secondarily to support the press, despite some of the political commentary.

161mnmcdwl
Ago 3, 2021, 6:36 pm

>158 jsg1976: Thank you for this. I had ordered this on the basis of the woodcuts and the author’s reputation, but had not seen this particular address. Now that I have, it only reconfirms my decision to order.

162ironjaw
Ago 4, 2021, 9:07 am

I’ve decided to skip this one, mainly due to the size, I don’t really have much space left, not entirely for larger volumes, but this does look wonderful and I was just about to add it to the basket.

163stopsurfing
Ago 4, 2021, 10:12 am

>162 ironjaw: speaking of size: how big is it? I can’t find the dimensions on that page

164grifgon
Ago 4, 2021, 11:38 am

>154 SebRinelli: Thanks kindly!

>155 ultrarightist: Sorry to disappoint ;-)

>157 SDB2012: I know a guy who knows a guy. Feel free to reach out!

>160 ultrarightist: >161 mnmcdwl: I really can't recommend the address enough. The project actually originated with the woodblocks, which Michael cut in the 80's but had never brought to a fine press edition. I feel lucky to have found Chimamanda's address to pair them with. It does have a bit of political commentary in it (leaning both ways, actually) but its overriding spirit is humanistic. Don't lie. Intent matters. Make literature your religion.

>163 stopsurfing: It's roughly 8'' by 12'' — basically a full quarto, big for No Reply but not a folio or anything huge.

Thanks to all who have shown interest in the edition! No Reply's final big announcement for the year is coming on August 16th. I don't imagine it will be particularly popular, except among those who read Akkadian... 𒂊𒉡𒈠! Phil Abel (of Hand & Eye) printed the edition, so the presswork at least is really lovely.

165ultrarightist
Editado: Ago 4, 2021, 12:15 pm

>164 grifgon: "No Reply's final big announcement for the year is coming on August 16th. I don't imagine it will be particularly popular, except among those who read Akkadian... 𒂊𒉡𒈠!"

Seems like an epic project

166jveezer
Ago 4, 2021, 3:12 pm

>164 grifgon: Hand & Eye is printing the new edition, not the Adichie, correct?

Can't wait to see Phil's Wind in the Willows. If information flow in any indication, he may beat the Mad Parrot to the finish line...

167grifgon
Ago 4, 2021, 3:29 pm

>166 jveezer: Correct 👍, we're happy to have his signature on the colophon. "Above All Else Do Not Lie" is printed by Jennifer Lawrence.

I also can't wait for Wind in the Willows. It'll be my first time reading it.

168gmacaree
Ago 4, 2021, 4:59 pm

>164 grifgon: Did y'all do a dual language Gilgamash? DID YOU????

169SDB2012
Ago 4, 2021, 5:13 pm

>168 gmacaree: Yes Please. It needs a treatment.

170SDB2012
Ago 4, 2021, 5:14 pm

>164 grifgon: How do I reach out? Consider this reaching.

171kdweber
Ago 4, 2021, 5:56 pm

>164 grifgon:. Only have one story in Akkadian but five editions; graphic novel, EP, FS, LEC, and Rampant Lions Press.

172_WishIReadMore
Ago 5, 2021, 10:01 pm

>158 jsg1976: Spoilers!!

>164 grifgon: Phil seems like a busy guy - finishing TWITW, working on The Case of Death and Honey and the companion volume, and now this.

I've also ordered my copy of Above All Else.

173const-char-star
Ago 22, 2021, 9:06 pm

>164 grifgon: Excited to hear more details about the new project. Phil does fantastic work.

174grifgon
Ago 22, 2021, 10:35 pm

>173 const-char-star: Thanks! Our announcement is tomorrow. (We planned it for last week, but we had to delay it a few days.) Phil's work is always solid. No Reply editions are always signed by the printers, and this one was no exception. I have several of Phil's past editions, but none are signed by him, so this might be of interest to the hardcore fine press aficionados.

176Stephan68
Ago 23, 2021, 9:08 am

I just pledged the Standard Edition in slipcase and chemise. When I read on Kickstarted that this binding is intended as an homage to Alberto Tallone Editore I couldn't resist, especially since I am expecting this week Poems form Emily Dickinson as my first Tallone volume.

177grifgon
Ago 23, 2021, 9:20 am

>175 const-char-star: It is!!! The response so far is really encouraging. As much as I love running projects like "The Masque of the Red Death" (my favorite Poe story) or "A Scandal in Bohemia" (my favorite Sherlock Holmes case), it's a little more satisfying to do something like Enūma Eliš.

For those who aren't familiar with it (most aren't!), it is the Babylonian epic of creation. It's very difficult to read, so it isn't often read. This new translation is rendered for the reader's enjoyment and understanding, rather than for academic study (as is typical). I got a lot of emails from folks hoping the project would be "Gilgamesh" :-) I considered it, but Gilgamesh has been done many times before and, in my opinion, isn't as good of a story as Enūma Eliš. Much is similar — battles, monsters. But Enūma Eliš has a subtlety that even 4,000 years removed we can appreciate. It centers around a dynamic mother figure, for one, and its characters have a depth which is sometimes (or, usually) missing in ancient texts. It's also a true epic — at turns riveting, at turns ridiculous, at turns hilarious, and well worth the half hour you'll spend reading it.

>176 Stephan68: There's no comparing to Tallone, but we've done our best here. I love the slipcase and chemise format. I think it's incredibly lovely and underused. It is also among the oldest codex formats to receive from a print shop (Tallone is almost single-handedly keeping up this tradition).

178Sport1963
Ago 23, 2021, 10:57 am

>177 grifgon: Bravo No Reply Press! Great move to go with the Enūma Eliš versus Gilgamesh. I just "kicked-in" for the De Luxe variant. Best wishes on your project.

179abysswalker
Editado: Ago 23, 2021, 12:41 pm

>177 grifgon: in for a vellum copy. This looks wonderful.

Do you know approximately what the page count will be? I can't find it in the Kickstarter page.

Maybe the cuneiform typeface will allow future fine bilingual editions of other ancient near East texts? I know you already pointed out the many editions of Gilgamesh, but maybe something like a cycle of tales about Inanna or the Descent of Inanna into the Underworld.

180kermaier
Ago 23, 2021, 12:46 pm

>176 Stephan68:
Same here! I've backed the standard edition with chemise/slipcase, and I'm eagerly awaiting my first Tallone edition (Shakespeare's Sonnets).

181ambyrglow
Ago 23, 2021, 1:14 pm

>177 grifgon: This is gorgeous.

I shared the link with a friend who isn't involved in the fine press world but is a professional linguist. She enthusiastically backed it, but she'd also like to know if there's any chance the new translation will ever be made more widely available in ebook form for scholarly/academic/student use. I could guess...but I figured just asking you would get her a better answer.

182yolana
Ago 23, 2021, 2:01 pm

Just pledged for the standard. I’ve never bought from them before and this is only my second fine press purchase ever (the first being Thornwillow ’ s Song of Solomon ), so I’m really excited to see how it turns out.

183SDB2012
Ago 23, 2021, 3:53 pm

>177 grifgon: Nice choice! It looks great! And did I read that you are the translator? Impressive.

Now, do I want the Vellum, or the Deluxe...

184ChampagneSVP
Ago 23, 2021, 5:58 pm

Pledged for Vellum. The marbling on the Deluxe looks beautiful though. It was a tough decision. Can you share who marbled the paper, grifgon?

185jveezer
Ago 23, 2021, 6:01 pm

That looks wonderful. I'm especially pleased with the Akkadian even though I don't read it. As a yogabhasi I only go back to younger languages like Sanskrit. But I love bilingual presentations and texts. Glad also to see a paper-wrapped option that might be doable for me during these slim times!

Best of luck with the book!

186kdweber
Ago 23, 2021, 9:58 pm

Great pricing for the paper wrapped edition! Thank you for making affordable copies available. Of course, I couldn't resist the Deluxe.

On a side note, I noticed that a new fragment from Gilgamesh was just translated from a relatively recent find in 2015. Any chance of a broadside?

187wcarter
Ago 23, 2021, 10:05 pm

Also ordered the Deluxe edition. Now we have to wait a year for delivery!

188grifgon
Ago 24, 2021, 2:08 am

>178 Sport1963: Thanks! I like Gilgamesh, but I love Enūma.

>179 abysswalker: I have to get back to you, as I'm away from our workshop and don't know it off the top of my head. I know there are three half-titles, four pages of introduction, and the poem itself is around 500 lines long. The book is longer than No Reply's past work, but not yet the "long work" we're working toward. (The unabridged is around 1,000 but huge sections of this are incomprehensible — the cuneiform is literally unreadable in the few tablets archaeologists have recovered — and about a third is sheer repetition. For example, the second tablet begins with the god Ea going to his father and telling him everything, word for word, that just happened in the first tablet. It makes for a mind-numbing reading experience, which is why sections like this have been abridged.)

I absolutely agree about the possibility for future A.N.E. textual work. My academic background is in these texts, and I absolutely love working on them. This is my second, after Thornwillow's Genesis, and it certainly won't be my last.

Thanks for the kind words!

>180 kermaier: The Tallone Sonnets is marvelous. I also recommend "Cantico dei Cantici" to anybody looking for an affordable Tallone to pick up. Yes, it's Italian — but it's love poetry, c'mon!

>181 ambyrglow: We'll absolutely make the new translation available! It really is meant for enjoyment, and not academic study (except perhaps as an interesting text for considering what entails proper "translation"). Good academic translations are plentiful — they just aren't enjoyable to read. For example, there's a particularly horrifying scene where Ea (the father of Marduk, patron God of Babylon) kills his father, Apsu, the primogenitor. In a typical academic translation, you'll get something like this:

He recited and thus caused to be upon the water
He poured out sleep upon him, he slept soundly
When he had put Apsu to sleep, Apsu being suffused with sleep
Mummu his advisor ... he stunned
He loosened his band tore off tiara
He carried off his splendor put on himself
When he had subdued Apsu, slew him.
Mummu he tied and barred on him.

Hardly captures the drama of the creator of all existence being forcibly put to sleep then slain by his son... There's also a question of what Ea does to Mummu at the end. Basically, he locks Mummu inside of / atop Apsu.

Here's the No Reply translation (from memory, so may be a bit off):

He put Apsu right to sleep, drowned him in sleep,
and Mummu, stunned, could see but could not speak,
and Ea took the crown, unfastened the belt,
and put these both upon himself
and held down Apsu
in sleeping waters,
and in a stroke
murdered his father.
(Then he tied Mummu with rope
and laid him out across the corpse.)

The goal of the translation here is to make the action clear without betraying the Akkadian. First, the horror of the situation. The son puts the father to sleep and then stuns the father's best friend (also lover?) so that he watches the murder but is unable to stop it, then binds the best friend to the father's corpse. Pretty horrible stuff. Second, the swiftness of the drama. There are places where the poem takes its time — this isn't one of them. Shorter lines, lots of "and," and a little scattershot. Third, and with most difficulty, capturing some of the rhythm of the Akkadian and even a bit of the rhyme. There isn't any set rhyme scheme or meter, but both are apparent throughout. Just take the first lines:

Enuma elish la nabu shamamu
Shaplish ammatum shuma la zakrat
Apsu ma reshtu zaru shun mummu tiamat

You don't need to know what this means, or even pronounce it particularly correctly, to tell that it rhymes and has a fabulous rhythm. A typical academic translation of the above lines would be:

When in the height heaven was not named
and the earth beneath did not yet bear a name,
and the primeval Apsu who begat them,
and the mother of them, Tiamat...

The musicality of the poetry is totally lost.

Wow ambyrglow, sorry for the rant. To answer your question, YES, we'll certainly make the translation available and we'll put it in the public domain for any and all to use. But I wouldn't recommend it for academic study — it takes some liberties, combines fragmentary passages, and abridges portions of little or no interest to the casual reader.

>182 yolana: Wow, we're honored! The Thornwillow "Song of Solomon" is wonderful. It and our "Enūma Eliš" are squarely at opposite ends of the fine press spectrum, so I'm thrilled that you'll have the two for comparison. "Song of Solomon" will be a great example of the work done by commercial fine presses while "Enūma Eliš" will be a solidly private press edition.

>183 SDB2012: I am — with a great deal of help by a few advisors who work in the field. I studied under Peter Machinist, a great scholar of ancient texts. In my first class with him (which I was thoroughly under-qualified to take) I was given a reading in Akkadian. It didn't have an English translation with it, so I assumed I had missed something. When I asked him, he grinned and said, "It hasn't been translated yet!" This is basically how most people learn Akkadian. It's actually a relatively easy language to get the hang of — much easier than Hebrew, I think. It's purely academic, of course, so much of it is slow-going with reference texts. I have the first fifty-or-so lines of Enūma by heart in Akkadian, which as you can imagine is a party trick which starts out great but gets real dull real fast. It's an incredibly beautiful language!

>184 ChampagneSVP: We're debating between two marblers — Zusia Dodin and Flavio Aquilina. Both are excellent. The paper used in the prototype (seen on the campaign page) is by Zusia, but we are considering using a very similar Aquilina paper instead because he waxes his, and the effect of waxed marble with the vellum is quite nice.

>185 jveezer: Are you familiar with David Eckel's work in the study of Buddhism? I'm considering approaching him about doing *something* with Ashva-ghosha's "Life of the Buddha," which would certainly include printed Sanskrit. (David happens to be the guy who introduced me to Luke Pontifell, who introduced me to fine press, so it would be a bit of a "full circle" project for me too.)

>186 kdweber: It's a great idea. One of the wonderful things about the study of ancient texts is that new stuff is being discovered all the time. The Dead Sea Scrolls, the most famous discovery, is just the tip of the iceberg. By the way — I highly recommend "Saint John's Fragment" from Foolscap Press to all interested in fine press ancient texts. It's a bit of a mashup, but certainly in the genre.

>187 wcarter: Should be much less! I fully expect "Enūma Eliš" to begin shipping by the New Year.

Thanks for all the kind words everybody. I'm honestly shocked by the response to the edition so far. Honored by all the support, and heartened to see interest in this wonderful piece of world literature.

189mnmcdwl
Ago 24, 2021, 10:16 am

Count me also among the backers—this time for the vellum. It’s another inspired choice from No Reply Press.

>188 grifgon: “I'm considering approaching him about doing *something* with Ashva-ghosha's "Life of the Buddha," which would certainly include printed Sanskrit. “

This would be absolutely amazing—right up my alley. I really hope it happens!

190NathanOv
Ago 24, 2021, 1:22 pm

>188 grifgon: "but not yet the "long work" we're working toward"

Well count me excited to see what that long work ends up being!

191SebRinelli
Editado: Ago 24, 2021, 4:51 pm

>188 grifgon:
I really can't decide which edition to take! The marbled paper is beautiful, but vellum for this feels right to me and then again, the austere looks of the standard edition invoke the looks of a stone plate. Decisions, decisions...

All in all, a truly wonderful project and an inspired choice! No reply begins to become one of my favourite presses!

192RRCBS
Ago 24, 2021, 5:02 pm

Probably a really dumb question, but what is a chemise and what is its purpose?

193Glacierman
Ago 24, 2021, 5:16 pm

>192 RRCBS: A chemise is a three piece hinged structure, usually made from binder's board, which encloses the book. The chemise and its book are then inserted into a slipcase. It just provides extra protection.

194kermaier
Ago 24, 2021, 6:30 pm

>192 RRCBS: >193 Glacierman:
I have several books with chemise-and-slipcase enclosures:

LEC "The Birds" (Aristophanes)
LEC "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam"
Allen Press "La Porte de Maletroit" (RLS)
Janus Press "Tragedie of King Lear" (WS)

I think it's primarily used where the binding of the book is limp/paper or otherwise delicate.

195Glacierman
Ago 24, 2021, 7:02 pm

>194 kermaier: LEC also used that treatment on The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter which is bound in a pretty sturdy buckram. I am sure there are others, I just don't know which ones. Your suggestion is, I think, sound, as that extra protection is certainly better applied in such cases. I think it rather more of an affectation when used with a sturdier binding such as on the above-mentioned LEC title.

196const-char-star
Ago 24, 2021, 7:11 pm

>194 kermaier: >195 Glacierman: Adding to the list, LEC’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner (bound in ostrich leather) also had a chemise-and-slipcase enclosure.

197_WishIReadMore
Ago 24, 2021, 7:23 pm

No Reply Press’ Truth also came with a chemise.

198kermaier
Ago 24, 2021, 8:30 pm

>195 Glacierman:
Agreed -- an affectation for the LEC "The Birds", which is bound in quarter leather over paper-covered boards.
>196 const-char-star:
Not an affectation for the ostrich hide, I'd imagine. :-)

199kdweber
Ago 24, 2021, 8:53 pm

The Innocent Voyage (LEC) has an illustrated chemise.
Palladio's Homes (Old School Press) has a chemise to protect the hand painted boards but no slipcase.

>188 grifgon: Yes, Saint John's Fragment from Foolscap Press is a different and interesting production.

200_WishIReadMore
Ago 27, 2021, 12:27 pm

I see an email update went out alerting interested buyers about the popularity of the title and the few remaining copies.

Happy to see the success of the project, but I wonder if I’m overlooking something - it appears from the project notes that the full limitation of the standard copies are twice what’s available in the Kickstarter. If this is correct, is it a bit misleading to say the copies are almost sold out if only half are almost gone?

201grifgon
Ago 27, 2021, 12:54 pm

>200 _WishIReadMore: Hi, it's a good question.

You're overlooking that the standard copies are split between two tiers — with and without slipcase & chemise. Each tier is limited to 125, together 250. (Actually less now, as we have been decreasing the number available on Kickstarter as reservations come through our website.)

So far, 198 copies have been reserved through Kickstarter and 9 copies have been reserved through the No Reply website, which means only 43 remain at this point.

Kickstarter is going to promote the project, and when they do the edition is likely to sell out in a few hours. So, at the risk of sounding like a used car salesman.... Act now! If I had known the edition was going to prove as popular, I certainly would have planned more than 376. I don't like when fine presses artificially limit supply, and wouldn't like to do so myself, even accidentally.

202_WishIReadMore
Editado: Ago 27, 2021, 1:02 pm

Thank you very much - based on what was in the description I added the 250 without slipcase to the 250 with slipcase and came to 500. It makes much more sense. Thank you!

I also didn't realize it could be purchased directly from your site; I imagine it's better for you if customers pre-order from there. But I can't seem to find a link for it as all the links in the email appear to lead to KS.

203grifgon
Ago 27, 2021, 1:29 pm

>202 _WishIReadMore: You can find the edition on our website at:

https://www.noreplypress.com/limitededitions/enumaelis

It's a great question regarding website reservation versus Kickstarter. I actually don't have a strong preference either way.

Kickstarter does receive a five percent fee, but I think it's more than fair for the services they provide. Pledges made through Kickstarter also build up the campaign and increase its visibility. This in turns brings new people to the edition (and to fine press in general — I'm sure there are some collectors on this forum who were first introduced to fine press through Thornwillow's Kickstarter campaigns). Also, they allow backers to change their mind before the campaign ends. (As a collector, I like this flexibility a lot. Interests change, financial situations change.)

However, reservations made directly through the website means more of the money goes directly to the press, which, as a thin margin business, can make a difference.

Like I said, I don't have a strong preference so I like to leave it to collectors to choose what's best for them!

204const-char-star
Sep 12, 2021, 5:58 pm

>203 grifgon: Fully reserved with 14 days to go in the campaign. Congrats!

205SDB2012
Sep 12, 2021, 6:46 pm

>203 grifgon: Congratulations!

206_WishIReadMore
Sep 12, 2021, 7:41 pm

Congrats!

207grifgon
Sep 13, 2021, 11:07 am

>204 const-char-star: >205 SDB2012: >206 _WishIReadMore: Thank you! I'm really floored by the enthusiasm for the edition.

208Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Oct 27, 2021, 7:07 pm

I just discovered No Reply Press today. Spent a good few hours browsing their page and bought A Scandal in Bohemia and The Great Man. Hoping to purchase Above All Else Do Not Lie next month! Sad I missed Enūma Eliš as it sounds like a fantastic production.
I signed up for their broadsides too.
Love love love what I see so far! and cannot wait to get my books 😍
I must say Griffin has been an absolute star to deal with. Very friendly and helpful!

209ironjaw
Oct 28, 2021, 5:13 am

Don't browse over to the Thornwillow Press website. I'm warning you!

210Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Oct 28, 2021, 5:34 am

>209 ironjaw: Oh I have! haha.. This is what happens when I suddenly have too much free time in my hands. I just moved to the UK for a fellowship and this interim time I have while waiting for my official start date is just bringing out the worst of the book craze in me! Both online and in physical stores. I mean how does anyone here not spend all their money in books? 😂 There are just so many many amazing antiquarian and independent bookstores!

211birgitmschmitz
Nov 14, 2021, 4:26 pm

After the discussion this summer I just want to let you know that our third book is finally out. We had big issues with global paper shortage. Now s beautiful letterpress edition signed by John Banville and with a very exciting font choice is available at www.toc.berlin

212What_What
Editado: Nov 14, 2021, 4:54 pm

>211 birgitmschmitz: I think you meant to post your comment over here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/333151

213jveezer
Nov 14, 2021, 5:48 pm

>212 What_What: They posted there as well...So they're all good.

214punkzip
Dic 31, 2021, 12:01 pm

Looks like No Reply's "magnum opus" (so far) will be The Waste Land. Interesting choice, given that Thornwillow has done it, but it looks like No Reply's version will be more unique.

215jveezer
Dic 31, 2021, 12:25 pm

>214 punkzip: Tough to beat the Arion Press edition. But if one loves the poem, it doesn't have to, it just has to have some Je ne sais quoi that another edition doesn't.

I don't know what philosophy grifgon has up his sleeve but I'd love to see some Simone Weil or some Marquis de Sade or Hannah Arendt, among others. And my personal holy grail, a letterpress Yoga Sutra in English, sanskrit, and Devanagari script. Can you even get type or plates of Devanagari?

216abysswalker
Editado: Dic 31, 2021, 1:29 pm

>214 punkzip: what makes you think it will be The Waste Land? Just the note about important 20th century poem in the recent email?

>215 jveezer: my favorite printing is Mardersteig's, though I think the Thornwillow half leather with paper boards is the most successful binding, with its suggestion of blasted moonscape.

The Arion is executed flawlessly of course, but I'm not so enamored of the design (though I also tend to dislike square books, so I'm probably a biased judge).

217yolana
Editado: Dic 31, 2021, 1:39 pm

>216 abysswalker: The email mentions ‘April is the cruelest month’, a quote from the poem.

218abysswalker
Dic 31, 2021, 1:55 pm

>217 yolana: that would do it!

While we are listing wishes, I would like to see a fine edition of Kierkegaard's Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing. Somewhat obscure, but would fit the developing No Reply catalog well, and is not too long, and people know Kierkegaard so it wouldn't be a totally left field choice.

219NathanOv
Editado: Dic 31, 2021, 4:55 pm

>214 punkzip: the more exciting part of the announcement for me is the trio of sci-fi classics!

I’d really been hoping that their Le Guin title would be one of the longer works they were teasing, but knowing it’s part of a set of three that’ll all be available together is wonderful news.

Anyone have guesses on what the experimental philosophy work is? That ones a bit of a head scratcher to me.

220SolerSystem
Dic 31, 2021, 3:02 pm

>219 NathanOv: Agreed, I’m very excited for some fine press science fiction. Look forward to finding out what the stories are. For Le Guin maybe Vaster than Empires and More Slow?

221punkzip
Editado: Dic 31, 2021, 4:21 pm

>219 NathanOv: I find the "big" book announcements more exciting myself as I think this is where No Reply Press will pull out all the stops (perhaps with comparable expense). I expect the science fiction trilogy (with its high limitation) to be relatively inexpensive but perhaps not as special.

I don't think there is enough information to guess the philosophy book. 200 pages is the best information given. It's also described as "grand" which might not go too well with the 200 pages. I have a philosophy degree and don't have any great ideas so far, again 200 pages does limit the choices though as most of the philosophical "classics" are longer - if a century were given I'd probably have a reasonable chance of guessing it. I think what will likely be "experimental" and "controversial" is the "striking" artwork ..not the content of the book. I'm not sure that philosophy and fine press mix well (when I look at the philosophy books I own, they are all heavily underlined/highlighted with marginal notes) but will almost certainly buy this..

222L.Bloom
Dic 31, 2021, 4:54 pm

Looking forward to some longer books from NR but I am most excited for the Eliot to go along with their production of Love Song which is superb in every respect.

223NathanOv
Dic 31, 2021, 5:01 pm

>220 SolerSystem: " For Le Guin maybe Vaster than Empires and More Slow?"

Both good options! I'd also add "The Shobies' Story" and "Solitude" as other possibilties.

I'm slightly nervous it's "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas," though, given it's been described as one of her most famous. I would still buy it, but I have some issues with that particular story.

224NathanOv
Dic 31, 2021, 5:27 pm

>221 punkzip: I am curious to see if they move to single states for all publications, or if they continue to offer multiple states of the higher limitation books. I would probably go for those if so on the science fiction ones, but I’m not sure if the single state of 400 Amontillado was the new norm.

225abysswalker
Dic 31, 2021, 5:38 pm

>219 NathanOv: the Vance especially. One of my favorite authors, and while Underwood-Miller has put out some attractive editions with excellent illustrations, I'm not sure there have been any Vance works given a top of the line fine press treatment.

226jveezer
Dic 31, 2021, 9:35 pm

A Fisherman of the Inland Sea would be fabulous for the LeGuin...

I would not say no to Direction of the Road either, my favorite story to have a tree as it's protagonist (no offense Treebeard). Especially since I may never see the Foolscap Press edition, much less own it.

>223 NathanOv: He said his "favorite" ULG story, not her most famous, I believe. That means it could be anything knowing how subjective favorites can be...

227jeremyjm
Dic 31, 2021, 10:15 pm

>226 jveezer: - Given what I perceive as an Oregon focus for the Le Guinn story, I wonder if it isn't something from 'Searoad' maybe?

228jveezer
Dic 31, 2021, 10:38 pm

>227 jeremyjm: I'd be totally down for that too. There's really nothing I don't love about her writing. The one about the planet for introverts (what was the name of that one again?) or Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight. It's all good. How do you narrow down to a favorite. That's why editors exist, I guess. I feel confident that whatever Griffin picks will be alright with me.

229Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Editado: Ene 1, 2022, 10:36 am

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

230mnmcdwl
Editado: Ene 1, 2022, 7:50 am

>221 punkzip: I'm the same in that I am most excited by the big book announcements. The Wasteland is entirely expected considering No Reply's love for T.S. Eliot to date. I have the Thornwillow half-cloth edition—one that I wish I had upgraded further for—so I hope that this version is *my* definitive version. I'm most interested in the philosophy big edition, and am curious to see what it could be. Only time will tell, but 2022 is looking to be an expensive year.

231Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 1, 2022, 10:45 am

What do you all think the Russian lit will be? Pnin?

232punkzip
Editado: Ene 1, 2022, 11:01 am

>231 Praveenna_Nagaratnam: It cannot be Pnin, which is written in English, and a novel. It's a newly translated Russian novella, likely very well-known as it is referred to as a "masterpiece". No previous fine press editions. It's encouraging that there will be a new translation - one major problem IMO is the reliance on public domain translations not only in letterpress publications (I've tended to avoid LEC versions of non-English books for this reason), but with FS (which is improving on this front, although the Monte Cristo LE was public domain) and EP.

233Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 1, 2022, 11:37 am

>232 punkzip: ah ok..Thank you for the reply.. I never realised Pnin was not a translated book

234jveezer
Ene 1, 2022, 11:49 am

>231 Praveenna_Nagaratnam: No, it's not Pnin. But seeing that I believe that is Griffin's favorite novel, I wouldn't be surprised if we see it sometime in the future from the press.

235ambyrglow
Ene 1, 2022, 11:55 am

So, um...how do we see this email? I thought being a No Reply Press Patreon backer would get me access to all their announcements, but I guess there's an additional separate mailing list?

236What_What
Editado: Ene 1, 2022, 7:14 pm

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

237Glacierman
Editado: Ene 1, 2022, 1:35 pm

>235 ambyrglow: Go to their website and sign up for the newsletter. That's www.noreplypress.com

238goldenotebook
Ene 4, 2022, 9:56 pm

>23 gmacaree: Ha! Ha! You made me chuckle with that one.

So far they seem like only of the replyingest of the presses.

239Esoterics
Ene 4, 2022, 10:50 pm

My guess and hope for the Russian novella is Notes from the Underground. I think it matches the description well, not sure if any fine press edition exists.

240goldenotebook
Editado: Ene 4, 2022, 11:26 pm

I just discovered this thread now, and am despondent I missed No Reply's Enūma Eliš. :-(

If anyone knows of a copy lying about anywhere, please do let me know. I'm in a PhD program and the cuneiform texts are tangential to my area of inquiry.

And thank you all for alerting me to the joys of No Reply and TOC. I'm pondering which to order from each press now...

241abysswalker
Ene 4, 2022, 11:39 pm

>239 Esoterics: there is an LEC version of Notes from Underground. It is more impressive in person than it looks in pictures.

242ironjaw
Ene 5, 2022, 9:11 am

>240 goldenotebook: why don’t you get in touch with No Reply Press or griffon here and see if your lucky

243Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 5, 2022, 10:00 am

>240 goldenotebook: I would suggest getting in touch with Griffon via email. I only discovered them after Enùma Eliš was sold out as well but got lucky enough to get a copy through a buy back option from No Reply Press.

244What_What
Ene 5, 2022, 1:04 pm

>243 Praveenna_Nagaratnam: What is a buy back option?

245Esoterics
Ene 5, 2022, 2:23 pm

>241 abysswalker: ah yes, the pairing of The Gambler and Notes from the Underground. Well, that can’t be it unless the description meant never printed as an individual fine press edition.
Other guesses:
The Death of Ivan Ilych - Tolstoy
The Kreutzer Sonata - Tolstoy
The Duel - Chekhov
Pushkin, Gogol, and Turgenev are also possible authors.

246Glacierman
Ene 5, 2022, 2:43 pm

Griffin is out of town taking some time off up in the mountains out of communication range until the 19th.

247jordanxn
Ene 5, 2022, 2:54 pm

>240 goldenotebook: The book won’t actually be released until later in 2022, so I would expect to see some copies available for sale when that occurs.

248jveezer
Ene 5, 2022, 4:07 pm

Haha, Griffin teased us then went off grid. Classic private press move. I like it!

I know it's too big for this go-around and probably for the near future but letterpress Bulgakov would be a dream come true. No Reply needed. (See what I did there?)

249Lukas1990
Ene 5, 2022, 4:12 pm

>246 Glacierman: Now that's literally NO REPLY!

250abysswalker
Ene 5, 2022, 6:11 pm

>245 Esoterics: Hadji Murat by Tolstoy is another possibility.

Tolstoy wouldn't generally be my first choice, but I would love to see a fine edition of that one.

251Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 5, 2022, 6:13 pm

>244 What_What: You can make an offer for the book and No Reply Press helps you send out your offer to those who purchased a copy and if anyone accepts the offer then you pay to No Reply Press and they sort it out for you. I think this only applies to sold out pre order books. Worth a shot

252What_What
Ene 5, 2022, 9:28 pm

>251 Praveenna_Nagaratnam: Ah. Seems like a lot of work for a publisher to take on, and not clear on the incentive.

253NathanOv
Editado: Ene 5, 2022, 9:39 pm

>252 What_What: yeah, very well might’ve been something Griffin did, but my understanding is that since the press doesn’t normally accept cancellations or returns they will still “buy back” those copies if someone asks to cancel/return and they have an interested party.

254jordanxn
Ene 5, 2022, 10:48 pm

>253 NathanOv: Interesting model. If they get even a small cut, it makes sense for them. They still only have to ship the book once.

255goldenotebook
Ene 6, 2022, 2:06 am

>243 Praveenna_Nagaratnam: @ironjaq--thank you! That's what I'll do.

You're giving me hope!

And it sounds like patience is key, since griffon is off the grid for a bit.

256grifgon
Ene 15, 2022, 5:20 am

Hi all! I'm returning from Friuli and judging by the bing bing bing bing bing bing bing of my phone returning to cellular coverage, it looks like I have 200+ inquiries regarding No Reply's big 2022 books. Huge thanks to all who have reached out for your interest. I'll reply to all inquiries over the next week or so, and may weigh in with more information here as well. I'm really excited about our first "big books" and the good news just keeps coming from our suppliers and contributors.

I hadn't quite expected the sheer volume of interest generated from our "End of Year Letter," so we may be a little over our skis here with the announcement of these editions. It's entirely possible, judging from the number of inquiries, that they'll be fully reserved before the public announcements, so please do reach out if you're interested so I can get you the information directly. My email is: griffin@noreplypress.com

More to come!

257realto
Ene 15, 2022, 11:02 am

>256 grifgon: Are you just circulating more information about the upcoming No Reply editions, or actually taking early subscriptions? And why do these have such low limitations? Even by private press standards, fifty copies is extremely low. Doesn’t this almost guarantee that some collectors will be left out? None of my business, sure, but seems to run contrary to No Reply’s stated mission of making private presswork more accessible.

Regardless, I’ve reached out and look forward to hearing back from you.

258jveezer
Ene 15, 2022, 11:02 am

>256 grifgon: That will teach you not to step away and go off grid! ;)

They need an ease me back into the work world app that spreads out your notifications and email over the first week back, haha.

259NathanOv
Ene 15, 2022, 6:54 pm

>256 grifgon: Well I apologize for adding to the flood, but just reached out about the April preorder!

260grifgon
Editado: Ene 19, 2022, 5:50 am

>257 realto: A perfectly fair question – thanks for asking it.

The limitations of 50 (as indicated in our End-of-Year letter) are purely a function of capacity. We can't do any more while still hoping to finish our work in 2022. Each of these books is going to be entirely made by hand – no Heidelberg presses which spit out prints at 50 a minute, no Martini sewing machines or other machine binding techniques to speed things along. Essentially, there is no economy of scale. So, 50 is simply the number of copies which I feel confident that we can produce without our 2022 book production running too deep into 2023.

To your point – "Seems to run contrary to No Reply’s stated mission of making private presswork more accessible" – I totally agree here, however we're not *only* doing these larger books. After a few years of doing small-size large-run private press books, we're basically splitting our output in two. We'll continue to publish these smaller books in large edition sizes with a 258 Yikes – 337 unread emails and counting...

>259 NathanOv: Fabulous – chat soon!

261grifgon
Editado: Ene 19, 2022, 5:52 am

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

262grifgon
Editado: Ene 19, 2022, 5:52 am

>258 jveezer:

337 unread emails and counting... If I do one a day I'll get them done this year, though!

263mnmcdwl
Ene 19, 2022, 7:42 am

>262 grifgon: 337! That's nightmare territory. One of mine is buried in there, but in my defense I didn't know you were away until I got the automated reply. Best of luck working through them—I hope the process goes quickly and you can return to more fun tasks soon.

264Levin40
Ene 19, 2022, 7:44 am

>256 grifgon: It's entirely possible, judging from the number of inquiries, that they'll be fully reserved before the public announcements, so please do reach out if you're interested so I can get you the information directly.
>262 grifgon: 337 unread emails and counting... If I do one a day I'll get them done this year, though!

You did kind of ask for it ;-)

265grifgon
Ene 19, 2022, 7:50 am

>264 Levin40: It's true!

266Levin40
Editado: Ene 19, 2022, 8:06 am

>265 grifgon: On the positive side, that's an amazing level of interest for fine/small press books which aren't popular genre titles...poetry, philosophy and Russian literature no less. Congrats!

ETA: wouldn't it be easier at this point just to publish the details here or on the website? I assume almost all the emails are asking the same info: titles, prices, how to order etc

267grifgon
Ene 19, 2022, 8:49 am

>266 Levin40: Yeah, I've been genuinely surprised, and especially by the number of collectors asking for information regarding the philosophy work. We'll see what people think when they know what it is. I'd bet that 99% of fine press collectors are familiar with the author, but only 1% have actually read the work. It's fantastic, though, and I hope people take a chance on it.

Perhaps next we'll do a philosophical poem in Russian and see if how many emails come in then. ;-)

Re: "Wouldn't it be easier at this point just to publish the details here or on the website?"

Yes, much easier. I probably will shortly after I reply to all the emails (which I've just started).

268punkzip
Editado: Ene 19, 2022, 10:07 am

>267 grifgon: I have a philosophy degree and have tried to guess the title, but not enough information for me ... I'm pretty familiar with the history of Western philosophy as well as the 20th century analytic and Continental traditions, not very familiar with non-Western philosophy

269ironjaw
Ene 19, 2022, 12:09 pm

>262 grifgon: sorry Griffin. One was mine but thank you for replying. You are doing amazing work. I showed my niece The Great Man ans she was surprised that it was printed in Russian as well as English.

270Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 19, 2022, 12:55 pm

>260 grifgon: Mine is buried somewhere in there as well... Can't wait for more details!

271Levin40
Ene 26, 2022, 9:47 am

So have all the books been reserved then? I still didn't get any reply to my email (not joke intended :-)). I guess I don't have much chance now given that there were only 50 copies available for some titles and people here have already stated they've subscribed.

272Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 26, 2022, 1:04 pm

>271 Levin40: I just reserved 2 of the titles a day ago... so there might still be copies... maybe try reaching out to griffon again.. with 300 plus emails he may have missed one or two...

273Levin40
Ene 26, 2022, 1:26 pm

>272 Praveenna_Nagaratnam: Thank you. In fact, he kindly reached out to me after seeing my message here. Seems like he's still swamped under many emails.

274jsg1976
Ene 26, 2022, 1:33 pm

>272 Praveenna_Nagaratnam: I just reached out over email too, so even though I am at the back of Griffin’s ever-growing email queue, hopefully I’ll hear back soon

275Glacierman
Ene 26, 2022, 1:51 pm

>274 jsg1976: and >273 Levin40: Griffin is experiencing the perils of success! He's reliable and trustworthy, just swamped.

276jsg1976
Ene 26, 2022, 2:10 pm

>275 Glacierman: Couldn’t agree more! He’s been nothing but fantastic in all my dealings with him.

277Levin40
Ene 26, 2022, 2:31 pm

>275 Glacierman: Absolutely!

278ironjaw
Ene 27, 2022, 7:58 am

Griffin, is a true gentleman - and wonderful to deal with

279grifgon
Ene 27, 2022, 8:08 am

Shucks guys!

280punkzip
Editado: Ene 27, 2022, 9:46 am

Adding to the praise for Griffin. One thing I love about the fine press world is the extraordinary customer service and relations. I'd extend this to the fine press adjacent world - I've received excellent customer service from Folio Society. The only time I've run into a problem was with my first and only order with Easton Press (not fine press of course) - this was such a horrible experience (probably among the worst I've ever encountered anywhere if not THE worst) - that I will never order anything from Easton Press again. No loss, as their books are mostly terrible.

281Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 1:59 pm

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

282punkzip
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 2:21 pm

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

283L.Bloom
Ene 29, 2022, 9:00 am

>282 punkzip: I'm subscribed to No Reply, am I missing something? Is there a super secret mailing list?

284punkzip
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 9:08 am

>283 L.Bloom: Did you get the end of year letter from No Reply? If you contacted Griffin regarding that letter, you would have received some information (apparently there were a lot of responses to the end of year letter so it is possible some people may not have heard back yet).

285kdweber
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 3:16 pm

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

286ultrarightist
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 1:44 pm

>285 kdweber: Edited because >289 TomsRiverNJ: is right

287jveezer
Ene 29, 2022, 11:45 am

Erm...

288ironjaw
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 1:47 pm

Nope

289TomsRiverNJ
Ene 29, 2022, 1:25 pm

It's poor form to vaguely talk about publications Griffin expressly requested should not be discussed until NRP's public release while winking and nudging each other like an overly excited in-crowd. Going around Griffin's wish to not mention the titles by providing shadowy hints to each other is disrespectful to him, frustrating for LT members who haven't had the chance to learn more yet, and unbecoming of this community's etiquette. And frankly, it does absolutely nothing to further discussion in this thread and is akin to lowbrow magazine gossip.

290L.Bloom
Ene 29, 2022, 1:38 pm

>284 punkzip: Thank you, I did receive the letter but I don't see anything about a secret reservation process in it...

291jveezer
Ene 29, 2022, 1:42 pm

>289 TomsRiverNJ: Well said and much more direct than my "Erm"...

292punkzip
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 1:51 pm

>290 L.Bloom: Just send an email to Griffin inquiring about the publications. Please do this sooner than later and you will get information about reserving. You are correct, the letter itself does not say anything about a reservation process.There were multiple posts about this here when Griffin returned from vacation but many may not have seen those posts.

293punkzip
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 1:57 pm

>289 TomsRiverNJ: Griffin is here and I suppose can speak for himself. I suspect what he meant was not to put specific information on, say, Facebook and no specific information has been posted anywhere, in addition this is a selective collector group to begin with which would be a fine presses primary audience, as opposed to the larger Kickstarter crowd. FWIW, at least one collector here who may be interested may have an opportunity to reserve that he might otherwise have missed - as a result of the initial post - and also giving No Reply another customer. However, if Griffin does think this is entirely inappropriate of course we understand.

294Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Editado: Feb 2, 2022, 2:49 pm

>289 TomsRiverNJ: My apologies if it was offensive. Anyone who reads the thread here would have clearly known though that there are 3 big titles with low limitations of which people were told to reach out via email to make reservations if interested. And there were plenty of discussions and guesses on the titles prior to this, and about reaching out etc. I admit I was excited and sometimes the excitement does get in the way. I was just curious to know how many people ordered them all. Anyway, I would hate turning this into a negative thread so will delete it. You could have worded it more politely though, just my two cents.

295TomsRiverNJ
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 1:59 pm

>293 punkzip: I'm sure Griffin will speak for himself soon enough. I'm a new member, but it's not hard to respect the feelings of others. It's a very limited run for all the publications you all are vaguely discussing and not everyone will be lucky. Discussing it indirectly is clearly not favorable for everyone, especially as other members have made it clear they have no idea what titles you're referring to.

Other members have protested against this discussion gently or by not posting about it at all (i.e., most of the LT Fine Press luminaries who we know are serious collectors). That's proof of LTFP etiquette.

Punkzip, you don't need to reiterate your purchases across multiple threads to guide people on how to contact NRP to inquire and reserve. Please observe:

If you'd like to find out more about the ultra-limited runs NRP is working on and are serious about reserving expensive fine press, please e-mail Editor & Publisher Griffin Gonzalez at griffin@noreplypress.com.

As some inquiring members have noted, he is backlogged with emails and may take longer than usual to respond. As an alternative, you can try finding out more by filling out this contact form: https://www.noreplypress.com/contact

296punkzip
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 2:11 pm

>295 TomsRiverNJ: See post 417 in the Lyra's thread by dlpchorcl - who is certainly a serious collector by any standard. I didn't post anything until responding to his post.

297TomsRiverNJ
Ene 29, 2022, 2:14 pm

>296 punkzip: One throwaway sentence compared to talking-but-not-talking about it across multiple threads. It's clear which type of discourse people have expressed more frustration with. I'll leave it at that as I don't think I'll change your mind. I just think it would help the forum if you stopped reiterating your points and purchases so frequently - it's objectively diluting threads.

I'll take my own advice and move on. Griffin will give final word. I hope a public announcement is made soon and we can all discuss the craftsmanship and publication choice with equal access of information.

298punkzip
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 2:26 pm

Since the post in question that started this was deleted, for reference the issue in question was a post (not mine) inquiring about how many of people reserved all 3 publications (without specific details), which several people, myself included, responded to without referencing any specific details.

299Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 29, 2022, 2:26 pm

>298 punkzip: Thank you

300Esoterics
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 7:24 pm

My perception was that reservations were not being made for everyone that inquires. They were initially being reserved for friends of the press and the most consistent supporters. I think mentioning anything prior to the public announcement is detrimental to No Reply’s intentions.

301PatsChoice
Ene 29, 2022, 2:30 pm

Do we have any updates on the shipping of "Enūma Eliš"? I see Griffin estimated shipping would begin around the New Year but I assume no one has received their copy yet since we're not all gushing about it. :)

302GhostOfKasparHauser
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 2:37 pm

>301 PatsChoice: There was a poll for backers of the edition asking if they would like more of the Akkadian text added to it. 97% of us said yes. This led to estimated delivery being delayed until April.

303mnmcdwl
Editado: Ene 29, 2022, 2:40 pm

>301 PatsChoice: It is delayed to Spring after backers voted to extend the production to print more of the poem’s original cuneiform Akkadian. I suppose the next edition to reach people's hands will be Above Else Do Not Lie, which was supposed to start shipping this month.

304Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 29, 2022, 2:43 pm

>302 GhostOfKasparHauser: Oh interesting. I did not notice this. Would that mean the story/translation part is longer too? If I recall correctly Griffin did mention that the original Arkadian tablets can be repetitive with each tablet repeating the story from the previous tablet, and his version of translation is more to get the story across for enjoyment and not for academic purposes...

305PatsChoice
Ene 29, 2022, 2:44 pm

>302 GhostOfKasparHauser: >303 mnmcdwl: Got it, thank you. Additional content is the best reason for a delay!

306GhostOfKasparHauser
Ene 29, 2022, 2:58 pm

>304 Praveenna_Nagaratnam: From the update sent in December, it sounds like they shall be printing the entire abridged text in Akkadian too, although the format was yet to be determined.

I hope this is okay to post here? From the update:

“At first we considered simply printing the entire unabridged epic in Akkadian. Unfortunately, this might have risked requiring so much paper that we'd run into supply chain issues — as has happened with our A Scandal in Bohemia project. Further, there really is no "unabridged" epic, as significant portions have yet to recovered.

We decided, then, to print the abridged text in Akkadian. These passages are the most complete, most significant, and in our view the most interesting. We have yet to decide whether to break the text into verse lines — to echo our English translation — or to present it as a running text, as would be true to the original. Decisions, decisions! We welcome any input on this matter.”

307grifgon
Editado: Ene 30, 2022, 3:43 pm

Re: The No Reply 2022 Books / Prospectus which I have slowly-but-surely been circulating.

The above misunderstanding is 100 percent my fault, as I'm sure I've simultaneously given the impression that No Reply's upcoming books are a secret, an open secret, and no longer a secret at all. My original plan was to announce these editions as No Reply has announced its past editions, but once I started receiving inquiries about them by the boatload it became apparent that a sudden announcement would lead to the exact sort of situation which I hate. Instant sellout – FOMO – speculators – etc.

I think the phenomena (which has been discussed extensively on this forum) of rights-for-sale, sudden announcements with artificial limitations, etc. are really bad. In my opinion (and I'm sure many will disagree), any business which puts people in a "Spend $1000 right now or risk losing out" is simply predatory. Intentionally or unintentionally! As a person with alcoholism up and down both sides of the family, to see handmade books being turned into yet another object of addiction is quite disappointing to me. From a business cashflow perspective, it really does not make much of a difference whether a book sells out in ten minutes or ten months. These books will all sell out eventually, and actually nothing is better than having stock on the shelf as it ensures some future low-effort cashflow. While presses like Arion and Tallone are sometimes slyly panned for having books sit on shelves for years, they have also managed to stay in business (the business of handmade books, of all things) for decades upon decades. If that isn't the definition of success, I don't know what is.

All this coming from the guy who set the limitations for his upcoming "turning point" books at 50! What a hypocrite am I right??? The upcoming No Reply editions, as I hoped to make clear in the prospectus, are so extraordinarily limited simply because there is literally no economy of scale for them once the type is set. So, with such limited books, how to avoid putting collectors in a "buy this on impulse because it may not be here in fifteen minutes" position?

I decided to intentionally slow the process down by opening up early reservations the old fashioned way – by prospectus with payment via invoices. ​The prospectus is ten pages long, and still I've received a couple dozen responses that collectors have read it more than once! Many have read it, slept on it, and read it again. This is exactly what I hoped for! Did anybody read the prospectus, initially plan to order one of the books, but upon further thought decide against it? I genuinely hope so!!!

The first collectors to receive the prospectus were those with whom I have corresponded for years, have met in person, or who have complete (or nearly complete) collections of No Reply's work. After that I have been sending prospectuses one-by-one to any who have inquired. The amount of thoughtful response has been really wonderful. The downside with this approach, naturally, is that it risks creating the sense that some collectors are "in the know" and others aren't. I really regret this, but have tried to mitigate it by posting repeatedly on this forum: I'd be delighted to send the prospectus to any who inquire at griffin@noreplypress.com ! I consider anybody who follows the Library Thing forum closely to be a committed collector!

I certainly appreciate the enthusiasm and excitement shown by the contributors here who are antsy to discuss these books! No offense taken at all by those who interpreted my vague "mum's the word" as "don't reveal the titles but general discussion is ok". I also certainly appreciate the restraint of those who interpreted it as a request for complete radio silence. At this point, I've probably been in touch with 90 percent of the frequent contributors on this forum and there's nobody who I wouldn't have over for dinner or entrust my collection to for safe keeping. A very lovely group, as you might expect from fine press book enthusiasts...

308grifgon
Ene 30, 2022, 12:58 pm

Re: Above All Else Do Not Lie

These are shipping currently, and will continue to ship for the next few weeks! Hope everybody enjoys. Something or other from Adichie's remarks pops into my head every week. I think her words are really insightful.

309grifgon
Ene 30, 2022, 1:03 pm

Re: Enūma Eliš

As noted, the Kickstarter backers voted (by a 98.2 to 1.8 percent margin) to delay the shipment by months for the sake of adding more of the Akkadian. We're going to print the entire abridged poem in Akkadian. The full poem is really unwieldy. For example, about half of it is repetitions. The second tablet begins with one god going to another and simply saying, "Here is what just happened," and then repeating most of the first tablet verbatim. There is also plenty of minutiae which is of literally no interest to the casual reader. Our abridged version begins with the creation of the gods and ends with the founding of Babylon. As Enūma Eliš is the Babylonian creation epic, this seemed to be the right span. Whereas the original Akkadian would not have been divided into lines, we are going to do so on the off-chance that anybody is interested in comparing the original with the translation.

At the moment, we're looking at April for shipment.

310grifgon
Editado: Ene 30, 2022, 1:16 pm

To Praveenna_Nagaratnam's original question:

About twenty-five collectors have decided to reserve copies of all three "big books". Another ten have decided to reserve ⅔ – about half of these because the collector is a native Russian or French speaker, so the translated works are naturally less interesting. Another ten of each have been reserved "solo". We are very nearly out of the 50's, and about half of the 122 is reserved.

311grifgon
Ene 30, 2022, 1:13 pm

When will "public announcements" be made?

I don't know. Each of them has several contractual obligations attached. These contracts are more delicate than one would think, and there are multiple considerations for each. For example, in the case of the work under copyright (and for which permission was excruciating to obtain) the royalty payment attends the public announcement, so the question "When do we want to announce?" is tied up with the question "When do we want to fork over thousands of dollars?"

The announcement for "The Waste Land" will occur in April, the cruellest month, as is fitting. My hope is to ship the book in concurrence with the October centennial of the poem's first appearance in print.

312ironjaw
Ene 30, 2022, 1:23 pm

Griffin. I applaud your dedication and all your hard work. I truly feel like a close member and supporter of your press and endeavour, and look forward to receiving my order (I loved reading your prospectus - font choice was outstanding). Thank you for including me. Your kind updates and participation here by keeping us informed, is both welcomed and a sincere mark of a true gentlemen. I wish your endeavour great success

313Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 30, 2022, 2:15 pm

>307 grifgon: Thank you for the reply Griffin! Again my apologies for causing the discord. Truly wasn't my intention. Love the work and effort you put into your No Reply Press and all the time you take to explain things here. It is also wonderful to hear of publishers who are against FOMO buying spree and want their buyers to buy books because they love the work.

314NathanOv
Ene 30, 2022, 2:25 pm

>307 grifgon: Thank you for all of those details and insights into the process!

I think it’s quite a testament to your work and trust in your press that the majority of collectors so far have opted for all 3 books, and I’m quite excited to each of these.

315SebRinelli
Ene 30, 2022, 2:28 pm

>311 grifgon:
What >312 ironjaw: said. I also read the prospectus multiple times and your approach gave me the time to read the works unknown to me which really helped me to make an informed decision. I really appreciate your approach, your contributions to the forum and the contribution to the fine press world as such!

316grifgon
Ene 30, 2022, 2:34 pm

>315 SebRinelli: I was really honored that you took the time to read both works in full! It's not every day that one's recommendation of a work of literature goes so far.

Thanks for the kind words everybody!

317Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ene 30, 2022, 2:53 pm

>315 SebRinelli: Same here... I read the prospectus a few times, found Griffin's descriptions fascinating, took 4 days to read both works, loved them and decided to purchase and I truly have Griffin to thank for introducing them

318punkzip
Editado: Feb 1, 2022, 10:02 am

>307 grifgon: "I think the phenomena (which has been discussed extensively on this forum) of rights-for-sale, sudden announcements with artificial limitations, etc. are really bad."

Speaking of limitations, I've noticed that Barbarian press tries to match limitations (for different states) of the same book to demand, rather than using demand to create an artificial limitation and jack up the price dramatically. Most of their releases now have the largest limitations at the most deluxe state, because that's where the demand is. When I tried to subscribe to the deluxe state of Bordering the Sublime, I was told that it was fully booked, but they later increased the limitation to allow me to subscribe. In addition, the differences in price between the different states is actually justified based on the materials, and the deluxe state is often the best value. Contrast this to setting an artificially low limitation on "lettered" states, and jacking up the price by a large margin over the numbered states primarily based on the artificially low limitation.

Assuming that a fine press issues multiple states, I think this is the most collector friendly way of doing limitations.

319grifgon
Feb 1, 2022, 10:39 am

>318 punkzip: Yes!!!

The Barbarians are actually the most civilized.

320Shadekeep
Feb 1, 2022, 1:04 pm

Just wanted to chime in here and say I love the prospectus. Sorely tempted by everything in it, and very much jazzed for the sci-fi trilogy.

321Shadekeep
Editado: Feb 2, 2022, 2:16 pm

Well, I caved to my desires and went for The Ethics of Ambiguity. The chance to make a bespoke edition by working with No Reply on the illustration selections just proved too powerful in the end.

Very much looking forward to the release of Per Se Phone by Rūta Kuzmickas as well.

322punkzip
Editado: Feb 2, 2022, 10:31 am

>321 Shadekeep: I suggest you delete reference to the title - not supposed to be public yet - see post 311

323Lukas1990
Feb 2, 2022, 11:02 am

>321 Shadekeep: Nice to see a fellow Lithuanian illustrating nice books!

324Shadekeep
Feb 2, 2022, 11:27 am

>322 punkzip: Thanks for the heads-up, made the edit.

>323 Lukas1990: I love how a number of these fine press books have introduced me to artists I probably otherwise would have never encountered. No Reply seems particularly adept at finding ones I end up liking a lot.

325grifgon
Feb 2, 2022, 1:37 pm

>324 Shadekeep: Glad you think so! And I'm SO excited to share the artwork paired with the Jack Vance story. In this case, I actually think the artwork and text are ontologically perfect for one another. I expect that of the three Sci-Fi works, the Jack Vance will be the least known, but I think the artwork is so striking that collectors will give it a chance.

A general update for those interested:

"The Death of Ivan Ilyich" is fully subscribed. Only two of "The Ethics of Ambiguity" remain. I am currently trying to work out the best way to keep the subscribers to these editions in-the-loop about their production. A facebook group? An email chain? A Google group? A LibraryThing group??? I'd like there to be a function to receive feedback, because there will be plenty of small decisions for which subscriber input would be welcome. If anybody has any experience in this area – running a small online group for announcement and feedbacks – suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks to all those who have subscribed!

326Shadekeep
Feb 2, 2022, 1:45 pm

>325 grifgon: Wonderful! I do hope folks love the Vance selection, it's an unusual tale even for him. It was a pleasure working with you on getting it for the series.

As for communications about the upcoming volumes, I'm one of those relics who still loves email, so an email system like Listserv / Majordomo / Mail Chimp might work. There are free tiers of those and comparable free platforms if you want to go this route. Happy to help you set one up if so.

327punkzip
Editado: Feb 2, 2022, 1:57 pm

>325 grifgon: So is it ok to mention the specific titles here going forward?

328grifgon
Feb 2, 2022, 2:01 pm

>327 punkzip: Yes!

The actual announcements, with photos of the books, press release, information on No Reply's website, etc. will be roughly April, June, and September for the three books respectively.

In the meantime, I have no problem with discussion of the titles.

329Shadekeep
Feb 2, 2022, 2:32 pm

>328 grifgon: Thanks for the all-clear, I've put the title back in my earlier post. ☺

330grifgon
Editado: Feb 2, 2022, 2:49 pm

>329 Shadekeep: Yeah apologies for the general confusion. This rollout was a bit clumsy on my part. Lessons learned for next year, though, and ultimately "Ivan Ilyich" and "The Ethics of Ambiguity" are both (nearly) fully subscribed by collectors who I know and with whom I've had wonderful conversations, so I'm a happy camper. Really pleased by where these books are headed, and looking forward to honest and detailed feedback!

331grifgon
Feb 2, 2022, 2:41 pm

And actually, it's been wonderful to do subscriptions the old fashioned way – with prospectus and invoices – because it enabled me to get to know all of the subscribers a lot better. Their collections, tastes, why they collect, etc. Makes me a lot more interested in looping subscribers into the decisionmaking process, too.

For example, we're using handmade paper on "The Waste Land" and I'm genuinely torn between the present options. So I'm considering putting together little sample booklets of the three or four options and mailing them off to the subscribers for feedback.

332c_schelle
Feb 2, 2022, 3:16 pm

>325 grifgon: I'm also happy with e-Mail. If you want to be very modern you can set up a Discord server or Mattermost. I don't think everybody is on Facebook (I'm not). I think this depends on the style of communication you want. Public only to subscribers, between only you and the subscribers, between the subcribers. If there is no need for communication between the subscribers e-mail would be easiest. If decisions are needed I think easiest would be surveymonkey or similar like you did with Enūma Eliš could be useful.

333SebRinelli
Feb 2, 2022, 3:29 pm

Griffin, I have no Facebook or Google Account and would therefore prefer e-mail.

Sample booklets etc. to involve us as subscribers sounds amazing!

334Glacierman
Feb 2, 2022, 3:31 pm

>325 grifgon: E-mail mass mailing works for me, too, as per >326 Shadekeep:.

335punkzip
Editado: Feb 2, 2022, 3:44 pm

>331 grifgon: I'm curious when you decided on offering the "extras" for subscribers to all 3 books. I was immediately in on Waste Land (handmade paper, scholarly material) and EoA (having an academic philosophy background, ability to choose illustrations - brilliant idea BTW), but was initially on the fence about Ilyich. Probably would have ended up subscribing without the extras that that definitely played a major role in tipping towards yes.

Will the translation of Ilyich involve a P and V style process (not in outcome, just process)?

336Flaubie
Feb 2, 2022, 3:54 pm

Email works well for me; I am also on facebook--and, of course, here.

337NathanOv
Feb 2, 2022, 4:02 pm

>328 grifgon: I vote for email as well for updates, and second loving the idea of the sample booklets!

338grifgon
Feb 2, 2022, 4:10 pm

>335 punkzip: The solander case of background materials is something I've wanted to do for awhile, actually. Each edition generates a lot of interesting paperwork, and this seemed like a good opportunity to share it. The translation for "Ivan Ilyich," for example, has been composed on a Corona 3 typewriter and edited longhand. Those hundred-or-so pages of materials will just sit in my drawer, but if it's of any interest to the collectors of the book, then the sensible thing is to include it. Each edition has plenty of paper documents that go into its conception, design, and production. There are about 25 collectors who subscribed to all three, so the materials will be split roughly 25 ways.

I'm glad you like the art concept for "The Ethics of Ambiguity". While I think the artwork is perfect for the text, I wasn't kidding when I said that the artwork might be controversial to some. So, since the artist is already preparing more artworks than we can include, I thought it would be good to ask each collector to make their own selection. The work is about an individual's agency to construct their own world, after all. I think there will be some collectors who opt not to include any of the artworks, and that's perfectly alright by me. As some have pointed out, it isn't typical to have artwork accompany a work of philosophy at all. It should be an interesting experiment. Interestingly, the SIZE at which the artworks are reproduced will affect them greatly (more so than is typical). I'm testing a few options on this front, and I actually think smaller might suit them better.

Yes, the process for our G&V translation is similar to P&V's. Valeria does a verbatim translation and then I push her to explain tone, emphasis, whether a sentence is intended to be funny or not, that sort of thing. Then we craft the verbatim translation in a way which expresses the same. The main difference in our translation versus the mainstream ones is that we are pretty liberal in our disregard for following original punctuation. This is the best way for us to capture Tolstoy's meaning, while still hewing closely to the words themselves. And, to note, punctuation was considered less of a "fixed" part of writing in the 19th century than now. You'll notice punctuation often changes from edition to edition in works from the time. Also, my poor Russian pushes Valeria to explain the meaning of a word in much greater depth than she'd normally need to, which leads to more exact word choice.

339PatsChoice
Editado: Feb 2, 2022, 4:19 pm

Thanks for the consistent communication, Griffin.

As >332 c_schelle: mentioned, email or a Google Forms survey is sufficient if you want end-to-end communication between yourself and the patrons' individual thoughts summarized as collectives.

If you want (ideally) Socratic discourse, I recommend Discord. It is the easiest platform to share media on, retain anonymity for those who don't want to share full contact info, and allows for free flow of discussion. In short, it functions like a chat group with superior accessibility (auto-embedded media uploads & links being a major plus). It also has video, voice, and streaming features if ever needed. The connection is very good and UI/UX is excellent.

LT is also great but I assume not everyone who's subscribed is a part of this community already and sharing media is a pain.

340Glacierman
Feb 2, 2022, 5:18 pm

>338 grifgon: >339 PatsChoice: I'm already on Discord, so that would work insofar as I am concerned, but how many would want to take the time and make the effort to establish another platform for communication?

341Objectr
Feb 2, 2022, 5:22 pm

FWIW - the Facebook groups for Thornwillow and others seem to do pretty okay. I know not everyone is on FB, but they do seem to be a good outlet for information. I also utilize Discord, but I think you'll find far fewer folks on there than FB.

342jveezer
Feb 2, 2022, 5:29 pm

>325 grifgon: I use the free version of MailChimp with my tea business and am quite happy with it....Please no Facebook.

>338 grifgon: Do you ever worry you will Oblomov the translation to death? ;)

343BorisG
Feb 2, 2022, 5:34 pm

I would go either for emails (for announcements) or Discord (for conversation between group members). Would really prefer to avoid Facebook if at all possible.

And a big ‘yes please!’ for the paper samples!

344mnmcdwl
Feb 2, 2022, 6:01 pm

>330 grifgon: Congratulations on the successful launch. The old fashioned, prospectus method felt highly civilized compared to the usual race to the website checkout counter. I am looking forward to my own copies, and to hearing about this project as it progresses.

As for communication, email for regular updates and LibaryThing for general chat get my vote. Count me among the "Please no Facebook" crowd. I don't use Discord so it's not my top choice, but I'm a big enough No Reply Press fan that if that's the route you go, I'll give it a try.

345SDB2012
Feb 2, 2022, 6:57 pm

>331 grifgon: Congratulations Griffin! I'm really looking forward to seeing more of your work. A sample of papers would be way over the top in terms of engagement but it much be much appreciated if you could manage the process without too many headaches.

As far as communication, email is great for announcements. Discord is great for discussion. I only have Facebook because a personal account is required in order to have a business account. If I could get rid of it, I would. I do follow several press fan groups but I rarely look at those.

346SDB2012
Feb 2, 2022, 6:58 pm

>344 mnmcdwl: more love for the prospectus.

347ultrarightist
Feb 2, 2022, 7:15 pm

More love for the prospectus and another voice raised against Facebook.

348Shadekeep
Feb 3, 2022, 8:33 am

I'm on about a dozen Discord channels but rarely log in. I could see it working for a small, relatively closed group. The big open ones get too fragmented for me, with tons of subchannels. But I'll use it if it's what is chosen. I've even experimented with writing bots for Discord, too.

349Shadekeep
Feb 8, 2022, 2:32 pm

No Reply Press is now shipping the standard editions of Per Se Phone. Reserved this original title a good while back and jazzed to be getting it soon.

350Sorion
Feb 8, 2022, 2:40 pm

Per Se Phone looks to be a real treat Grifgon. Really pleased for you and very impressed with the young woman who's poetry you are publishing. I love the lyrical quality and lack of intentional vagueness in her poems. Very much hearkens back to an older style I personally much prefer.

351What_What
Feb 20, 2022, 8:39 pm

On NRP’s Instagram story there’s a teaser of a page showing “Franz Kafka’s” along with a small wave illustration. Nothing else.

Looks pretty good!

352Shadekeep
Feb 23, 2022, 4:31 pm

Received my Per Se Phone, quite a nice little book. I like the embossed cover, and the illustrations are of course superb. It's got me even more excited for A Scandal in Bohemia now.

353yolana
Mar 2, 2022, 8:19 am

New Kickstarter for a Ukrainian poet I’ve never heard of, but went ahead and pledged.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noreplypress/magnetic-storms

354gmacaree
Mar 2, 2022, 9:09 am

>353 yolana: Ordered a hardbound copy

355Shadekeep
Mar 2, 2022, 9:15 am

I was chatting with grifgon in the lead-up to this campaign. There is quite a lot happening with the people involved, and this is a timely publication in a number of ways. Glad to be backing this, both for the book and for the effort itself.

356grifgon
Mar 2, 2022, 9:35 am

Thanks for support so far everybody.

A bit more informal information than stated in the campaign:

1. The press and I aren't taking any profit from "Magnetic Storms".

2. The situation for Lyudmyla, Viacheslav, Dmitrou is terrible. Currently, the lead translator is trying to get PEN America to sponsor/support them in relocating/rebuilding. This campaign is an essential part of the pitch to PEN America that these are artists deserving of their attention.

3. I had planned on publishing the poems prior to the invasion, we just expedited the process. They're excellent. Though I don't speak Ukrainian, I have been reading the poems phonetically and they're powerful just vocally.

4. A huge thanks to the collectors here who have sponsored a copy to go to cultural institutions. All ten copies so far have been sponsored by active contributors to this forum. Truly honored!

5. Lyudmyla is unknown in the anglophone world, but she is considered in Ukraine among the country's finest writers. She is a professor at Kyiv's premier university, publishes frequently, and several of her books have been lauded as among the finest recent books in the language.

6. I don't expect this unexpected(ly soon) edition to interfere at all with the rest of No Reply's agenda. Everything should continue apace. "Above All Else Do Not Lie" shipping now. "Cask of Amontillado" and "Conundrums" shipping this month. "Enūma" and "Scandal" shipping over the next three months.

Thanks again and best to all!

357mnmcdwl
Mar 2, 2022, 9:46 am

Love it! An original translation, from a language and literature not often appearing in English, would be reason enough for me to enthusiastically back. That it is benefiting a living writer and translators currently having their lives turned upside down only further encourages me. I also ordered the hardback (with slipcase and broadside).

358BorisG
Editado: Mar 2, 2022, 11:48 am

Full of deep admiration for Griffin and NRP.

Budgets are severely stretched (not helped by yesterday’s LE release from FS), but I backed at the paperbound level. If situation changes, I’ll upgrade to hardbound before the campaign ends.

359SDB2012
Mar 2, 2022, 11:55 am

>356 grifgon: Brilliant work on many levels, Griffin!

360wcarter
Mar 2, 2022, 5:37 pm

Thanks Griffin. Have ordered a slipcased hardbound edition.

361jveezer
Mar 2, 2022, 5:53 pm

Very excited for this!!! And happy to support a displaced Ukrainian writer directly.

362eanson
Mar 2, 2022, 6:32 pm

An immediate pledge for me as well. (NRP always is, but all the more in this case).

363distantriver
Mar 5, 2022, 11:07 am

What a wonderful project, hats off to NRP. So glad to have the opportunity to support in this way!

364Oswestrian
Mar 7, 2022, 8:03 am

As a some-time lurker here (with champagne taste but beer money, sadly) this has given me the perfect excuse finally to spend some money to support NRP and a very good cause. Thank you.

365Shadekeep
Mar 12, 2022, 8:19 pm

Received the No Reply Press solander case today, along with the "Inferno Stamps" from the Patreon. Also included is the release list, and a piece of ephemera for the (as yet unannounced?) Kafka work. Hope there's no issue with me sharing that here!

366NathanOv
Editado: Mar 13, 2022, 3:58 pm

Wow! I wish I’d joined soon enough to be getting my solander this quarter, but hope that the Poseidon print will still be included when I do.

I wonder if the Kafka work will be a collection of stories like Investigations of a Dog since Poseidon is very short?

367Shadekeep
Mar 13, 2022, 4:37 pm

>366 NathanOv: I think there's still a chance of getting the Poseidon broadside. My copy is number "EA of 300" (Early Advance?), so quite possibly there will be a normal numbered edition for subscribers. grifgon can answer for sure once he is back in town.

368SebRinelli
Mar 13, 2022, 5:01 pm

EA = Epreuve d'artiste = Artist Proofs

369ultrarightist
Mar 16, 2022, 8:35 pm

Has anyone received any press shipments so far this year? If so, which one(s)?

370NathanOv
Editado: Mar 16, 2022, 8:53 pm

>369 ultrarightist: I believe just Persephone so far (though I did not preorder that one,) but if Griffin's update from March 1st is still current then Cask of Amontillado could be shipping as soon as next week!

371Shadekeep
Mar 16, 2022, 9:25 pm

I did receive Per Se Phone, and in a slightly later shipment the solander box I mentioned earlier. I believe the Sherlock book was nearing completion but the new title, Magnetic Storms, probably threw a wrench in the timetables.

372kermaier
Mar 17, 2022, 10:25 am

>369 ultrarightist:
I received a copy of Prufrock last week.

373grifgon
Mar 17, 2022, 11:53 am

>370 NathanOv: >371 Shadekeep: We're ship-ship-shipping every day! Slowly but surely. Valeria has taken a job working for the European Union's anti-fraud agency and Reed is working on a film, so it's just me in the shipping department here at No Reply Global Headquarters these days. Getting about five to ten packages out a day. Currently, it's "Above All Else Do Not Lie" and some "A Scandal in Bohemia". "The Cask of Amontillado" is *almost* ready to ship. The first copies will start going out next week. And then "Enūma Elis". A lot to get out, but eventually it'll all be done!

374jveezer
Mar 17, 2022, 11:59 am

>373 grifgon: Wish we were co-located as I would be happy to combine our "global" shipping departments and help ship books along with my tea shipments... ;)

375grifgon
Mar 17, 2022, 12:11 pm

>374 jveezer: What's halfway between Portland and Southern California? Redding?? Mount Shasta?? I'll meet you there and we can set up shop.

376grifgon
Mar 17, 2022, 12:13 pm

And by the way, for any here who haven't already visited our fearless leader's tea shop:

https://www.leavesofcha.com/

The teas are INCREDIBLE. Lightyears better than what I was previously drinking. I highly recommend:

https://www.leavesofcha.com/collections/white-tea/products/wild-purple-ya-bao

https://www.leavesofcha.com/collections/limited-offers/products/copy-of-bi-luo-c...

https://www.leavesofcha.com/collections/limited-offers/products/zheng-shan-xiao-...

377Shadekeep
Mar 17, 2022, 12:29 pm

>376 grifgon: Oh wow, I am always up for a good white tea! And I love the name, Jade Nautilus. Thanks!

378toaonua
Abr 8, 2022, 1:04 am

I can't believe I've been a No Reply Press collector since their first Kickstarter campaign and never come across this great thread full of fellow fine press collectors.

379Shadekeep
Abr 13, 2022, 8:19 am

Good news from No Reply Press on KS today - "The Cask of Amontillado" is now shipping, and "A Scandal in Bohemia" should be bound and begin shipping by the end of the month. Glad to see they are finally breaking free from the shackles of the supply chain!

380SolerSystem
Abr 13, 2022, 8:51 am

Hope that means the science fiction stories will be announced soon!

381MobyRichard
Abr 30, 2022, 11:35 am

Hmm....I received the Cask of Amontillado today. It's great but anyone else notice that the binding doesn't look like the picture on the Kickstarter page? I know that's just a mockup, but it looks completely different to me...

382ChampagneSVP
Abr 30, 2022, 11:42 am

>381 MobyRichard: I didn’t order it but I’d be interested to see a photo of your binding if you want to share one.

383NathanOv
Abr 30, 2022, 11:48 am

>381 MobyRichard: huh, I’m still waiting on mine but I’ve seen pictures of a couple copies and they looked quite similar.

What differences are you noticing?

384MobyRichard
Abr 30, 2022, 12:00 pm

>383 NathanOv:

The Kickstarter binding has a bunch of swirls, kind of like wood grain. The actual book has something that reminds me of the Suntup 1984, numbered edition: https://shop.suntup.press/products/1984-by-george-orwell-numbered-edition

It's completely different from what's shown on the Kickstarter page:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noreplypress/the-cask-of-amontillado-by-edg...

385punkzip
Editado: Abr 30, 2022, 12:22 pm

>384 MobyRichard: I received this and didn't notice the difference as I had forgotten what the mock-up binding looked like, but now that I look at the Kickstarter page it is completely different.

I like the original mock-up binding a lot better as it looks like swirls of wine in a glass, which fits with the clear enclosure. The comparison with the Suntup numbered 1984 is apt, but what IMO made that edition notable was that the paste paper pattern, in combination with the clear enclosure, was thematic. I don't see how the actual Cask pattern is thematic.

I would say that Cask pattern doesn't suit the intended aesthetic, which according to the KS page is: "made as a livre d'artiste to resemble a bottle of amontillado wine."

386NathanOv
Editado: Abr 30, 2022, 2:03 pm

Well I spoke just an hour or so too soon, as my copy's just arrived. It's a lovely little book, with the craftmanship, materials and high quality printing I'd expect from No Reply.

I would say as a whole, with the slipcase, label and color it still hold true to the design concept. I think the swirled pattern fit a little better than the repeating one, but both are definitely abstractions since amontillado doesn't have any pattern to it at all.

It is a bit of a headscratcher though - I wonder if this pattern was easier with the actual amontillado used to dye the papers, than the mockup which looks like it might've been painted?

I thought I'd add some pictures for context:









387punkzip
Abr 30, 2022, 2:24 pm

>386 NathanOv:"I would say as a whole, with the slipcase, label and color it still hold true to the design concept. I think the swirled pattern fit a little better than the repeating one, but both are definitely abstractions since amontillado doesn't have any pattern to it at all."

I would argue that if there is any pattern, the swirl pattern works the best, as one could imagine wine being swirled in a glass to "nose" it. The actual pattern is just generic to me - it might as well be any other pattern.

388grifgon
Abr 30, 2022, 3:53 pm

I decided to change the paste paper from striae to a lattice pattern, because when we began making the paste paper, I realized that the lattice better represents Poe's story. As I also find it much more visually striking, I decided to change the design, despite lattice being significantly more challenging than striae (requiring two layers of paint, and much more brushwork).

The latticework evokes the bricks that Montresor uses to entomb Fortunato. They mirror Clark's artwork. While retaining the color of amontillado wine used to color the acrylic, it suggests the terror of the story's ending. In essence, Fortunato thinks he is getting wine but finds only a tomb. The design of the binding mirrors this – a brickwork tomb concealed within the promise of a bottle of wine. Ultimately, remember, there is no amontillado – only death.

389grifgon
Abr 30, 2022, 3:57 pm

>387 punkzip: "The actual pattern is just generic to me - it might as well be any other pattern."

Quite a few collectors haven't immediately caught the brickwork motif. Ultimately, while striae is easier to make and perhaps easier to understand as a design choice, I decided to (in my view) dig a little deeper into the story. I am completely open to disagreement about which design choice is better (visually or as a representation of the story) but I promise that the latticework wasn't a "Just Cause" decision, but rather based in my reading of the story – in fact, a decision which I feel the story demanded.

390punkzip
Abr 30, 2022, 4:26 pm

>389 grifgon: "Quite a few collectors haven't immediately caught the brickwork motif. Ultimately, while striae is easier to make and perhaps easier to understand as a design choice, I decided to (in my view) dig a little deeper into the story. I am completely open to disagreement about which design choice is better (visually or as a representation of the story) but I promise that the latticework wasn't a "Just Cause" decision, but rather based in my reading of the story – in fact, a decision which I feel the story demanded."

I definitely didn't catch it but the explanation is very helpful. Am I correct though that the original striae pattern was designed to mimic wine swirling in a glass?

391grifgon
Abr 30, 2022, 4:37 pm

>390 punkzip: Yes, correct! And actually, the striae is still there. The papers were all painted striae, and then the latticework was done *on top* of the striae. The paint for the latticework was also altered slightly to try and capture the rim variation in bottles we used.

I definitely don't regret the switch, but I do wonder if I should have included a little explanatory note or something. I think I may have accidentally Montresor'd the collectors.

392kdweber
Abr 30, 2022, 4:56 pm

>391 grifgon: I think it would have been a good idea to make a comment on the KickStarter page. I haven’t received my copy yet but looking at the picture earlier in the thread the lattice made me think of wine racks rather than bricks.

393NathanOv
Abr 30, 2022, 4:58 pm

>388 grifgon: Thanks for the added explanation! While I don't know that I ever would've landed on that interpretation myself, I do love when books have a little bit of added story around them, and that is definitely an interesting one.

394Shadekeep
Abr 30, 2022, 5:14 pm

>388 grifgon: The change is noticeable, but not necessarily negative. Your logic for it does make sense. With my background in biology my first impression was "electrophoresis!" But certainly the brick wall concept works with the new design. The individual cells could also be seen as labeled bottles of wine stacked on their sides, with a meniscus curving the liquid in each.

395What_What
Editado: mayo 1, 2022, 7:17 am

>391 grifgon: It’s one thing for you not to regret the switch, but you already sold a product, and at some point surely there’s an obligation to update customers they’re not getting what they paid for.

I’d say you’re correct in wondering whether “a little explanatory note or something” should’ve been included - there are multiple channels that could have been used, not least of all the Kickstarter subscription list.

It is helpful to know the theme (now that a subset of customers here on LT have asked and been answered), and it does sound like more work. And of course I’m sure everything else inside is up to the usual high standards we’ve come to know. But if I had subscribed, I would’ve thought I got sent the wrong book in error.

396grifgon
mayo 1, 2022, 10:09 am

>395 What_What: I certainly appreciate the feedback.

Re: "but you already sold a product, and at some point surely there’s an obligation to update customers they’re not getting what they paid for."

Perhaps the business-savvy thing to say here is "Mea culpa mea culpa" but I actually respectfully disagree with this sentiment. I think it gets to the core of what private press publishing is, and so I hope nobody will mind my sharing my thoughts.

These aren't products, really. And I don't mean in the mushy sense that "customers" are really "collectors," but as an actual matter of accounting and tax-paying. Both Kickstarter and the No Reply website include terms and condition statements and a "check this box" which establish commission contracts rather than product sales. When you order from No Reply, you are commissioning me and my team to make you an artwork. Now, this is not to say that a collector could reserve "The Cask of Amontillado," receive a folded piece of blank copy paper, and I would be right to put on my beret and declare through puffs of cigarette smoke that I am an artiste and can do whatever I want. However, I do think that some artistic latitude is inherent, to be expected, and indeed, necessary for the process. Designs change all the time. Ultimately, until the first copy has shipped on any fine press book, the visual representations are just prototypes (and oftentimes pure photoshop fabrications). So in terms of "getting what you paid for" – what you paid for is a commissioned work of art, with all the latitude a commission requires.

Now, why not give collectors a heads up (or, as No Reply often does, have them vote on it)? The reason is stupidly simple: To my eye, the change from striae to lattice is so obviously an improvement as to constitute an upgrade. For example, if the book was planned on Superfine but then printed on Arches, I might be inclined to let the upgraded paper be a surprise, rather than posting an explanation. Same situation here. Obviously I misjudged! Had I foreseen the confusion it would cause for some, I would certainly have announced the change in advance. But usually I prefer to simply let the collector's first impression of the finished book be the finished book in their hands. Take "Conundrums", which is shipping with "Amontillado". I've had a finished copy on my own shelf for a month, but I think Madeleine did such an incredible job on the paste/watercolor paper covers that I want collectors to see them for the first time in person.

Ultimately, I welcome the feedback, and do think it would have been best to post an update about the change on the Kickstarter campaign. If any here disagree with how I think of this, I'll happily study your reply and let you have the last word on the matter! (OH! – and I forgot to say. If anybody here really is disappointed by the change in paste paper, and not simply confused on first look, please do simply return it for a refund. We have a waitlist for these a mile long, and it's no trouble.)

397grifgon
Editado: mayo 1, 2022, 12:44 pm

In case it's of any interest to anybody here, the change from striae to lattice isn't simply a "this looks better than that" decision, but rather gets to the heart of book design. Discounting detached and functionalist design philosophies (i.e. designs which are meant merely to function well or be beautiful on their own terms without attempting to relate to the text), there are three general "groupings" which are applied to private/fine press books.

1. Symbolic Design

Where explicit symbols / images / colors / motifs are taken from the text and applied to the design, turning the book itself into a recognizable symbol of the text. An easy example would be a book about a werewolf with a claw scratch on the cover. Or worse (and this sort of thing is quite common) a book about a werewolf who never actually scratches anybody with a claw scratch on the cover. I've received quite a few suggestions (not from anybody here!) that for "Магнітні бурі / Magnetic Storms" we do the binding in blue and yellow to echo the Ukrainian flag, or put the Ukrainian trident on the cover. How is this different, I wonder, from designing "The Cask of Amontillado" in red white and blue with a bald eagle on the cover due to the fact that Poe was American? Moreover, the poems have not been published yet, and these suggestions discount the idea that a Ukrainian poet could write poetry about something other than being Ukrainian!

Bad symbolic design is usually called "gimmicky," and I think this forum's controversial relationship with Suntup books has to do with the fact that Suntup almost exclusively works in symbolic design. In truth, symbolic design is incredibly difficult to do well, so I sort of admire any attempt to do it at all and am in awe of those who nail it. In my opinion, Suntup often does.

In case it isn't obvious, however, I tend not to like symbolic design. Even when done well, I think it turns a book into a token of a text and not a vessel for it.

2. Historic

Where a book is designed to the methods and aesthetics that would have been contemporary to the text. Pretty self-explanatory. I don't particularly love it, as I don't think practitioners are really all that committed to it. They adopt *some* historic elements, but not others, or misunderstand what really is historic. For example, I would never want to read Jane Austen in an actual Regency edition. Horrible typesetting. Horrible paper. Horrible size. "The Travels of John Mandeville" from Foolscap is an example of historic design being done perfectly, I think.

3. Intrinsic Design

This is what I like. What does the text evoke? What does the text mean? Is the text chaotic? Is it well-ordered? What is its mood? Try to design a book which gives the same answers when asked. This is definitely the mushiest design philosophy, but I think it leads to the best books (as well as the most risk-taking).

So, to the point: In No Reply's "The Cask of Amontillado" I was trying to give symbolic design a go (which is not my forte). I was perfectly happy with how it turned out until I realized that I had, in my thoughtlessness, put a claw scratch on a werewolf book *where the werewolf never scratches anything*. There is no amontillado in the Cask of Amontillado. Rather, there is an unfulfilled promise of amontillado. And yet, I had designed a book to evoke a bottle of wine. I was quite irritated with myself when I realized what I had done. So, I thought on it and changed the design accordingly to better reflect the actual symbols inside. To tie this to the previous topic, I would like to think that when somebody orders a No Reply edition, they are ordering an edition to be made to the best of my artistic, literary, and craft ability (however limited that ability may be!) not just the .jpeg they see on the website made incarnate.

Anyway, the real controversy isn't "Why did Griffin change the design and not tell anybody?" but "Why is Griffin posting online instead of going to work and shipping our damn books???" Righto – I'm off!

398What_What
Editado: mayo 1, 2022, 10:56 am

>397 grifgon: Thanks for the thoughtful reply, as usual, especially the three philosophies for book design we. I’ll just make a few more comments and then let it go.

- In my mind the controversy is actually why did you change the design and not tell anybody.

- I’m sure everyone trusts your design decisions, I know I do, and have no issue with prototypes changing I’m just of the opinion that such a marked difference in the design should at the very least be communicated in advance.

- Your original design wasn’t thoughtless, the idea of a glass of amontillado was the central tenet of the entire thing. From the materials, swirls, wine glass paper labels, transparent slipcase. It was the entire thing, which is now changed. It is now reminiscent of basket weave.

- The change has really made our experience resonate with the characters - after all, Forunato now isn’t the only one lured in by an unfulfilled promise of amontillado. Sorry, I couldn’t resist :).

Edit: I’ve continued to make minor edits to this post for clarity and tone, to ensure it comes across in the polite way it is intended.

399grifgon
Editado: mayo 1, 2022, 12:46 pm

>398 What_What: Likewise, always wonderful to discuss with you!

I was going to make the same analogy........ but then you never know how people will react when you compare yourself to a murderer and them to the murdered... ;-)

400punkzip
Editado: mayo 1, 2022, 11:53 am

>397 grifgon: Great discussion of design philosophies.

Regarding symbolic design, I think that one potential issue is that the symbolic design was explicitly stated in the KS description. "made as a livre d'artiste to resemble a bottle of amontillado wine." So in this case, the artistic intention was clearly stated at the outset, and arguably, this is what a KS backer commissioned the creator to create - there is some latitude no doubt, but some constraint as well (similar to an illustrator, who is commissioned to illustrate a book, as opposed to a fine artist who creates a work for themselves first). Perhaps some of this discussion relates to whether fine press publishing is an art or a craft...

"put a claw scratch on a werewolf book *where the werewolf never scratches anything*"

I haven't read the Wolfen, does anyone know if the werewolf scratches anything?

Regarding intrinsic design, I would suggest that the original design would still fit. There is no Amontillado, but then again, the artifact that is the book is not Amontillado either, even if it is symbolically designed to evoke Amontillado..

I'm in the camp of preferring the original design, but I actually like the change because it provoked this discussion!

401grifgon
mayo 1, 2022, 12:41 pm

>400 punkzip: Hmm, it looks like I've put my foot in my mouth. I didn't have any particular edition in mind when using the werewolf example (it just seemed like a very straightforward example to illustrate the point, no different than a vampire book with bloody fangs on the cover), but I guess such an edition exists! Without having read it, who's to say whether it's good design or not. I think symbolic design is the most difficult to pull off, and if you're committed to it there are bound to be misses as well as hits.

402kermaier
mayo 1, 2022, 12:52 pm

I’m just really looking forward to adding NRP’s nifty book to my other slim volumes of Poe-etry. (Yes, I know: For the love of God….)

403NathanOv
mayo 1, 2022, 12:59 pm

>401 grifgon: "I think symbolic design is the most difficult to pull off, and if you're committed to it there are bound to be misses as well as hits."

For what it's worth, I consider this one a "hit." I think the full design still gives off the exact impression you advertised, and the dresign adjustment is small but meaningful.

404Shadekeep
mayo 1, 2022, 3:12 pm

>397 grifgon: I don't have much to add on the Amontillado binding until I see it in person. But you are certainly correct in keeping Magnetic Storms from looking like the Ukrainian flag. The cover should suit the material. I like the chosen cover, which to me resembles spume cast about by a storm. If you had to change it a la Amontillado, then the other motif I could see working is an abstraction of magnetic lines of force as portrayed with iron filings. But hopefully everyone is already happy with this one!

405toaonua
Editado: mayo 1, 2022, 8:53 pm

>386 NathanOv: I'm a little late to the discussion. But I was struck by how familiar the new design of 'Amontillado' looked when I saw the pictures you posted. And a quick look on my bookshelf showed me why.

Thornwillow Press published a chapbook edition of 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' about two years ago. And the hand-made paste paper covers use a similar design aesthetic:



406toaonua
mayo 2, 2022, 1:56 am

>397 grifgon: I remember seeing someone offer that suggestion for "Магнітні бурі / Magnetic Storms" and they specifically asked that it be implemented "preferably, in such a way that it's easily discernible from a distance."

It made me laugh since it was obvious the suggestion was to enhance their own ego by being seen reading a book with the Ukrainian flag's colors on it.

407punkzip
mayo 2, 2022, 9:19 am

>405 toaonua: Interestingly the book you posted has a different pattern than pictures on Thornwillow's website (I assume that is the Patron edition?). https://thornwillow.com/the-lovesong-of-alfred-prufrock-by-t-s-eliot

408punkzip
Editado: mayo 2, 2022, 9:49 am

>401 grifgon: Given that you referred to Suntup as an example of symbolic design, I was sure you were referring to the Wolfen which they published in 3 states, all of which uses scratch marks as the notable design element on all of the 3 states (it's also on the artist edition but covered by the dust jacket). I haven't read it but know it has werewolf-like killers (though not actual werewolves in the classic sense), whether they scratch anything I don't know. The publication itself is an overpriced offset book (at least the 2 more expensive states) and it was my (wrong it seems) impression that you were criticizing the symbolic design. If that was a random example, what a coincidence! https://suntup.press/the-wolfen

409toaonua
mayo 2, 2022, 4:05 pm

>407 punkzip: Yes, I was signed up as a patron collector through Thornwillow's Patreon when this was released. The photos I posted are from the Patron edition.

410mnmcdwl
mayo 2, 2022, 7:04 pm

>397 grifgon: A few disjointed ideas. First, thank you for your design philosophy thoughts. Obviously a lot goes into the design and it's unfair that you should be locked into a prototype design before completing the book. I prefer intrinsic designs over symbolic or historic ones, and generally appreciate your design sense. That said, I, among others probably, had pledged for this edition without having read the story, so the wine analogy made sense to me. Now that I have a better understanding of the story, your changes feel appropriate and I like the finished edition more. For this reason, communication is key. For better or worse, many Kickstarter backers imagine the prototype images as finished products, in a way that the traditional prospectus doesn't communicate. I think you've done a better job indicating the prototype nature of the endeavour for Magnetic Storms though (and I agree, no need for a Ukrainian flag motif). In the end, production and process updates I think will make everyone happy and feel a part of it.

411grifgon
mayo 2, 2022, 7:21 pm

>410 mnmcdwl: I agree completely, and this is an area where I wish I had more discipline. Taking time away from the making of the books to share the process, update photos, that sort of thing, always feels like a trade off. Ultimately, however, I've found fine/private press collectors nothing but patient and always interested in the nitty gritty. I wonder (as a gross oversimplification): If collectors were given the option of receiving a production update (including photos, details about the craft, insight into decisionmaking) but that update would delay the delivery of their book by one day, would they want it? Further, how *many* updates would they want? I think I always assume that collectors are more anxious to receive their books than they actually are (likely as a result of my being anxious about always being behind schedule 😂).

412SDB2012
mayo 2, 2022, 8:02 pm

>410 mnmcdwl: hadn't read the story...

What a treat to read The Cask of Amontillado for the first time in this edition! I'm jealous. It's one of my favorite short stories.

413BorisG
mayo 3, 2022, 12:10 pm

Fascinating discussion! To briefly interrupt it with a prosaic question (sorry!) - have all copies been shipped by now, or not yet?

414jveezer
mayo 3, 2022, 3:33 pm

>413 BorisG: I'll answer for Griffin so he can keep packing but mine hasn't arrived yet so I believe they have not all shipped...

415Shadekeep
mayo 3, 2022, 3:39 pm

>414 jveezer: Haven't received mine yet either, but it could be more down to transit times than whether they've shipped. But probably both factors are in play.

416jveezer
mayo 3, 2022, 3:52 pm

>415 Shadekeep: I got one of the specials that comes with a bottle of Amontillado, so maybe that's the hold up...

417grifgon
mayo 3, 2022, 3:56 pm

>416 jveezer: Sorry jveezer, I think you misread... it comes with a CASK of Amontillado. You did read the waiver about providing your own forklift at delivery, didn't you?

95% of copies have shipped. The yet-to-be-shipped are mostly internationals.

418Shadekeep
mayo 3, 2022, 5:46 pm

>416 jveezer: So you're currently without Amontillado? I have some in the cellar, if you'll follow me...

419jveezer
mayo 3, 2022, 6:12 pm

>418 Shadekeep: Perfect! I need some saltpeter for some salami I'm making. Pairs well with wine.

420Glacierman
mayo 3, 2022, 9:03 pm

>418 Shadekeep: Just watch out for that black cat down there......

421punkzip
Jul 12, 2022, 3:42 pm

"the most striking marbled papers I've ever seen in person".

Can't wait to see this!

Voting no to expanding the limitation BTW.

422NathanOv
Jul 12, 2022, 3:48 pm

>421 punkzip: An all around exciting update! I'm pretty sure I have some publications already with the Hahnemühle Bugra paper, but seeing it described has me quite excited - I was also happy to hear about how much collaboration there is with the artist.

I voted yes on limitation, since it seemed originally it was just a result of the press's capacity and I'm all for the publication being as widely available as possible, particularly if it's via institutional collections.

423Shadekeep
Jul 12, 2022, 3:57 pm

Sorry, did I miss an update somewhere? I'm not finding one on Patreon or Kickstarter, apologies if I've overlooked the obvious.

424DMulvee
Jul 12, 2022, 4:16 pm

>423 Shadekeep: There was an email to those who had ordered ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’ with 5 questions to subscribers.

I voted not to increase the limitation, but am actually happy with whatever Griffin decides for all questions

425punkzip
Jul 12, 2022, 4:23 pm

>424 DMulvee: Griffin isn’t going to decide the limitation question though.

426Shadekeep
Jul 12, 2022, 4:56 pm

>424 DMulvee: Ah, thank you!

427kdweber
Jul 12, 2022, 11:37 pm

Voted yes on expanding the limitation. 75 vs 50 copies is still a small limitation. It’s in most collectors interest to see presses that they are interested in survive. Most No Reply books have a higher limitation.

428toaonua
Jul 13, 2022, 1:19 am

I voted yes to expand the limitation from 50 to 75. That was the only question from the survey that I had a firm opinion on. The rest I didn't have a strong preference on either way.

429wcarter
Jul 13, 2022, 1:29 am

Also voted for higher limitation.

430SDB2012
Jul 13, 2022, 8:06 am

Another vote to expand.

431LBShoreBook
Jul 13, 2022, 9:49 am

Voted to expand as well. Did not have a strong preference on any of the other items.

432NathanOv
Jul 13, 2022, 10:44 am

>431 LBShoreBook: I think my only strong prefernce was for a rounded spine over a flat one. The paper color question does sound like a small dilemma, but I trust the press will compare and choose the best option.

433grifgon
Jul 13, 2022, 12:57 pm

Thanks for participating everybody. Of the 48 collectors for this edition, I've received poll received poll responses from 41 (!!! great turnout !!!). I'll go into more detail in my next update, plus share photos and maybe do a livestream meet & greet while printing, but in the meantime here are the initial poll results:

Question #1: Clive's artwork mounted on same or different color Bugra

Different: 26%
Same: 24%
No preference: 50%

Question #2: See the marbled papers now or wait

Now: 30%
Wait: 70%

Question #3: Flat or rounded spine

Flat: 9%
Rounded: 67%
No preference: 24%

* This one surprised me a bit. Why the strong preference for rounded spines when there's no structural difference? I personally prefer flat.

Question #4: Whether to offer a de luxe state

Yes: 38%
No: 24%
No preference: 38%

Question #5: Whether to increase the edition limitation

Yes: 70%
No: 30%

*I think I may have worded this poorly. We have the materials to produce *up to* 75 copies, but an expanded edition likely wouldn't be 75. If I have enough gas to drive 75 miles, I'm probably not going to try to go for all 75 of them. I was actually surprised by the supermajority in favor!

Several collectors suggested the following: Combine the notions of #4 and #5. That is, offer a de luxe upgrade to the current collectors, and then establish a de luxe state in addition to the standard state of 50. I also received a lot of feedback on what the de luxe state would entail. I personally love suites of prints, but like ten collectors indicated they would be "Doomed to the drawer" (fair enough). If we went for it, I'm a bit torn between a "materials upgrade" and a "presentation upgrade". A materials upgrade essentially entails different (supposedly finer) materials but otherwise the same design – Morocco instead of cloth being the classic example. A presentation upgrade entails an entirely different imagining and usually a different skill set or skill level to execute. Perhaps we'll do a follow-up poll.

Thanks again everybody!

434NathanOv
Editado: Jul 13, 2022, 1:47 pm

>433 grifgon: Thanks for sharing the results! I'll just add my comments to two of the points you mentioned:

On rounded spines, it's mainly an aesthetic preference for me but I also appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into a nicely hammered rounded spine.

On the de luxe state, I voted yes because I like the idea of the solander which I guess would be a "presentation upgrade" but not necessarily require a drastically different book design. Leather binding has never really appealed to me as an upgrade option, but I do like when presses get really creative with the materials they use in higher states. I agree on not really caring about the suite of prints, though I always love getting additional (or even original!) artwork in a higher state.

435DMulvee
Jul 13, 2022, 1:57 pm

I agree that suite of prints wouldn’t really interest me - however I like the idea of this for the de Beauvoir de luxe state.

A solander box for the de luxe state would be the main attraction for me (the other aspects would probably be secondary)

436gmacaree
Jul 13, 2022, 2:10 pm

>424 DMulvee: I didn't get one 😭

437ultrarightist
Jul 13, 2022, 3:23 pm

Rounded spines are an aesthetic preference for me as well.

438Objectr
Jul 13, 2022, 4:21 pm

Flat spines remind me of school textbooks and I've still got PTSD from that.

439Shadekeep
Jul 13, 2022, 4:35 pm

>433 grifgon: Why the strong preference for rounded spines when there's no structural difference? I personally prefer flat.

I too. Flat spines have a pleasing De Stijl feel to them. Though I understand some folks could see that as cold and unfriendly.

440Glacierman
Editado: Jul 13, 2022, 5:42 pm

While I have nothing against flat spines, per se as long they are not used improperly, I much prefer rounded spines whenever possible. It's an aesthetic thing.

For a hand binder, flat spines are certainly easier to make than rounding and backing.

441jveezer
Jul 13, 2022, 5:43 pm

I overdosed on flat spines with my Arion Press subscription...

I don't mind them in moderation and for smaller text blocks. But any text block more than an inch thick, I prefer rounded.

442c_schelle
Jul 13, 2022, 6:27 pm

It seems I was quite late with answering the poll just now. As I prefer my own artwork on my walls I prefer my books without portfolios, but I'm very unlikely to upgrade anyways. I only have a couple of books with flat spines and prefer rounded spines, but I would be fine with the book having a flat spine.

443kdweber
Jul 13, 2022, 6:30 pm

>433 grifgon: Love the results to question #1 (I'm in the no preference category).

Not a big fan of solander boxes (prefer a slipcase and chemise) but I do like the extra portfolio that comes with some deluxe editions.

I don't mind flat spines on thin books but along with many others on this thread, on thicker books, I find rounded spines more aesthetically pleasing.

444mnmcdwl
Jul 14, 2022, 2:00 am

I am late in commenting here, but I voted for flat spines, no deluxe state, and an increase to the limitation. My thoughts were:

Flat spines: I personally like the aesthetic of flat spines, though I know rounded ones are better for thicker books. Clean and simple is usually best for me.

No deluxe: I don't really have a strong opinion here, but figured for such a small edition (and such a backlog already), again, keeping it simple is best. Also, I usually find myself wanting some, but not all, of the features in a deluxe edition. For example, I usually dislike solander boxes, don't really care about it being bound in leather or having a suite of prints, but paper upgrades I care greatly about.

Increase the limitation: the more the merrier. If you feel you can increase capacity without sacrificing quality, why not?

445DMulvee
Jul 14, 2022, 6:26 am

>444 mnmcdwl: I think this is a good point, if the addition of a de luxe were to slow other books by a week, then I would be against it. I would only be in favour if it has no impact, and yet (depending on what the de luxe entails) it might impact things

446NathanOv
Editado: Jul 14, 2022, 9:21 am

>445 DMulvee: Given we only have vague info on release timing, I don't think we'd even be aware of a few weeks delay to accomodate a de luxe edition. I just wouldn't want anything as ambitious and time consuming as, say, the Death & Honey lettered added on at this stage.

447LBShoreBook
Ago 11, 2022, 10:10 pm

For those who received the e-mail regarding hand-made paper for TWL, curious as to what people voted? I voted in favor of hand-made paper with the associated delay and tradeoffs.

448wcarter
Ago 11, 2022, 10:13 pm

<447
I went for option B, better binding etc.

449NathanOv
Editado: Ago 11, 2022, 10:18 pm

>447 LBShoreBook: it’s definitely a hard decision - I voted B, but I would love to see that paper, and won’t be too disappointed if things swing the other way.

From my perspective, option A felt a little like cutting other elements of what was envisioned for the definitive TWL to accommodate the unexpectedly high paper cost, whereas B seems like a relatively small compromise.

450kdweber
Ago 11, 2022, 11:03 pm

>447 LBShoreBook: Reluctant B

451booksforreading
Ago 12, 2022, 12:43 am

>447 LBShoreBook:
B.
An excellent mouldmade paper will be good enough, and the money saved on not buying the paper that is extraordinarily expensive can be used towards making the entire book more luxurious.

452toaonua
Ago 12, 2022, 2:20 am

>447 LBShoreBook: I also voted for Option B. That feels like the best choice for the ultimate goal of the project - to create the finest edition of The Waste Land and make it No Reply's magnum opus.

453dlphcoracl
Ago 12, 2022, 4:35 am

454SebRinelli
Ago 12, 2022, 4:36 am

Yup, Option B as well

455What_What
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 8:20 am

Im surprised a tradeoff is needed on the paper to divert towards making a better binding. What sort of binding was it originally going to be, such that a leather spine and hand tooling now requires a major downgrade in the paper?

And if the difference between handmade and mouldmade paper is so negligible, what was the decision-making process like to use handmade paper and a pedestrian cloth binding for a magnum opus?

My surprise is probably reflected in the majority’s vote for B, among a population of extraordinarily patient people.

Also, is the cost to the original subscribers coming down now that the Afterword is no longer exclusive, and instead another revenue generating source for the press?

456mnmcdwl
Ago 12, 2022, 5:36 am

I easily voted A. I will always choose better paper over many other upgrades. Also, I was impressed by the light blue Paper Foundation paper used in the special edition of King Arthur by St James Park Press. Judging by all the B votes, it may not matter. Whatever the final result though, it's bound to be impressive.

457PatsChoice
Ago 12, 2022, 8:45 am

I also voted for A. The more luxurious binding will be nice, but not truly special. One-of-a-kind handmade paper with unique watermarks is much more impressive to me, especially as NRP is using multiple colors and a sharp bite for the typesetting.

I'm buying the book to pore over the words, not get high off sniffing the morocco spine.

458booksforeveryone
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 10:49 am

As a longtime lurker and collector of fine presses, including No Reply Press, I feel compelled today to finally create an account to discuss some issues that I see popping up often and have a discussion with like-minded collectors.

1. It seems like No Reply Press is turning into Consensus Press. When I buy a book, I’m not only paying for the materials, labour and profits, I’m also paying for the expertise and decision-making skills of the publisher. It feels more and more like NRP is shirking its responsibility to make decisions that the press has to live with and leaving it to us. I have a full time job that keeps me busy, and getting polled so often makes me feel like I’m working part time for the press not getting paid for it. These decisions are for the press to make and for the press to live with.

Another example: we got another poll from Magnetic Storms and the result was “On the question of format, collectors were almost evenly divided between larger format / fewer pages and smaller format / more pager. This puts us in a bit of a pickle. With about 20% strongly preferring both extremes, and only 15% preferring the middle ground, it's difficult to find a compromise.”

Yes, the press is now in a pickle because you’ve now made it clear that 80% of your collectors will be unhappy with whatever decision you make. When instead, you could have simply made the book you promised and 100% of the people would be happy.

2. From the very start everyone involved knew that The Wastelands would be a limited edition and as collectors we’ve agreed to split the cost of Mr. Ricks’ substantial contribution among the 122 of us. Suddenly realizing that “friends of the press and of Christopher's, scholars, and institutional collections” wouldn’t be able to read it seems rather short-sighted. While I’m sure Mr. Ricks will be paid some amount for the additional 100 copies, it feels as though we’ve subsidized the cost of his work to the benefit of everyone else.

3. “The edition, as such, has been typeset” but if we choose mouldmade paper we can have “a more relaxed typesetting which doesn't concern itself with paper use.” So the entire edition will need to be completely reset?

4. So now we have to chose whether the magnum opus of the press is going to be on handmade paper and bound in cloth, or mouldmade paper and quarter bound in leather?

5. “The handmade paper from The Paper Foundation is 1/3 of the project budget.” What portion of the budget when planning this edition was the paper going to cost from St. Armand? Did you confirm with them when planning the edition that they could fulfill this order? Was a secondary option investigated and quotes/timing provided?

6. “Work with Paper Foundation for specially hand-made paper bearing a watermark unique to this edition. Expect a minimum of six months delay on delivery.” The Paper Foundation is going to taking six months longer than St. Armand would have taken to make the same amount of paper?

7. “Forget about handmade paper. Use an excellent mouldmade paper chosen by the collectors via paper sample booklets shipped later this month.” You’re going to mail samples of mouldmade paper to 122 collectors all around the world so we can do another poll and help select the paper? We’re being asked to make tradeoffs on paper while on the other hand indulging in this expensive, time-consuming endeavour so that a consensus can be (hopefully) had on a decision that the publisher should be making?

All this handwringing and decision by committee takes the joy out of being a collector. As a collector, I pay for the book that has been described to one degree or another, trusting that the publisher has done their due diligence on the feasibility of it all, and further, that they’re well-equipped and prepared to manage the challenges that will inevitably pop up along the way. If I wanted to be responsible for these kinds of editions I'd start my own Press.

459LBShoreBook
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 10:05 am

>458 booksforeveryone: I am not bothered by the poll question - we paid with the expectation of hand-made paper that NRP cannot deliver as anticipated. Pretty big change and I personally can't fault the press for transparency and input (although I was a bit surprised by the reference to a cloth spine as a tradeoff for hand-made paper). I am closer to your position on publishing the commentary in a separate volume. That seems to undercut part of the value proposition for this edition. At the end of the day, this is intended to be a magnum opus for the press and his budget is not unlimited in an inflationary environment with an unreliable supply chain.

460ultrarightist
Ago 12, 2022, 11:33 am

I voted for B.

The comment that "a more relaxed typesetting which doesn't concern itself with paper use" is vague, but this is the factor that tipped my vote in favor of B. I don't want a magnum opus with cramped or crowded text. Given the choice between the two, I would take the more 'relaxed' typography with ample room to breathe at the expense of a paper downgrade. Think of the FS Letterpress Shakespeare - would it be a better edition if the typography were significantly smaller and compressed in exchange for handmade paper over the Zerkall mouldmade? No. The Letterpress Shakespeare volumes are a pleasure to read for that very reason. Not to mention the superb bindings.

461grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 1:34 pm

Hmmm. Some of the responses here make me think that yesterday's email must have been extraordinarily poorly worded to have created the misunderstandings present. But, rereading it just now, I don't see how? Certain things may have been "read between the lines," or perhaps the email was just too long. Whatever the case, let me see if I can clear things up. >458 booksforeveryone: – Welcome to the Forum! Since you listed seven things, I think I'm going to respond to you item-by-item, in the hopes that this will cover others' comments/questions as well. Much to do today, so I may only get to them one-by-one.

462grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 1:49 pm

>458 booksforeveryone: Re: (1) Your dissatisfaction with polling collectors in general.

Nowhere in my email or in the poll does it say that the majority opinion of the collectors will be the decision. Asking for input ≠ giving decisionmaking to the collectors. I think getting input is good, and fun, and adds color to the process. The response from collectors is always overwhelmingly positive. I think people like having the opportunity to lend their thoughts, and I like hearing from them. If you don't enjoy participating, you don't need to!

463grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 1:41 pm

>458 booksforeveryone: Re: (2) Your disapproval of offering Christopher's "Afterwords" as a separate stand-along edition.

This was not my original plan, and not what I preferred to do. Christopher, having finished his work, was extremely happy with how it turned out. He knew that most of his colleagues are not receiving "The Waste Land," so he asked me if it was possible to print a separate run of "Afterwords". He is 90 years old, proud of his work, and he wants his colleagues to see it. How could I turn down his request? This edition won't be going on public sale, 90% of it will be distributed hors de commerce. I think it is little different than a portfolio of prints which often accompanies an edition, copies of which are often made for the artist for personal distribution.

You are inferring a lot here. Ricks is making no money from this. I am making no money from this. The press is making no money from this. We are all losing money so that ~50 professors can read and cite his work.

464grifgon
Ago 12, 2022, 12:22 pm

>458 booksforeveryone: Re: (3) Typesetting

I think my "for examples" have been taken too seriously. These were just "top of the head" ways that the non-paper aspects of a book can be improved by a greater budget. The email did not offer a specific plan for how the budget could be reallocated elsewhere in the book.

465grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 12:26 pm

>458 booksforeveryone: Re: (5) Other Handmade Paper Makers

The email covers this in detail. Yes, the Paper Foundation option is more expensive than were other options. It doesn't matter anyway, however, as these other options largely fell through.

466grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 1:35 pm

>458 booksforeveryone: Re: (4) "So now we have to chose whether the magnum opus of the press is going to be on handmade paper and bound in cloth, or mouldmade paper and quarter bound in leather?"

No. The poll asks for your input on this specific question:

(A) Work with Paper Foundation for specially hand-made paper bearing a watermark unique to this edition. Expect a minimum of six months delay on delivery. This gobbles a huge portion of our budget.

(B) Forget about handmade paper. Use an excellent mouldmade paper chosen by the collectors via paper sample booklets shipped later this month. Invest the money saved into the other elements of the edition, and expect a sooner delivery.

Anything not covered in this specific question should not be inferenced. I could design the book to use Morocco in either case. I don't think Morocco is all its cracked up to be (ha! – cause it cracks over time), and am leaning toward vellum instead, but that's beside the point.

467grifgon
Ago 12, 2022, 12:30 pm

>458 booksforeveryone: (6) Re: Timeline of paper

St. Armand cannot do this job. There is no decision to be made between them. You may be confusing St. Armand's mould-made offerings with their hand-made offerings.

468grifgon
Ago 12, 2022, 12:34 pm

>458 booksforeveryone: (7) Re: Paper samples

Sending paper samples is not time consuming or expensive.

Again, I think there's nothing wrong with my decisions being informed by the input of collectors. This edition is made possible by the collectors, and if they would like to give their input, I welcome it. Several good ideas came in replies to yesterday's email that had nothing to do with the A or B poll.

There seems to be a lot of excitement around paper samples, too. I suspect collectors would love to have a swatch-book of 10 mouldmade papers to use for reference notwithstanding this edition.

469grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 1:42 pm

>458 booksforeveryone: Lastly: "As a collector, I pay for the book that has been described to one degree or another, trusting that the publisher has done their due diligence on the feasibility of it all, and further, that they’re well-equipped and prepared to manage the challenges that will inevitably pop up along the way."

I hope this describes the process at hand. Last year, before announcing the edition, I discussed handmade paper with several makers, two of whom gave specific estimates and timelines. When the time came to move forward, they proved unable to do the job. As such, I searched far and wide for another hand-papermaker, and found an excellent one. Now, given new information, I have asked for feedback from the collectors.

It seems to me that you're saying, "I'd rather not know how the sausage is made." I find sausage-making very interesting, and it seems like many of the collectors of this edition do. If you don't want to follow along, please feel free to ignore the email and your book will show up at your door as a pure mystery and delight.

Also, it's "The Waste Land" not "The Wastelands"!!!!!

470grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 12:46 pm

Re: All

One point of my email which was likely unclear:

"A Morocco spine versus a cloth spine, for example"

This was meant as an example of a CLEAR difference that any collector could discern, as opposed to the subtleties of handmade versus mouldmade paper. This was not a specific action proposal. Most likely, the book will have a vellum spine regardless of (A) versus (B).

"Morocco spines with hand-tooling"

The emphasis here was meant to be on hand-tooling (as opposed to stamping). Again, poorly worded, and I see where the impression came that (A) versus (B) was also a choice between spine materials. To be clear: it is not.

471LBShoreBook
Ago 12, 2022, 12:54 pm

>470 grifgon: This just reinforces my vote for "A." 🙌

472grifgon
Ago 12, 2022, 1:09 pm

If my prolegomena just adds to your confusion 😂 here's the essence of the matter:

A = Handmade Paper + Delay
B = Mouldmade Paper + Samples sent to collectors + Upgrades TBD

And that's ALL the poll covers.

473grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 1:37 pm

>460 ultrarightist: Hope you don't mind my copying my private email on this here as well.

This is less a matter of cramped or crowded text, and more about general layout flexibility.

Handmade paper is a strictly limited resource, while mouldmade paper is a (basically) unlimited resource. So, while printing an edition, an idea may occur. "I'd like to put the epigraph on its own page!" or "The text ends on a recto, so it'd be better to place the colophon on the following recto than on the verso – or best, on the subsequent verso with an ornament on the recto." When you're working with a limited supply of handmade paper, you have to be very cognizant of the paper use in making such decisions. With mouldmade paper, the worst case scenario is that you run out and order a bit more from the local supplier. In essence, mouldmade offers more flexibility.

474punkzip
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 2:19 pm

>463 grifgon: "This was not my original plan, and not what I preferred to do. Christopher, having finished his work, was extremely happy with how it turned out. He knew that most of his colleagues are not receiving "The Waste Land," so he asked me if it was possible to print a separate run of "Afterwords". He is 90 years old, proud of his work, and he wants his colleagues to see it. How could I turn down his request? This edition won't be going on public sale, 90% of it will be distributed hors de commerce. I think it is little different than a portfolio of prints which often accompanies an edition, copies of which are often made for the artist for personal distribution. "

I do think that while this is not a big deal, the OP does have point. The commentary is among the things which makes this edition distinctive (compared to previous fine press editions) - and this was marketed as such. If collectors had known that this would be available separately beforehand, some might have opted to purchase that (at a substantially lower price) instead, particularly if they already owned other fine press versions of The Waste Land. As for one's colleagues seeing one's work, it could just have been sent as a PDF (for example, scholars/researchers often get requests for preprints of their works which are behind paywalls)...it doesn't make much sense to do a fine press edition as a distribution mechanism as most scholars who aren't fine press collectors wouldn't be too keen on spending $240 on a book.

475grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 2:37 pm

>474 punkzip: Agreed, but you've got the details wrong. Just see the comment of mine that you've quoted!

The stand-alone edition of "Afterwords" is not being offered publicly. It is only being offered for sale to subscribers of "The Waste Land", and begin given to the author's colleagues hors de commerce (i.e. they aren't buying it).

How is this different than the portfolio of prints which accompany many fine press editions?

A portfolio is offered to the subscribers of an edition, should they want it, and copies are reserved for the artist's own private distribution. This happens all the time.

476punkzip
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 2:37 pm

>475 grifgon: Ok so it sounds like this will be done at a substantial loss as most copies are being given out free as a favor to Mr. Ricks. However, the OPs original post is still justified IMO as I reread the email and it seemed that it was just for sale. In addition, I don't think it was made clear before - either in the email or in your original post here - that ONLY subscribers to the Waste Land could buy it (the email said friends of the press). So the clarification here is helpful, but the initial email was completely unclear IMO.

477grifgon
Editado: Ago 12, 2022, 2:52 pm

>475 grifgon: Fair enough! The link to order a copy was only sent to "The Waste Land" subscribers, I mentioned that it was meant primarily for private distribution (i.e. to friends of Christopher and ours), and I did say that it wouldn't be offered publicly, so I assumed it would be clear, but obviously not. Yes, the stand-alone "Afterwords" is almost entirely a financial loss due to its nature. Christopher and I are essentially splitting the burden of it.

478NathanOv
Ago 12, 2022, 6:34 pm

>477 grifgon: If the original vision for the book can be accomplished with the increased paper cost, then I’m a strong A!

Rather than taking from extra budget for undetermined “upgrades”, I had read it as having to pull budget from other planned elements of the production to accommodate the paper.

The handmade paper sounds spectacular, and a delay is a non-issue for me, I just wouldn’t want the grander vision for the book compromised for the sake of one component.

To be honest, if I had the option to simply pay more for the increase in paper quality I’d take it, but I know that’s probably a hard sell for most collectors.

479grifgon
Ago 12, 2022, 6:43 pm

>478 NathanOv: Thanks for the feedback Nathan. Its clear that I inadvertently gave the impression that the handmade paper would mean a worse book than expected in other respects. Not so! The bigger issue at hand is the delay, and the opportunity to splurge elsewhere by switching from handmade to mouldmade.

You aren't the first to suggest a "Take more of my money!!!!" option. Hahahahahahahaha it's much appreciated, but we've got plenty of budget for this project, and anyway I'd rather take a financial loss than go back to the well. I think proprietors should think long and hard about their pricing, and if they screw up it's on them.

480toaonua
Ago 17, 2022, 4:15 am

>479 grifgon: If the handmade paper won't compromise the other elements of the book, I have no problem voting for Option A. A delay to ensure the book has the highest quality paper is a no brainer for me.

481LBShoreBook
Editado: Ago 22, 2022, 3:46 pm

Grifgon, curious if you plan to update subscribers as to which way you plan to go on the survey topic for TWL? I think asking for input is great, also great to learn about the output. 😊

482grifgon
Editado: Ago 22, 2022, 4:17 pm

>481 LBShoreBook: 72% of respondents were in favor of "A" (handmade paper)!

That number may have been higher, too, but for the impression some got that "A" meant the book would be bound in a used Taco Bell bag or something 😂

My preference is strongly for "A" so this basically confirmed it.

Next up on "The Waste Land" is to begin work on covers and reexamine typesetting now that there will be some extra time with the paper. We also must decide on the watermark(s?). I'm thrilled by the sample I received Friday, and I learned that the Paper Foundation is working with another printer soon – John Grice. The good company reinforces my confidence in their work.

The book will be BIG on this paper, so I'm also trying to decide whether to trim it a bit or not.

483ultrarightist
Ago 22, 2022, 4:25 pm

>482 grifgon: "That number may have been higher, too, but for the impression some got that "A" meant the book would be bound in a used Taco Bell bag or something"

I imagined re-purposed burlap bags. :-)

484LBShoreBook
Ago 22, 2022, 4:31 pm

>482 grifgon: Thanks for the update, will be interested to see where you land on the watermark. I have the Arion Press Melville poems that incorporate the whale watermark from the left-over hand-made paper used in M-D and a custom watermark makes the presentation pretty special.

485grifgon
Ago 22, 2022, 4:31 pm

>481 LBShoreBook: OH! And I don't think I ever posted the results of the "Ivan Ilyich" poll. Here they are for those interested:

Clive Knights' artwork will be tipped into the edition. Should the pages upon which the artwork is mounted by the same or a different color of Hahnemühle Bugra? (Same may mean less interruption to the text; different may make the artwork pop more.)

Same: 27%
Different: 25%
No Preference: 48%

(We're going with different.)

The marbled papers for the edition are spectacular. Do you want to see them now, or wait for your book to arrive for a first impression?

Now: 34%
Wait: 66%

(We'll wait.)

We are considering a flat or rounded spine. For this book, the only different is aesthetic. What do you prefer?

Rounded: 68%
Flat: 11%
No Preference: 21%

(My plan is to do a flat spine, but the poll results is giving me pause enough to prototype a rounded spine and see what I think.)

We have received a dozen requests to offer a de luxe state. What do you think?

Yes: 32%
No: 25%
No Preference: 43%

(We aren't going to for a few reasons which ultimately boil down to "I like the standard so much".)

Should we increase the edition size? (From 50 to somewhere between 51 and 75.)

Yes: 77%
No: 23%

(Haven't decided. We have the materials for up to 75 and a waiting list. It will mostly depend on whether the traffic jam of other editions clears up sooner or later.)

486grifgon
Editado: Ago 22, 2022, 4:41 pm

>483 ultrarightist: Burlap sacks is for the five de luxe copies!

>484 LBShoreBook: Because the parent sheets are fairly large, we have space for TWO watermarks. So we'll probably have a No Reply watermark and a watermark unique to the edition (we're at the drawing board on this one). Whatever the case, the paper will be used ONLY on this edition. If we have leftover sheets, we'll burn them. (Just kidding, that's wasteful. I'll use them for napkins. But only when my fanciest guests are over.)

487SDB2012
Ago 22, 2022, 4:42 pm

>482 grifgon: What does BIG mean? Forgive my ignorance but what does the type of paper have to do with the size of the book? Not sure if I'm an outlier but I'm generally not a fan of huge books. I don't remember if you mentioned the size in a previous note.

also >469 grifgon: Letterpress and hand made paper "might" be a bit over the top for The Wastelands. Although, I'd love for Suntup or Centiped to do the whole series in a special edition... Sigh. I'm a fan. What can I say?

488punkzip
Ago 22, 2022, 4:43 pm

>482 grifgon: thanks for the update. I forgot to vote but would have voted for A but I guess no tiebreaker votes are needed

489grifgon
Editado: Ago 22, 2022, 5:04 pm

>487 SDB2012: Not an ignorant question at all! I imagine many collectors wouldn't know. I think it's actually really hard to understand what's going on on the craft side of things without hands-on experience.

Hand- and mould-made paper are produced in sheets which are usually smaller than machine-made papers, which gives the bookmaker less latitude in determining the size of the book. These "parent sheets" are folded and cut across the top to create a "signature," and the signatures are sewn together into a book. The terms "folio, quarto, octavo, etc." come from the number of times you fold the parent sheet.



The mould which the Paper Foundation will use is about 22'' by 30''. So, a folio would be 15'' by 22'' (gigantic). A quarto would be 11'' by 15'' (big). An octavo would be 7.5'' by 11'' (pretty typical).

For the edition we're striving to make, 7.5'' by 11'' is probably too small. But 11'' by 15'' is quite big! I could trim the parent sheets to affect the size. (But this has the consequence of removing some deckles.)

We're talking about something between Foolscap's Mandeville and Rampant Lions' Psalms.

I don't particularly love big books either, and in fact I actively prefer smaller ones. However, the raison d'être for this edition is to produce something monumental. So, I'm inclined toward making it a bigger book than my personal preference.

490ultrarightist
Ago 22, 2022, 5:09 pm

>489 grifgon: Very informative and helpful, thank you.

Do Folio foldings entail any cutting across the top?

491grifgon
Editado: Ago 22, 2022, 5:22 pm

>490 ultrarightist: Nope! Basically the only books you'll ever see with a top deckle are folio.

Unfortunately, the terms folio quarto octavo duodecimo etc. popularly denote a size range now, and not the actual method of folding. (Sort of how "font" has come to mean "typeface".) These terms actually *do* convey information other than size – particularly when it comes to deckles and watermark distribution.

492SDB2012
Editado: Ago 22, 2022, 5:34 pm

>489 grifgon: Excellent explanation. Thank you! 11" x 15" isn't too big for my taste- for something special like this. I even have two shelves that can handle that size and have space available. But, this will need a place of honor. I need to find the magic that will inspire my wife to approve some library expansion.

493kermaier
Ago 22, 2022, 5:41 pm

>489 grifgon:
Interesting! The largest-format book in my collection is the Grabhorn Press "Julius Caesar", which has paper approximately 11" x 15". I had always assumed that was folio in the mechanical sense, rather than just by size convention, with top edges trimmed and bottom/fore edges retaining the deckle. But it sounds like it might actually be quarto from a very large sheet.

494grifgon
Ago 22, 2022, 6:32 pm

>493 kermaier: I think it's almost certainly quarto, as 30" by 22" is a pretty common mould size but 15" by 22" isn't. I imagine if one takes a look at their fine press collection and cross-references the papers to the book sizes, there will be a pretty strong correlation. Like, I don't have Sudden Immobility on hand, but I know it uses Zerkall, so I'm guessing it's roughly 7.5" by 10.5" with a deckle on the bottom of every page, no deckles on the top, and deckles on 1/2 of fore-edges.

495NathanOv
Editado: Ago 22, 2022, 7:01 pm

>489 grifgon: Well, as long as the case doesn’t add more than an inch to the depth, 11” x 15” will just barely fit on my shelves!

496jordanxn
Ago 25, 2022, 2:37 pm

>494 grifgon: Griffin, is Enuma Elis still shipping? Never received a notice and want to make sure I didn’t miss something.

497grifgon
Ago 25, 2022, 2:42 pm

>496 jordanxn: Hi Jordan — Yes, they've just begun shipping, so the majority aren't out of the workshop yet. Slow but steady. Update on the Kickstarter pretty soon.

498Praveenna_Nagaratnam
Ago 30, 2022, 5:18 am

Just received my Scandal in Bohemia! It is so beautiful. Great job Griffin!

499booksforeveryone
Sep 14, 2022, 4:13 pm

The Folio Society is also making a limited edition of Eliot’s The Wasteland but it’s only for sale in the US because they don’t have permission from the estate to sell it anywhere else.

Griffin: were the rights difficult to acquire?

500grifgon
Editado: Sep 14, 2022, 4:43 pm

>499 booksforeveryone: Not especially. With such a small edition, it's much easier to obtain the proper permissions, plus "distribution" is orders of magnitude more complicated for FS than it is for little old me. I also have a big collaborator who is the sole copyright holder to most of the editorial content, which makes things really easy.

While I don't know much about Folio Society, I'd imagine rights are enormously more complicated for them than any private press. One-time direct-mail permissions are far simpler than unlimited editions with worldwide indirect distribution and open timelines. It's the difference between getting a license to drive a car versus a license to fly a plane.

501What_What
Sep 15, 2022, 8:47 am

>500 grifgon: The Folio Society edition is a limited, fine press edition of 350 copies very much in the same vein as yours - letterpress printed by Phil, handbound by Ludlow, vellum binding.

Nevertheless, congratulations on being able to secure worldwide rights when they couldn’t.

502grifgon
Sep 15, 2022, 11:35 am

>501 What_What: Huh! I haven't seen any announcements about the FS (though I knew it was coming, and Christopher Ricks and Jim McCue, my primary collaborators, have been cognizant of it for a few years actually, as I think they may have been approached about it). Where have you seen the info on it?

503NathanOv
Editado: Sep 15, 2022, 11:47 am

>502 grifgon: There’s a feature on it in the fall magazine. It’s oversized and letterpress, but that seems to be where the similarities end.

I’m sure it will be beautiful, but I think the pattern with a lot of Folio LE’s has been fine press elements without overall fine press sensibilities / design / attention to detail.

504grifgon
Editado: Sep 15, 2022, 12:09 pm

>503 NathanOv: Aha! — I don't get their newsletter so that explains it. Is there any indication if the F.S. will be illustrated? If so, that's a sticking point. Eliot explicitly prohibited the illustrating of his works (though he made a few small exceptions).

Edit: I just remembered an email I received a year ago from McCue, and dug it up. Yes, the Folio Society is illustrated by Tom Phillips. In my opinion, a really good choice to illustrate The Waste Land if you're going to illustrate it.

The competition is welcome! The more the merrier, frankly, and as mine is really expensive even at the early price perhaps it will mean more collectors can get a The Waste Land on their shelves. My raison d'être is really the Editorial Composite and Afterwords, besides.

505NathanOv
Editado: Sep 15, 2022, 1:12 pm

>504 grifgon: I would be shocked if this is much lower cost than yours, given the price of the latest and rather simple LE of “The Turn of The Screw.”

That said, the illustrations will surely be nice and it really is a different sort of production for a largely different audience.

506Shadekeep
Sep 15, 2022, 12:56 pm

>503 NathanOv: the pattern with a lot of Folio LE’s has been fine press elements without overall fine press sensibilities / design / attention to detail

A rather perfect summation, well done.

507Lukas1990
Editado: Sep 23, 2022, 12:30 pm

Finally had time to take some pictures.

Thank you, Griffin, for introducing me to No Reply Press and a fellow Lithuanian poet/artist Rūta Marija Kuzmickas! What a tiny and cute book that is!

Also liked the Kafka broadside...and the snail! I haven't seen a deeper impression on paper.









508ultrarightist
Sep 24, 2022, 12:43 am

Has anyone else who ordered the NRP edition of A Scandal in Bohemia not received his copy yet?

509kdweber
Sep 24, 2022, 12:59 am

510grifgon
Sep 24, 2022, 1:34 am

>508 ultrarightist: >509 kdweber: All that's left to ship is about half the de luxe and a few other miscellaneous stragglers. Next two (ish) weeks for those, and then fully shipped.

>507 Lukas1990: Really glad to have a Per Se Phone in Lithuania!

511Shadekeep
Oct 1, 2022, 8:28 pm

grifgon, is there currently a sale happening at NRP? I recently decided to acquire Above All Else Do Not Lie and was surprised to see it marked down from $345.00 to $245.00. Checking another title I saw a similar reduction. I don't recall hearing anything about a sale, and my apology if this was meant to be a secret sale or some such.

512What_What
Editado: Oct 28, 2022, 10:24 pm

Is it weird that from the sound of the email today, Enuma Elise has been shipping for 3 months, and still hasn't been sent to all customers, and in the meantime, broadsheets are being conceptualized, printed, framed, and fulfilled? Doesn't sound like there's a sense of urgency in getting these books out to collectors. Can't be that hard to pack 300 standard sized books, in standard boxes, with standard weights, can it? 3 days' work?

I suppose they aren't all bound, and maybe as they trickle in they're sent out. But in the past, getting a few books out a day sounded like quite an accomplishment, which it isn't.

And there's time to create a whole new Consensus Press too.

I'm just not getting a sense of focus here, and respect for timelines. More of a "we'll get to it when we get to it, if you want to cancel your order it's fine, we have a load of people on a waitlist and in the meantime, here's our other side projects."

513NathanOv
Oct 28, 2022, 10:53 pm

>512 What_What: To be fair, they’ve been pretty open about shipping timelines and the latest Broadside Club print is also delayed so it hasn’t been given any particular preference.

I certainly like to see presses continue with projects and envision new ones even when other parts of their process is delayed. I wouldn’t want everyone at the press to drop everything else they were working on to assist with a minor shipping delay.

514grifgon
Editado: Oct 29, 2022, 12:09 am

>512 What_What: What what can I say? It's 9pm and I'm still here in the workshop packaging books. I'll be here for a couple more hours at least! There isn't some huge team at No Reply, just me and my two part-time assistants (plus sometimes my partner when her day job allows). I don't think sending an email (our first in five months!) highlighting a couple of projects which we've finished along the way is "weird" or a distraction from our present work. And 300 packages of handmade books with each package being different in three days? Holy guacemole — if you're saying you can do that, I'll book you a flight to Portland right now and pay you whatever you want to get it done. When it's lunchtime on your first day, though, and you've only made it through five, I'll be sure to impugn your focus and lack of urgency.

515What_What
Oct 29, 2022, 12:25 am

Este mensaje ha sido denunciado por varios usuarios por lo que no se muestra públicamente. (mostrar)
>514 grifgon: It takes you all morning to pack 5 packages?

516grifgon
Oct 29, 2022, 12:39 am

517Glacierman
Oct 29, 2022, 1:08 am

>515 What_What: Easy to criticize when you have no idea of what is going on at NRP. I'd cut Griffin some slack, were I you. It's not as if the only thing he has to do is package books for shipping.

518Stephan68
Oct 29, 2022, 3:08 am

>514 grifgon: I don’t mind to wait a bit longer for my copy of the Enuma, but I would be grateful for some more updates on the progress in sending them out. Living in the Netherlands, I had plenty of bad experiences with delivery from the USA and I am often asking myself if things are just delayed or if the package got lost (again!).

519grifgon
Oct 29, 2022, 3:29 am

>518 Stephan68: Roger that, Stephan. I know what you mean. International packages can cause anxiety all around. You'll receive an email with a tracking code when yours is on our shipping table. The two copies shipped to the Netherlands so far have been taking a while in transit, one nearly a month now. Feel free to shoot me an email for a more specific update on when yours will ship if you like!

520jveezer
Oct 29, 2022, 11:57 am

Take your time packaging my books whenever they are ready, Griffin.
Says the guy that just received an empty (outer?) box from the prestigious Oxford University Press that was supposed to contain a $200 book, ha ha. Obviously it doesn't value the books it publishes or its customers, or it just sees them as commodities. To its credit it is sending out another copy but I doubt it'll put any more effort into the packaging, ha ha. Corporate Capitalism -1; Customer -1

521grifgon
Oct 29, 2022, 12:36 pm

>520 jveezer: Funny you should mention it, yours just crossed the shipping table and will be posted Monday. I'll double check that the book is inside the box...

522punkzip
Oct 29, 2022, 1:44 pm

>521 grifgon: What is the status of the 3 "big" books?

523jveezer
Oct 29, 2022, 1:58 pm

>521 grifgon: Our packages might cross in the mail. TeaMail care package incoming as well to make sure you take breaks for tea. Although that might slow down your one-man business even more. Uh oh. ;)

524Oswestrian
Oct 29, 2022, 2:15 pm

I'm very happy to have received my copies of Per Se Phone and The Most Efficient Language a couple of days ago - two wonderful books, well worth waiting for. Now time to start saving up again!

525grifgon
Oct 29, 2022, 2:43 pm

>522 punkzip: The first, Ivan Ilyich, may ship in late December. It's on press now. Waiting for handmade paper from the Paper Foundation for The Waste Land, and Ambiguity is in the wings after Ivan .

>523 jveezer: Your tea makes everything go twice as fast! I had the last of my 18 Ruby the other day. Super excited for a re-up! In case anybody hasn't tried J's teas yet:

https://www.leavesofcha.com/products/copy-of-bi-luo-chun-pure-gold-hong-cha

526grifgon
Editado: Oct 29, 2022, 4:31 pm

Obviously there have been major delays across the fine press community for the past two years or so, and I think we can all expect much more to come (the number of editions going through the same two or three binderies alone!). I think each press will deal with the issue (or not) in their own way. For mine, starting next year I'm basically not going to announce editions until they're ready to ship. I've invested pretty heavily in materials and tools, so everything I need is under one roof. In other words, the upfront funding that early reservations afford is no longer necessary. So, I'm going to simplify my process. Make an edition. Announce an edition. Ship an edition. Repeat.

527Shadekeep
Oct 29, 2022, 4:20 pm

>526 grifgon: That sounds best. I'm waiting with anticipation but not impatience on the books in the works, and glad to hear that Ambiguity is moving along the queue nicely!

528NathanOv
Editado: Oct 29, 2022, 6:03 pm

>525 grifgon: Exciting update on Ivan, I had no idea it might be coming so soon!

>526 grifgon: I personally always love hearing what titles presses have in the pipeline, and having preorders to look forward to, but I definitely appreciate that approach as well and hope it helps reduce some stress.

529grifgon
Editado: Nov 3, 2022, 8:23 pm

>528 NathanOv: I don't think I'll make any secret about what's coming down the pike. Official announcements and ordering, though, will wait until a book is done. Better that way for stress and keen business decision-making on my end, and better for collectors who don't have to wait and can see photos of the actual book before deciding.

530mnmcdwl
Editado: Oct 30, 2022, 1:46 am

>526 grifgon: I think taking orders for books only when they're ready to ship will save a lot of stress all the way around. No one likes wondering if their book has been lost in the post, or whether order lists have been mixed up. Also, it hasn't happened with any of yours, but there have definitely been cases where I have received a book ordered and paid for years ago that I wonder why I ordered in the first place.

531PatsChoice
Editado: Nov 3, 2022, 7:31 pm

I received the standard edition of Enūma Eliš today—high-level thoughts are that it is very crisply done. Most pleasing to me is the punchy bite to the section breaks; I wish the full text received such treatment. That said, the typography is super clean, the typefaces are handsome, the margins are generous, the printing is even, and the typesetting is highly pleasing to read. In terms of content, the translation flows smoothly (from the excerpts I've read) and the footnotes are most welcome.

Congratulations, Griffin & co, on a great imprint!

532Glacierman
Nov 3, 2022, 7:31 pm

>529 grifgon: Sounds like a good idea to me!

533Shadekeep
Dic 12, 2022, 2:18 pm

Interesting article regarding Ukrainian poetry, in light of the forthcoming Магнітні бурі / Magnetic Storms:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/09/for-ukrainians-poetry-isnt...

The Dictionary of War project mentioned in the article is fascinating as well.

534NathanOv
Dic 16, 2022, 2:27 pm

I received my standard Enūma Eliš today, along with a delightful little volume from No Reply’s back-catalogue, Francis Bacon’s “Truth.”

I’ve only briefly flipped through each so far, but they both look like impeccable productions that I’m excited to sit down and read.

535NathanOv
Dic 21, 2022, 9:03 am

Not affiliated, but there’s a copy of Masque of The Red Death available on eBay. Seller has sent offers as low as $140, so price seems quite flexible.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204078198078?du=5&mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11...

536Shadekeep
Dic 21, 2022, 10:18 am

>535 NathanOv: Hmm, slightly misleading to say "1 of 376" in the listing title. Granted, it is one of a numbered run, but it's not #1. Still, most people probably understand what's meant.

537What_What
Dic 21, 2022, 10:46 am

>536 Shadekeep: There’s actually nothing misleading about that at all. If it were a lettered copy, it would say 1 of 26. They didn’t say #1 of 376.

538Shadekeep
Editado: Dic 21, 2022, 12:06 pm

>537 What_What: Right, that's why I said that most people probably understood the intent. Still, at a casual glance it can look like they are offering #1. Just as easy to put the actual number in the title, but that's just me being persnicketty.

Lesson of the Day: There's no amount of conditional qualification you can add to a statement that someone still won't take exception to it.😄

539yolana
Dic 21, 2022, 5:24 pm

>534 NathanOv: Received mine today and am utterly thrilled. I’ll have to find time to read it without someone barging in to chitchat.

540filox
Dic 21, 2022, 5:59 pm

>538 Shadekeep: Tbf, I think this is the rather standard way of specifying the limitation, not just on ebay but on Abe as well. I don't find it particularly misleading, but YMMV I guess.

541Shadekeep
Dic 22, 2022, 7:24 am

>540 filox: I think you're right, and I knew what they meant too. I guess I'm so on guard for deceptive advertising on those sites that it generates false positives.

542wdripp
Dic 29, 2022, 4:42 pm

Is anyone still waiting for delivery of Enūma Eliš?

543grifgon
Dic 29, 2022, 4:56 pm

>542 wdripp: About 75 have yet to ship. They're continuing to go out slowly but surely. Thanks for your patience!

544ChestnutPress
Dic 29, 2022, 6:24 pm

>543 grifgon: Fingers remain crossed that you have a copy left over, Griffin!

545Tambien
Dic 29, 2022, 7:23 pm

>544 ChestnutPress: No kidding! It’s a beautiful book I was terribly sorry to miss the Kickstarter for haha

546wdripp
Dic 29, 2022, 9:23 pm

>543 grifgon: Thanks for the update.

547sdawson
Dic 31, 2022, 9:05 pm

happy new year Griffon and the rest of you

548NathanOv
Ene 11, 2023, 2:48 pm

This was probably confirmed somewhere already, but are all three “big books” now fully subscribed?

I don’t remember seeing any public announcements, but also know the press made the decision to wait until books are ready to ship in the future.

549Shadekeep
Ene 11, 2023, 2:56 pm

>548 NathanOv: I believe I heard something to that effect as well. One of them filled up pretty quickly if I recall, with the other two getting there soon after. May be mistaken however, hopefully Griffin will say for sure.

550grifgon
Editado: Ene 11, 2023, 3:48 pm

>548 NathanOv: The Death of Ivan Ilyich and The Ethics of Ambiguity have been fully subscribed for a while. About two dozen The Waste Land not yet reserved.

Hoping to send out a big No Reply end-of-year email any day now, just need to take a few hours away from the workshop where I've been around-the-clock to get the remaining Enūma Elis shipped. Really excited about the year ahead. Mostly excited to get these big projects across the finish line; they've been an absolute joy to work on.

551ChestnutPress
Ene 11, 2023, 4:41 pm

>550 grifgon: I need a copy of Waste Land, Griffin!!

552const-char-star
Ene 15, 2023, 6:40 pm

Appreciate the year-end letter, Griffin! Very much looking forward to the press’ work in the coming year.

Also, for those that haven’t seen it yet, No Reply’s website now features a Workshop Notes page detailing the status of all active projects: https://www.noreplypress.com/workshop

553Shadekeep
Ene 17, 2023, 1:39 pm

Interesting project up from NRP on Kickstarter, it's a series of author woodblock portraits:

Impressions: Woodblock Portraits of Writers

554NathanOv
Ene 17, 2023, 2:13 pm

>553 Shadekeep: Interesting project! I'm not much of a fine art collector, but am tempted by the Toni Morrison and T.S. Eliot portraits to complement some of my books. I wish the size of the prints was clear though - all I can gather from the description is that they're smaller than the 9x11 frames.

555DMulvee
Editado: Ene 17, 2023, 3:41 pm

>554 NathanOv: The Jane Austen is 5.5 x 3.5 inches according to Kevin Clinton’s instagram. I haven’t checked the other images but they might be listed there.

I like the idea and concept, however would have preferred if all 9 were authors who had been printed by No Reply (either as a book or broadside). I realise that William Blake was the inspiration behind Jack, however struggle to see the link between No Reply and some of the authors that were selected.

ETA: A broadside of Blake’s ‘The Tyger’ has been produced, so he definitely counts as an author they have published

556Shadekeep
Ene 17, 2023, 2:42 pm

>555 DMulvee: would have preferred if all 9 were authors who had been printed by No Reply

That's an interesting idea. I can imagine portraits of Poe and Doyle would be quite popular.

557DMulvee
Ene 17, 2023, 2:48 pm

>556 Shadekeep: Even de Beauvoir and Adichie would have been interesting and preferable to Austen and MLK. That said we don’t know what Griffin is working on behind the scenes. For Consensus press he mentioned how difficult it was to get the rights to Borges, so if he tried this for No Reply (even though he might have been unsuccessful so far) then I think this is fair for inclusion, but I hope that we see broadsides for Austen, MLK and the others this year to justify their selection

558Shadekeep
Ene 17, 2023, 3:01 pm

>557 DMulvee: de Beauvoir and Adichie would have been interesting

Very much in agreement, and I would have happily plunked down for the both of those as well (and I have their books from NRP, either in hand or on order). Though it may require a bit more collaboration/sign-off for representations of living authors like Adichie or the poet Rūta Kuzmickas.

559kdweber
Ene 17, 2023, 3:52 pm

>553 Shadekeep:. An interesting project, it reminds me of the Penntroyal Press “Men of Printing” published in 1976. A physically small (7 1/4” x 5 1/4”) book with eight woodblock prints by Barry Moser along with the corresponding obit. The actual portraits are only 3” x 2 1/2”.

560MobyRichard
Ene 17, 2023, 5:22 pm

Interesting project but at $75, the prints are just too small for me.

561What_What
Ene 18, 2023, 12:02 am

>560 MobyRichard: Same. Not enough bang for my buck.

562bacchus.
Ene 18, 2023, 7:19 am

I’d like to support the project, and I might back the Tolstoy print to suit the upcoming book, but I’ll probably need to save for what’s coming.

Another note of appreciation for the well-thought end of year email by Griffin. Success for 2023!

563punkzip
Editado: Ene 19, 2023, 5:04 pm

Does anyone who has letterpress prints frame them? I have the Arion letterpress print of Don Quixote (which they sell for somewhat absurd price of $1500 - although I assume subscribers could get 30% off this). It's framed, but it seems to me that framing a letterpress print sort of defeats the purpose of doing a letterpress print (as you can no longer interact with the paper and printing).

564What_What
Ene 19, 2023, 7:20 pm

>563 punkzip: Tell us more about this interaction with framed artwork hanging on wall.

565punkzip
Ene 19, 2023, 7:34 pm

>564 What_What: Not sure what you are asking? I was saying that if you frame a letterpress print there doesn't seem to be much point to the letterpress.

566NathanOv
Editado: Ene 19, 2023, 7:43 pm

>565 punkzip: The point of letterpress isn’t to be able to touch and feel it any more than the texture in an oil painting is there to run your hand over.

The point is first and foremost visual.

567edkennedy
Ene 19, 2023, 7:42 pm

>565 punkzip: Why frame an oil painting?

568Shadekeep
Editado: Ene 19, 2023, 9:22 pm

>566 NathanOv: I'd say there's a tactile aspect to letterpress text, but yes, I agree that for prints it's the visual quality. And depending on the bite that may be minimal in terms of impression, though typically there is still a different quality to the application of ink to the page in letterpess.

569NathanOv
Ene 19, 2023, 11:28 pm

>568 Shadekeep: Oh, I definitely enjoy the tactile element as well, but I don’t think that’s ever a printer’s main intent.

570punkzip
Ene 20, 2023, 8:33 am

FWIW, I could not tell that my DQ letterpress print was letterpress - I only knew it because it was stated in the website listing (I received it framed already). But I think the retail cost is likely mostly related to it being a limited print by a famous artist rather than the printing technique. But the question remains, how many here have framed letterpress prints?

571DMulvee
Ene 20, 2023, 8:43 am

>571 DMulvee: The only one I have framed to put on a wall is Durham Lookout from Corvus Works.

572ChestnutPress
Ene 20, 2023, 1:24 pm

>570 punkzip: I do. A poster by Guido Morris at the Latin Press

573kermaier
Ene 20, 2023, 1:31 pm

>570 punkzip:
I have a framed copy of the No Reply broadside of Emily Dickinson’s “Hope…”

574jsg1976
Ene 20, 2023, 3:06 pm

>570 punkzip: if I could find a non-outrageously priced copy of the Suntup Schindler’s Ark broadside I would frame that

575Shadekeep
Ene 20, 2023, 5:00 pm

>573 kermaier: I have the Beowulf broadside from NRP framed, it looks great that way.

576ChampagneSVP
Ene 20, 2023, 5:27 pm

>570 punkzip: Every press room I’ve seen has walls covered in framed letterpress prints. I have a few on the walls of my home and a few more queued up for framing. I’d recommend going with museum glass if it’s in your budget. Blocks UV and nearly completely obliterates glare.

577grifgon
Editado: Ene 20, 2023, 5:35 pm

Punkzip: It's a great question. As you point out, framing a letterpress piece diminishes one of the signature attributes of letterpress, tactility. Also, letterpress is often used with especially tactile papers – so, a double loss.

But as we all know, "letterpress" is vague. It's a really complex medium which allows for several more dimensions of aesthetics and craft than, say, inkjet printing. The answer to the question, "What's the point of framing a letterpress print?" really depends on the application of letterpress and the choices a printer makes.

I don't think many serious letterpress printers would print a broadside meant to be framed in the same manner that they'd print a book page meant to be turned, for instance. (And of course, the same can be true within a book: If anybody here has No Reply's Conundrums, compare the printing of the title and the Non-Erratum insert with the poems. Different purposes, different settings, different letterpresses.) For No Reply broadsides, I like to use heavier impression than typical, and I like to mount the broadside on a board before framing, so that the paper edges are raised and shadowed. Tactility is lost, but the visual impression of letterpress and the natural deckle of the paper are accentuated.

TLDR: Letterpress meant for framing and letterpress meant for handling call for different approaches.

A technical note: The Arion Don Quixote print is advertised as a "relief print" rather than a "letterpress print". Letterpress is of course a method of relief printing, but I'd hazard to guess that if the print had been done letterpress – from polymer plates on a cylinder press, say – they would have just said "letterpress". I don't know, but it's possible that their method of relief printing is one which doesn't leave much of an impression. Arion is a "kissing press," though, so who knows.

>576 ChampagneSVP:: This is completely true: I've visited 20+ press rooms and print shops and they're all covered in framed letterpress prints.

578ChestnutPress
Ene 20, 2023, 7:01 pm

>577 grifgon: One matter that strikes me as hugely important is simply the visual aesthetic from purely a design point of view. The supposed main points at the very heart of fine press are the exceptional typography and illustrations. Ignoring the letterpress impression and lovely paper, just the arrangement of a beautifully set page in a handsome typeface, either with or without any illustration, is very pleasing to the eye. I mentioned further up this thread that I have a framed Latin Press poster. It is a purely typographic piece, clean and simple, from a man who believed that fine typography could be viewed as art. And I agree with him. There are certainly a great many title pages in my collection that I think more than beautiful enough to frame as art. To take the idea to an extreme, would any of us really argue that a page from the Gutenberg bible isn't visually stunning enough to look great framed on a wall? I would certainly be very happy to have such. That such framed work is letterpress on fine paper certainly adds to the visual appeal, making it more artistically viable as a framed work, but it is the base arrangement in the abstract that is initially viewed as beautiful. I personally think that great typography can make for great art.

579punkzip
Ene 20, 2023, 7:02 pm

>577 grifgon: According to the Arion website “Don Quixote in a Printing House in Barcelona” is a relief print in black and three colors, printed by letterpress at Arion Press."

580grifgon
Ene 20, 2023, 7:17 pm

>578 ChestnutPress: I agree completely!

>579 punkzip: There you have it then! I guess they just chose to use very light impression.

581punkzip
Ene 20, 2023, 7:22 pm

>580 grifgon: I received it framed with museum glass. I never removed it from the frame - what I was trying to say was that if I didn't know it was letterpress I would not have been able to figure it out in the framed state.

582ultrarightist
Ene 20, 2023, 9:27 pm

>580 grifgon: Arion Press definitely believes in closed mouth kissing impressions.

583What_What
Ene 21, 2023, 8:15 pm

>581 punkzip: Back to what I think your original question was - do you enjoy it any less you think, it being under glass?

584Glacierman
Ene 21, 2023, 9:01 pm

Broadsides are meant to be seen and read, and prints to be seen and enjoyed with the eyeballs, not groped and fondled. Just my take on it.

585SuttonHooPress
Ene 21, 2023, 10:50 pm

>566 NathanOv: Oh No! touch and feel and read--the whole body experience. Text is texture.

586SuttonHooPress
Ene 21, 2023, 10:53 pm

>584 Glacierman: Just another reason I feel broadsides are pointless and lead to a storage problem.

587ChestnutPress
Ene 22, 2023, 12:45 am

>586 SuttonHooPress: I genuinely don't find storage of broadsheets that much of a problem. I have traditional college-style artist portfolios with posters and broadsheets in the sleeves so I can leaf through like a book. While I admit it's a bit of a faff and I generally prefer my fine press to be in a book or booklet form, there is a great deal of enjoyment to be had from my collection of single-sheet ephemera, with some seriously gorgeous bits amongst them that I'd really not want to be without. But I can understand that they won't be everyone's cup of tea, or that they are a bit of a frivolity when book work can be done instead.

588Glacierman
Ene 22, 2023, 2:49 am

Just goes to show you that one man's treasure is another man's junk!

589NathanOv
Ene 22, 2023, 1:23 pm

>585 SuttonHooPress: Well, I was commenting on artwork rather than text, where the main benefit of printing relief is most often the sharpness and contrast, not to mention being the best printing option for many artworks.

Yes, I like the tactile element of letterpress text, but how it looks and how it benefits the reading experience is still far more important to me than whether or not I can feel the impression. I'm not going to be running my fingers over every letter, after all, but I will certainly be reading each of them.

590SuttonHooPress
Ene 22, 2023, 4:53 pm

>587 ChestnutPress: And, ironically, I have printed a mess of broadsides myself, against all advice from my betters. I would have a fire sale if they weren't such a pain to ship. Of course, some of them were done with friends, and those memories are more treasured than the objects themselves. . . .

591SuttonHooPress
Ene 22, 2023, 5:03 pm

>589 NathanOv: Something else I have noticed in my days of printing. If you have a nice print of a woodcut, engraving, lino-cut or reduction cut, depending on the size, you have something that will priced out between $200-$800. If you move it over a little and put a good, beautifully set poem next to it during the same run, you can expect to sell it for no more than $75, or so.

592kdweber
Ene 22, 2023, 5:26 pm

>591 SuttonHooPress: Ha ha, sad but true.

594p.e.a.k.za4.8
Mar 13, 2023, 8:08 am

Este usuario ha sido eliminado por spam.

595DMulvee
Mar 13, 2023, 8:15 am

>593 Aleks3000: The woodcuts look great!

596wcarter
Mar 13, 2023, 8:27 am

Opted to get all three science fiction titles with slipcases. Love No Reply's work.

597wongie
Mar 13, 2023, 8:38 am

Same here. Pledges for Master and Commander are being taken the week after as well. It's going to be a painful 2 weeks for my balance.

I suppose it's worth pointing out to people opting to go for all 3 to make sure you manually add 3 for slipcase quantity.

598Dr.Fiddy
Mar 13, 2023, 9:23 am

Same here as well - all three hardbound with slipcases :)

599Shadekeep
Mar 13, 2023, 9:25 am

It's really nice to see that the hardbound trilogy is the top seller at the moment!

600c_schelle
Mar 13, 2023, 9:40 am

I also got the three hardbound editions. Still pondering the slipcases though. They are really nice looking, but also quite expensive and take a lot of room on my shelf as they are a lot thicker than paper slipcases. The The Cask of Amontillado takes quite a bit more space on the shelf than its small size would suggest. If the books were the same dimensions I would liked one slipcase for the whole trilogy.

601EdmundRodriguez
Mar 13, 2023, 9:42 am

>600 c_schelle: Same. I am tempted to make (or have made) a single slipcase for the three.

602Shadekeep
Mar 13, 2023, 9:53 am

>600 c_schelle: A collection slipcase would be an interesting idea. I'd probably still go with the individual slipcases if one were available however, both for display reasons and to protect the novel covering of each volume.

603ambyrglow
Mar 13, 2023, 9:59 am

As someone who's only interested in one of the three books I admit to being a bit concerned all copies will sell out as sets before I have a chance to pledge!

604Shadekeep
Mar 13, 2023, 10:03 am

>603 ambyrglow: You should be safe, since it looks like full sets are capped at 100 of each format (hardbound and paperbound). That leaves 250 for the next campaign, which I would guess would also cap the sets at 100 each. Unless the first volume sells out completely in this round, meaning there will be no further full set offers in later campaigns.

I'm guessing you're waiting for Omelas? ^_^

605What_What
Mar 13, 2023, 10:10 am

Is there an advantage to paying up front for all three books, as opposed to one at a time as they become available on KS?

606BorisG
Mar 13, 2023, 10:24 am

Pledged for the hardbound trilogy as well! – best subject matter possible (personally!) and I love NRP. I asked Griffin about the possibility of a single slipcase for the collection as well.

607ambyrglow
Mar 13, 2023, 10:27 am

>604 Shadekeep: A well-reasoned guess! :-)

608Shadekeep
Mar 13, 2023, 10:32 am

>605 What_What: There doesn't seem to be a discount for getting the set over individual volumes, so the benefits are largely having the full run reserved now instead of piecemeal, and being more likely to lock in the same number for each volume. If those don't matter, then it's pretty much all the same either way.

609Shadekeep
Mar 13, 2023, 10:59 am

Half of the 100 full sets of hardbounds are reserved now.

610NathanOv
Mar 13, 2023, 11:18 am

>603 ambyrglow: That was my concern as well, but assuming they don't open up more stock as sales come in, we should be safe! I still went for the paper Asimov, though.

611ultrarightist
Mar 13, 2023, 12:30 pm

I pledged for all 3 hardbacks. Regarding individual slipcases vs. collective slipcase for the 3 volumes, does this novel monotype printing make them more fragile where a single collective slipcase could result in wear to the covers?

612What_What
Editado: Mar 13, 2023, 12:44 pm

>608 Shadekeep: I’ll stick with just the one, to better manage cash flow.

The KS says it will ship in September - does that mean all copies will be shipped, or does shipping start in September and last for five months like the previous book?

613EdwinDrood
Mar 13, 2023, 12:54 pm

>597 wongie: Thank you for pointing out that little detail. I “assumed” from the price it would be a single slipcase for all three. As with most in this group, I have tremendous respect and confidence in Griffon (especially since half of my family is from Oregon), and I made the change appropriately (10 additional sets were pledged in the interval).

614Shadekeep
Mar 13, 2023, 1:15 pm

>611 ultrarightist: That was my concern with a collective case, that it might not be good to have the covers abrading each other. Though I have no conception what the covers will be like, since this is a new approach. They may be quite robust. I still like the individual slipcase idea here, especially as they are colored to match.

>612 What_What: I would presume most or all would ship in September. Given the size of the print run that's 700 packages, or 20 a day. Maybe two months, depending on how many folks are helping out. I know packing and posting in volume is not an easy process.

I'm also assuming that folks who back for the trilogy are getting the first volume in the first shipment. If those are being held for one single shipment of all three at the end, then even fewer packages need to post in September. But I imagine for matters of storage and logistics that it makes sense to send all the first volumes at once.

615DenimDan
Mar 13, 2023, 1:18 pm

>570 punkzip: I've framed a few broadside poems with etchings from a particular artist I like. Granted, it's primarily the etchings I want to display. But it's a great visual contrast/supplement seeing a detailed art print alongside nice type.

616grifgon
Mar 13, 2023, 3:45 pm

Hi all! Thanks for the enthusiasm around this Science Fiction Trilogy. I'm not a Sci-Fi aficionado by any means, but I do think this trio of stories really make a striking case for the importance of the genre. I'm especially excited to share Clive Knights' artwork on The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas and Karol Pomykała's artwork on The Men Return when the time comes.

I'll try to answer some of the questions above or just chime in.

On the Science Fiction Trilogy slipcases:

As noted on the campaign, these lucite slipcases are really sturdy. They're not thick or bulky by any means, but quite heavy. Each is nearly a pound alone, so they may be a pain for international collectors shipping-wise. Apologies for that – I look into ways to mitigate the added cost but couldn't find any.

Each of the three Science Fiction Trilogy titles has its own slipcase. For those interested in adding slipcases to their The Science Fiction Trilogy | Hardbound tier on Kickstarter, be sure to add three. The design of the trilogy follows the primary colors: The Last Question in blue, The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas in red, The Men Return in yellow. The slipcases follow the design aesthetic of each edition's spine and monoprint boards.

I considered one big slipcase to fit all three, but ultimately decided against it. The monoprint board are by no means delicate; in fact, they're significantly less delicate than unvarnished marbled papers, which are notoriously prone to rubbing. However, sliding books back and forth against each other is never a great idea. That said, if anybody wants to make a single slipcase for all three, you totally have my blessing! Maybe I'd recommend wrapping the books in dura-lar first, though really it should be fine.

For anybody concerned with shelf space, the hardbound Trilogy in slipcases will take up about 2 ½ inches.

On the limitations and future availability of titles :

The current stated limit of 100 on Kickstarter for the paperbound and hardbound trilogy is not an absolute limit. I may raise those limits to accommodate more collectors.

If anybody is certain that they want to reserve The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas or The Men Return, but aren't interested in the full Trilogy, feel free to reach out and I can arrange a private reservation now. Demand for these is looking a lot higher than I expected.

Q (from our friend What What): Is there an advantage to paying up front for all three books, as opposed to one at a time as they become available on KS?
A (from our friend Shadekeep): There doesn't seem to be a discount for getting the set over individual volumes, so the benefits are largely having the full run reserved now instead of piecemeal, and being more likely to lock in the same number for each volume. If those don't matter, then it's pretty much all the same either way.

Shadekeep is pretty much right. The only other reason to go for all three together now is that shipping will be less expensive. The hardbounds with slipcases are at that weird weight where shipping one internationally costs like $50 but shipping three costs like $70.

On the shipping timeline:

All Science Fiction Trilogy titles will ship in September. I've blocked out the whole month for this purpose. Granted, things can always go wrong, but I think I've kept the unknowns to an absolute minimum. You can read the campaign page for the details about what I'm doing differently this time around to reduce waits for collectors. First, these editions are much farther along the process at announcement than past editions. If you pledged to the Enūma Eliš Kickstarter, for example, all of those photos you were seeing were of prototypes, often digitally rendered. On this campaign, you're seeing the actual finished book. All three editions are fully printed; all three editions' covers are finished, and only need casing; packaging supplies are stocked and ready to go in the workshop; a shipping month is set aside. Moreover, these editions have two states rather than four or five. The main reason shipping takes so long for a one-man operation like mine is that each package is so different from the others. Shipping this Science Fiction Trilogy will be much more streamlined.

Most importantly, thanks all for the kind words and support! Private press collectors are pretty extraordinary. Your enthusiasm, kindness, support, patience, and grace really make this craft a feasible thing to do.

617Shadekeep
Mar 13, 2023, 4:09 pm

>616 grifgon: Thanks for the answers, Griffin! One follow-up on this comment:

The only other reason to go for all three together now is that shipping will be less expensive. The hardbounds with slipcases are at that weird weight where shipping one internationally costs like $50 but shipping three costs like $70.

So does that mean everything in the trilogy is shipping in September, regardless of what one is purchasing? That would explain the compressed KS timeline, if so.

Great to see this one doing so well!

618grifgon
Mar 13, 2023, 4:24 pm

>617 Shadekeep: Yep, that's right!

619ambyrglow
Mar 13, 2023, 4:28 pm

>616 grifgon: Duly emailed!

620SDB2012
Mar 13, 2023, 5:43 pm

>618 grifgon: that's fantastic! Congrats on the success of the trilogy. I haven't looked at the Kickstarter page since this morning, but the sales were off to a roaring start

621jveezer
Mar 13, 2023, 5:53 pm

This campaign looks great and kudos to all the people going for all three. I can only stretch for the Ursula Le Guin as I've probably read almost everything she has out there and can't pass up a handmade edition. Especially the way Griffin is talking up the illustrations. If I keep Griffin tea drunk maybe he'll crank out even more great stuff!!!

I would have loved to see one of the short stories from her Earthsea Sextology, like Dragonfly or The Finder but I like omelets too.

622grifgon
Mar 13, 2023, 6:11 pm

>621 jveezer: * Ursula Le Guin, famed Portlander I'll have you know!

There's actually a proposal before the City Council here to remove the city ordinance against naming streets after fictional individuals so that her work can be honored in that way. I love it! Actually, Matt Goering, who created The Simpsons, is from Portland and named many of The Simpson's characters after Portland streets. Burnside, Flanders, Kearney, Lovejoy, Quimby, and Terwilliger. We even now have an official "Ned Flander's Crossing" on Flanders Street:

https://www.portland.gov/transportation/news/2021/9/9/portlands-newest-bike-and-...

623Lukas1990
Mar 14, 2023, 1:07 am

>622 grifgon: You mean Matt Groening! Goering or Göring was THAT German guy haha.

624grifgon
Mar 14, 2023, 1:32 am

>623 Lukas1990: *Groan!* Yes, of course! 😂

625SebRinelli
Mar 14, 2023, 12:45 pm

I was previously unaware of The Last Question. What a great read! Thank you Griffin for bringing it to my attention. It will make a nice companion to my small collection of creation myths 😁

No Reply is in my opinion one of the most exciting contemporary private presses!

626kermaier
Editado: Mar 14, 2023, 3:53 pm

>624 grifgon: Don't you mean "*Groen!*"? ;-)

Edit: Sorry, gotta control myself....

627Shadekeep
Mar 21, 2023, 7:27 am

The Kickstarter has passed the $100k mark, congratulations!

628bacchus.
Editado: Abr 1, 2023, 4:55 am

grifgon … a brilliant idea nevertheless

629Aleks3000
Editado: Abr 1, 2023, 5:32 am

Just saw Griffin's email about Self-Reliance, but it seems it has completely sold out already! Love the idea, congrats to supporters. My gracious wife is allowing me to purchase the deluxe through her with the same conditions!

:)

630dlphcoracl
Editado: Abr 1, 2023, 9:11 am

>629 Aleks3000:

This is another fabulous offering from Griffin and the NRP. I have ordered two of the deluxe editions! 😂😂😂

631Aleks3000
Abr 1, 2023, 8:08 am

>630 dlphcoracl: I was trying to get in on the fun, though I may have been a bit too convincing in my (not altogether unfamiliar) role as 'credulous man'.

632dlphcoracl
Editado: Abr 1, 2023, 9:11 am

>631 Aleks3000:

You are a lucky man to have such an understanding wife!! 😃

633grifgon
Editado: Abr 1, 2023, 8:41 am

>629 Aleks3000: It's lovely that your wife is willing to sell you her de luxe Self-Reliance. I've updated my ledger accordingly to keep track of the provenance.

634Glacierman
Abr 1, 2023, 10:04 am

Dang! Too slow! I soooo wanted one of the Deluxe issues, but they're all gone! Well, you snooze, you loose.

Maybe next time I'll get lucky.

635dlphcoracl
Abr 1, 2023, 10:30 am

>634 Glacierman:

Too bad, so sad. 😢

You will have to console yourself with one of the standard editions.

636Shadekeep
Abr 1, 2023, 10:31 am

A brilliant offering, and I'm only sorry that the Roman Numeral edition that was mooted didn't make the cut. I thought including a Vandercook press made that tier the most attractive, even with the shipping charge.

637Glacierman
Abr 1, 2023, 11:38 am

>635 dlphcoracl: Alas! They are all spoken for as well. I weep in frustration.

638ultrarightist
Abr 1, 2023, 11:50 am

The deluxe edition is inarguably the best value proposition in the history of private press subscriptions.

639dlphcoracl
Editado: Abr 1, 2023, 12:06 pm

>638 ultrarightist:

Precisely. And that is why I ordered two copies. 😉

640Tony288
Abr 1, 2023, 1:26 pm

Just wanted to remind all the disappointed collectors out there that you can still purchase a copy of the Prospectus for "Self-Reliance" ($41). It's limited to around 100 copies and is showing up in my cart. But I can't get the phrase "Self Control" out of my head and so will probably not push the "buy" button.

641Shadekeep
Abr 1, 2023, 1:35 pm

>640 Tony288: I'm going to make my own prospectus, once I find some Zerkall Butten and a pink glitter gel pen.

642kdweber
Abr 1, 2023, 3:09 pm

Darn, by the time I returned from the gym and read the email all the deluxe editions were sold out!

643LBShoreBook
Abr 1, 2023, 3:10 pm

>638 ultrarightist: I'll be the dumb guy in the room, care to elaborate? I am lazy so the self reliance angle was not my jam, is that what you find so unique?

644kdweber
Abr 1, 2023, 3:13 pm

Shouldn’t the European pricing of the prospectus be 14 euros?

645ultrarightist
Abr 1, 2023, 3:19 pm

>643 LBShoreBook: That and the quasi-self-publishing aspect, and the cash rebate part.

We have restaurants now where you cook your own food, so why not pay publishers for you to print your own book?

646gmacaree
Abr 1, 2023, 5:48 pm

>634 Glacierman: I am willing to part with the $350 that Griffin sent my way, just Paypal me the sticker price and I'll get it to you.

647Glacierman
Abr 1, 2023, 6:03 pm

>646 gmacaree: I am overwhelmed by your generosity, kind sir! But, alas! I just spent that money on a deluxe copy of The Compleat History of the Republic of San Serriffe (in 2 fo. volumes and limited to 5 copies printed at the Owl and Buffalo Press) and cannot oblige. My regrets, but I am, indeed, touched by your kindness and consideration.

648ultrarightist
Editado: Abr 20, 2023, 11:19 am

No Reply is offering a 'dampened' encore performance of its previous edition of T.S. Eliot's Preludes.

https://www.noreplypress.com/limitededitions/preludes2

649ChestnutPress
Abr 20, 2023, 1:39 pm

>648 ultrarightist: Already ordered mine. 'Preludes' is my favourite of Eliot’s work, and this version will doubtlessly be far better than the first.

650kermaier
Editado: Abr 20, 2023, 8:09 pm

Will purchasers of the ill-starred first edition get a discount?

Edit: Just remembered that it was quite inexpensive, so I don’t need to feel too bad about going for the second edition as well. ;-)

651mnmcdwl
Abr 20, 2023, 9:59 pm

I also ordered one. I have the first edition, but the Christopher Ricks introduction and the superior printing makes it feel like worthy upgrade.

652ultrarightist
Abr 20, 2023, 11:25 pm

653const-char-star
Abr 21, 2023, 12:14 am

654kdweber
Abr 21, 2023, 1:57 am

I quite like the 1st edition of Preludes but the new edition is just too tempting and I’ve ordered the new one as well. The first edition had only 50 copies and was priced really low, I don’t regret purchasing it for a moment.

655dlphcoracl
Editado: mayo 4, 2023, 5:41 pm

Received the new (2nd) edition of Preludes by T.S. Eliot yesterday and it is beautifully done. The letterpress printing on dampened Hahnemühle Biblio paper is flawless and the mould-made paper is excellent as well. The binding is nicely done in the Bradel style with exceptional paste paper made by Griffin Gonzales, paper that is visually appealing with a wonderful tactile feel.

Highly recommended.

Edit: The wonderful paste paper for the binding was made by Griffin Gonzales.

656Shadekeep
mayo 4, 2023, 2:24 pm

>655 dlphcoracl: Agreed, it's a fine volume. The impression of the type is especially pleasing to me.

657ultrarightist
mayo 4, 2023, 4:00 pm

>655 dlphcoracl: I agree 100%. I definitely recommend it as well.

658kdweber
mayo 4, 2023, 6:00 pm

>655 dlphcoracl:. I prefer the form factor of the 1st edition and the bindings are essentially the same but the paper and printing are far superior in the 2nd edition.

659ChestnutPress
mayo 5, 2023, 1:18 pm

I’m eagerly awaiting my copy…

660Shadekeep
Editado: mayo 9, 2023, 7:46 am

The Kickstarter for the second science fiction volume is up now, it's The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noreplypress/the-ones-who-walk-away-from-om...

EDIT: There's a special add-on in this campaign, the book After Omelas, containing the full suite of all the artist's collages. It's also available separately for those of us who already ordered the full trilogy in the first campaign.

661wongie
Editado: mayo 9, 2023, 7:55 am

I already pre ordered the whole set during the first kickstareter but am very interested in the companion art volume for this one. I'm curious whether it can still be combined with preorders of the whole set as one of the main draws of getting them all initially was reduced shipping.

662Shadekeep
mayo 9, 2023, 8:02 am

>661 wongie: I would reach out to Griffin with that question. I believe the intention is to ship orders as a whole, and don't see why the companion book couldn't be included in that.

663LBShoreBook
Jun 27, 2023, 5:00 pm

Griffin - curious if any updates on the big three books from the press - (TWL, Tolstoy, de Beauvoir)?

664grifgon
Jun 27, 2023, 7:46 pm

>663 LBShoreBook: Howdy! You can keep track of the latest here: https://www.noreplypress.com/workshop

Recently: The Paper Foundation has informed me that The Waste Land's specially handmade papers are finally finished! (It's been a very long wait, but I trust that their work will be worth it. You can get a great sense of their incredible process on their Instagram, by the way!) I'm looking forward to printing as soon as I receive them.

Ivan Ilyich is nearly there, just waiting for the workshop to finish up with Magnetic Storms – which will begin shipping within days.

665Shadekeep
Jul 17, 2023, 4:10 pm

The Kickstarter is now live for the final volume of the NRP sci-fi trilogy: The Men Return by Jack Vance.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noreplypress/the-men-return-by-jack-vance

It looks fantastic, even better than the early mockups I saw. The color overprinting on the linocuts is superb, too.

666BooksFriendsNotFood
Editado: Jul 17, 2023, 8:52 pm

'The Men Return' looks gorgeous! It's probably my favorite out of the NRP sci-fi trilogy in terms of looks - the striking yellow and the monoprint paper design on this one are really working for me - although 'The Last Question' (TLQ) is, unsurprisingly, my favorite story. Going by the descriptions, it does look like TLQ and 'The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas' are more generous with the artwork quantity, although I certainly agree that the five linocut artworks with overprinting are beautiful.

667grifgon
Jul 17, 2023, 9:23 pm

😈 >666 BooksFriendsNotFood: 😈 Thanks for the kind words! The Men Return is my personal favorite of the three. Karol Pomykała's linocut work is really striking in person. I'm hoping to work with him again.

And good news as a general announcement: Everything is on track to ship the NRP Science Fiction Trilogy in September as planned. On schedule at last – woo hoo! This should be the new standard. I anticipate that most all No Reply editions going forward will have no more than a few months wait between announcement and shipment.

668BooksFriendsNotFood
Jul 17, 2023, 9:42 pm

>667 grifgon: Oh I just noticed the 666. Whoops. 🤣

That's wonderful to hear! Thank you for the update.

669lzy23
Ago 27, 2023, 9:35 am

New letterpress print from the press - Pillars of Creation, limited to 26 copies. https://www.noreplypress.com/limitededitions/pillarsofcreation

670EdmundRodriguez
Ago 27, 2023, 1:10 pm

>669 lzy23: Very cool! Looks to be sold out already.

671Glacierman
Ago 27, 2023, 1:56 pm

>670 EdmundRodriguez: Not surprised! Very unusual print, cosmological significance, beautifully accomplished and rare complex printing technique, low limitation. Yeah, not surprised at all.

672NathanOv
Editado: Ago 27, 2023, 2:17 pm

>669 lzy23: Pretty fascinating and unique! Wish I'd had a chance to consider it.

673What_What
Ago 27, 2023, 2:41 pm

>670 EdmundRodriguez: Maybe they’ll make another print run.

674Shadekeep
Ago 27, 2023, 5:17 pm

Ah, I should have jumped when I got the email! I was weighing the print alone versus the framed edition. Still, I'm glad it was such an immediate success for the press!

675kdweber
Ago 27, 2023, 9:19 pm

Long gone by the time I got back from my morning workout.

676Shadekeep
Sep 11, 2023, 9:26 am

NRP is featuring the remaining stock of Above All Else Do Not Lie, with free worldwide shipping. Written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and with woodblocks by Michael Mccurdy, this is a really lovely volume. Highly recommended if you don't have it yet.

677EdmundRodriguez
Sep 22, 2023, 6:44 am

Just received the Pillars of Creation, and love it! Looking forward to getting it framed and up on the wall.

678Shadekeep
Sep 22, 2023, 12:09 pm

679Salaxalans
Oct 15, 2023, 9:10 pm

This week I received the three science fiction titles (the Last Question, the Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, and the Last Question), all in hardcover and with slipcases. They are stunning! The covers are beautiful and the art throughout all three is a joy to see. No Reply Press continues to amaze me with everything they release!

I was able to visit recently and got a tour of the workshop from Griffin. It was incredible meeting him, seeing what went into all the wonderful books, and hearing a few stories about his time at Thornwillow! I encourage anyone who lives nearby to reach out.

680Daniel.Merchant
Editado: Oct 20, 2023, 4:55 am

>679 Salaxalans: Received my copies of all three yesterday evening after surviving a day outside in the storm (thanks Evri) and I echo everything you have said here.
I have to say I am blown away by the quality of these books. I was really not sure before ordering, never having backed a book on Kickstarter before or had anything else from No Reply, but I am so glad I did.
I was on the fence on ordering the acrylic slipcases, but they are really good, look amazing and really compliment the books. The illustrations are beautiful, the print quality is fantastic, I even love the deckled edges. The choice of binding was very interesting. Have to find out what that is called when the spine is bound to the inside of the boards is very clever and just looks really good, the colours on the spines really pop out at you. It is really an exquisite production. Very jealous you got to see the workshop, I bet that was amazing.





681Glacierman
Oct 20, 2023, 5:41 am

>680 Daniel.Merchant: Regarding the binding style, that is what is known as a Bradel binding, developed by a Frenchman working in Germany in the 1700s.

682Daniel.Merchant
Oct 20, 2023, 1:35 pm

>681 Glacierman: thank you so much

683ambyrglow
Editado: Oct 21, 2023, 11:30 am

Quite pleased with mine as well! Since I only ordered the Le Guin, I'm forced to make my triad photos with other Le Guin titles in my collection, but they do go rather nicely together:







I'll be honest, I wasn't entirely sold on the collages to start, but they're growing on me the more I flip through the book. And the bonus broadsides and ephemera included were a very nice touch.

684ChestnutPress
Oct 23, 2023, 6:42 pm

Newly published from Sir Griffin of Portland is the gorgeous ‘Passages’ booklet of poetry by Stéfan Németh. It’s a great and desirable little item that I highly recommend. A lowdown and some photos here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyvaLpGsM7j/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

and here (obviously!):
https://www.noreplypress.com/limitededitions/passages?ss_source=sscampaigns&...

685ChestnutPress
Oct 23, 2023, 6:47 pm

Additionally, I have recently gotten my mitts on No Reply Press’s ‘Magnetic Storm’ and ‘The Last Question’. Both are exceptional volumes that I’m delighted to add to my shelves. Griffin is going from strength to strength and has quickly placed himself as a top tier fine press printer/publisher. Here’s to a very bright future!

686dlphcoracl
Oct 23, 2023, 9:06 pm

>685 ChestnutPress:

The forthcoming No Reply Press edition of 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' , the first of the NRP Big Three (including The Waste Land and The Ethics of Ambiguity), will reaffirm what you have just said. It will firmly establish NRP as one of the top tier private presses and thereafter there is no going back.

687kdweber
Oct 23, 2023, 11:19 pm

>684 ChestnutPress: ordered my copy first thing this morning
>685 ChestnutPress: Couldn’t agree more. Magnetic Storms is fantastic and was well worth the wait. Fantastic job of printing Rockwell Kent’s illustrations in The Last Question. I just hope those great plexiglass slipcases hold up with time and don’t end up like shrink wrap like in the LEC’s edition of Looking Backward.

688Shadekeep
Oct 24, 2023, 2:45 pm

Received the full sci-fi trilogy plus Magnetic Storms, a true bounty of riches. I love the cover technique used on the trilogy, to my understanding the first time this has been applied to cover boards. I'd call it a success. Lots of fine reading ahead. And I've pre-ordered Passages as well, a welcome new title from the press.

689EdmundRodriguez
Oct 24, 2023, 5:15 pm

My Sci-Fi Trilogy has also just arrived. They are great, and I'm very glad I did (eventually) order the slipcases. They are zooming straight to the top of my TBR pile!

690Shadekeep
Nov 18, 2023, 9:37 am

Received the latest book yesterday, Passages. Griffin is really on a tear these days! Another nice volume, very pleasing cover wraps on this one too.

691ChestnutPress
Nov 18, 2023, 10:50 am

>690 Shadekeep: Isn’t it a beautiful little volume! I love that Griffin is sneaking in smaller items in between the grander projects. Here’s to more of these beautiful gems!

692grifgon
Nov 27, 2023, 4:16 pm

Hi all! Hope everybody is having a nice Autumn.

I know quite a few collectors on this forum were early subscribers for The Death of Ivan Ilyich.

I have just sent an email to subscribers to gather shipping information. If you subscribed but did not receive this email, please reach out to me. (Sometimes BCC'd emails get caught in spam filters, or I may have an old/junk email address for you.)

693wooter
Nov 27, 2023, 5:33 pm

>692 grifgon: any chance of getting in on this or is it long since sold out? Never saw the details but sounds great.

694lzy23
Nov 27, 2023, 6:55 pm

>693 wooter: Would be interested to know more as well.

695punkzip
Editado: Nov 27, 2023, 7:18 pm

>693 wooter: It's still available but $1000 more in cost from the initial subscription price. $1785 now.

696wooter
Nov 27, 2023, 7:45 pm

>695 punkzip: is there a prospectus or something somewhere? Couldnt find it but may have overlooked it.

697punkzip
Nov 27, 2023, 8:03 pm

>696 wooter: No prospectus AFAIK. In fact Griffin doesn't want pictures posted until everyone has it...

698dlphcoracl
Editado: Nov 27, 2023, 8:08 pm

>696 wooter:

A full prospectus describing the three upcoming deluxe editions, i.e., The Death of Ivan Ilyich, The Waste Land and The Ethics of Ambiguity, was sent to the NRP e-mail list as a PDF attachment in January 2022. There were no photos or illustrations, only the raison d'être for and descriptions of the proposed editions. I suggest contacting Griffin at NRP and asking him to resend the PDF Prospectus to your e-mail address.

699wooter
Nov 27, 2023, 8:22 pm

Appreciate the info.

700What_What
Editado: Nov 27, 2023, 8:51 pm

>697 punkzip: Can you explain that some more?

701dlphcoracl
Nov 27, 2023, 9:02 pm

>700 What_What:

Basically, the forthcoming edition of The Death of Ivan Ilyich, the first of the three deluxe NRP editions, has taken on a life of its own in a very positive way. It is larger and more elaborate than the edition description originally sketched out in the NRP PDF Prospectus of January 2022. It features unusual illustrations which are a departure from prior NRP editions and it is the finest NRP work to date. Griffin wants all subscribers to be pleasantly surprised by the quality of this edition and to receive their copies without seeing what it looks like before it reaches them.

702What_What
Nov 27, 2023, 9:38 pm

>701 dlphcoracl: Ah okay. Don't think I've ever heard of that kind of request from a press before.

703grifgon
Nov 27, 2023, 9:50 pm

>697 punkzip: >701 dlphcoracl: >702 What_What: This is basically right, though perhaps overstates it. The book doesn't contain state secrets or breathe fire or anything. Since I haven't been keeping up social media, nobody has seen much of the book, except a few collectors who visited my workshop. Thus, I'm waiting to announce the edition publicly with photos until after all of the early subscribers have received theirs. I love the "Christmas morning, don't know what to expect" feeling. I certainly appreciate collectors joining me in this, though to each their own – once it arrives its yours to do with what you like, of course.

>693 wooter: >694 lzy23: A few copies remain for the public announcement. Happy to set them aside now, though. The final price is $1,785. Feel free to reach out at griffin@noreplypress.com and I can share more info.

704LBShoreBook
Editado: Nov 28, 2023, 3:32 pm

Out of curiosity, did anyone vote not to wait a few extra weeks for translation notes? After two years, waiting just a few more weeks for that enhancement? Yes, please. 👌

705toaonua
Nov 28, 2023, 4:20 pm

I voted not to wait for the translation notes. I trust NRP if they feel it would not serve to engage the text and artworks of the publication.

706grifgon
Nov 28, 2023, 4:51 pm

>704 LBShoreBook: Only a few against the Translators' Notes. Ninety-plus percent in favor.

>705 toaonua: A small misunderstanding here, I think. Valeria and I decided a year ago against including any notes in the book itself. It felt a bit pedestrian, compared to Tolstoy and Clive's moving work. However, I'm all for sharing notes in a separate broadsheet or pamphlet, which is what the poll asks about.

707rbmackeen
Nov 28, 2023, 4:53 pm

>704 LBShoreBook:
I am with you. I voted to wait a few more weeks for the translation notes in a separate broadsheet or chapbook.

708NathanOv
Nov 28, 2023, 5:07 pm

I was a “yes” as well. I would have happily paid to add on a companion booklet like this, so think it’s quite generous for No Reply to offer to include it with the book.

709gmacaree
Nov 28, 2023, 5:22 pm

I voted yes. Always happy to learn more about a work!

710toaonua
Nov 28, 2023, 7:37 pm

If that is the case, then I'm all for waiting for translator notes in a separate broadsheet or pamphlet.

712bacchus.
Editado: Dic 3, 2023, 2:40 pm

>711 Aleks3000: Wonderful choice!

Sociologist Alfred Schutz insisted we dwell primarily within a symbolic, intersubjective reality: not a private world but a social one – the world of our common experience. Without such intersubjectivity, sustained in particular by language, we could never mean the same thing. Or as psychologist Lacan said “It is the world of words that creates the world of things”, or, as Edmund Leach puts it, “the world is a representation of our language categories, not vice versa”.

For anyone interested in the speech,

https://www.transcend.org/tms/2019/08/toni-morrison-on-the-power-of-language-her...

713Shadekeep
Dic 4, 2023, 2:18 pm

>711 Aleks3000: 26 left of 80 in the De Luxe edition. Seems to be doing quite well, as it deserves to.

714NathanOv
Editado: Dic 14, 2023, 4:19 pm

Quite a few rarities on offer from No Reply Press in their "Holiday Bananza" email!

I've already got the No Reply ephemera clamshell and all of the broadsides, but if anybody would like either one at a bit of a discount, I'm very tempted to order another for the sake of the unreleased book that's on offer with it ...

715Salaxalans
Dic 14, 2023, 4:40 pm

This is quite the bonanza! Many tempting things on offer. I too already have a box of ephemera but the unreleased title is interesting indeed.

I think I found the secret mentioned in the email; quite spooky!

716NathanOv
Editado: Dic 15, 2023, 10:30 am

>715 Salaxalans: Shoot, looks like the ephemera collections went quick with the “lost” book on offer as well.

Hopefully someone here picked one up and will show it off for us …

717Shadekeep
Dic 15, 2023, 10:39 am

There's an Enūma Eliš on offer, act quick! This is the most singular NRP book to date, and for some the most exquisite.

718jordanxn
Dic 21, 2023, 3:20 pm

>706 grifgon: Any chance we could get an update on the Ethics of Ambiguity in the near term? The workshop notes for that volume are quite a few months old at this point.

Cheers!

719grifgon
Dic 21, 2023, 4:31 pm

>718 jordanxn: Thanks for asking! The Ethics of Ambiguity is a total passion project for me. I'm putting up a new round of Workshop Notes soon to accompany my New Year letter to collectors.

The TLDR: Ambiguity has, like Ivan Ilyich, ballooned significantly and will be a more high-end edition than originally conceived. Nobody's more anxious to get it out of the workshop than me, but it's last in the order – coming after Ivan Ilyich (January) and The Waste Land (Spring?). My best guess for shipping is Summer.

720NathanOv
Dic 22, 2023, 2:43 pm

>719 grifgon: I have to say, I'm glad I took the time to track down the "secret" on No Reply's website!

Hopefully I'm not sharing too much by saying it's one of my favorite little items from the press to date.

721ambyrglow
Dic 22, 2023, 3:06 pm

Well, now I'm anxious for what my mail might bring!

722Shadekeep
Dic 22, 2023, 3:18 pm

Got it, love it! 💀

723ambyrglow
Dic 27, 2023, 10:19 am

Patience rewarded. Lovely. (I'm particularly charmed by the choice not to include the most famous/oft-quoted offering towards the theme; I do like a deep cut.)

724kermaier
Ene 4, 5:32 pm

Oak Knoll has a few No Reply titles in their latest acquisitions catalog, including a copy of Truth, it seems.

726yolana
Ene 12, 10:21 am

They’ve also added ENUMA ELIS

727Shadekeep
Feb 1, 8:30 am

New chapbook announced, The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin. Reservations are open for this first in a new series of unnumbered chapbooks, and intriguingly come with a chance to reserve a forthcoming signed chapbook of low limitation.

728GardenOfForkingPaths
Feb 1, 8:45 am

>727 Shadekeep: Very cool. I recently read The Awakening in the Everyman's Library edition and thought it was excellent. The only thing giving me pause is $35 shipping on a $65 book. International shipping is brutal these days.

729Shadekeep
Feb 1, 9:03 am

>728 GardenOfForkingPaths: Woo, that is a gut punch. Maybe wait until there's a book to bundle into the order to soften the blow?

730wcarter
Feb 1, 9:13 am

>729 Shadekeep:
Australians are used to this. I often pay more for the potage than the book. In the current Taschen sale two books cost US$80, postage was US$75!

731Shadekeep
Feb 1, 9:20 am

>730 wcarter: Aye, I tend to take a wallop getting books from the UK here in the US. I bundle orders whenever I can to spread the per-item cost as thin as possible.

732GardenOfForkingPaths
Feb 1, 9:38 am

>729 Shadekeep: That's a good point actually. There are certainly a few other tempting titles I haven't acquired yet!



733jsg1976
Feb 1, 11:01 am

I’m a bit puzzled how they are selling 150 chapbooks that each come with an opportunity to reserve early one of 40 chapbooks for their next title

734Shadekeep
Editado: Feb 1, 11:07 am

>733 jsg1976: My guess is that either the opportunity will be offered in the same sequence as one's purchase order, with those who decline being passed over, or more likely a link or code will be provided to early buyers and there will be a free-for-all for the available copies. It's obvious that purchase of one will not guarantee securing the other. Whatever the case, unless this one doesn't sell many copies, I am doubtful few if any of the signed chapbook will make it public sale.

735jsg1976
Feb 1, 12:26 pm

>734 Shadekeep: if it does go in the order of one’s purchase, that really ought to be made clear. And there should be a counter on the web page so you know if you’re buying a chapbook with a lower opportunity of getting the next title. The free for all approach would be more fair, in this instance.

736Shadekeep
Feb 1, 12:48 pm

>735 jsg1976: Agreed, and that's one reason I think it's more likely.

737jveezer
Feb 1, 12:50 pm

Yes! One of my holy grail authors for private press. Not my holy grail title but I'm excited nonetheless...

738PatsChoice
Feb 7, 9:19 pm

An update from No Reply Press:

Happy 2024!

You’re probably thinking, “Well this is late!”

Guilty as charged!

Every year that No Reply has been in business, I’ve sent an “end of year letter” to keep those interested apprised of where the Press has been and where it is headed. The first draft of this year’s letter began:

This will be a shorter letter than usual, because – I’m happy to report – everything is on track. We have no reason to expect anything less than a banner year for No Reply.

This is still basically true! But the rosy outlook has been somewhat hijacked by a bit of personal news. The year ahead has suddenly become much more uncertain – though I am still optimistic.

“Stick a needle in my eye”

We got off to a hectic start. Portland experienced a once-in-a-generation snowstorm. Record breaking cold, high winds, trees toppled, downed power lines, everything iced over. The city shut down and a pipe burst in the workshop. Luckily, it burst in pretty much the only place where it couldn’t do damage to fine materials, the Vandercook, or books. Still, it took a few days to fix and dry out. Because of the storm, delivery companies suspended their services and are still sorting things out now. As it stands, we’re waiting on several material shipments – some ordered back in December – to continue work on certain editions.

Hectic – but nothing terrible or particularly unusual in the jolting world of private presswork.

Then, last Thursday, I suddenly lost vision in my left eye. 👀

Over the course of a day, my vision deteriorated from 20/20 to 20/60 and then to 20/100. Right now, my left eye is a window onto a watery, undulating blur. My right eye is technically fine, but has been bombarded with testing and continuous dilation. Plus, I’m told, it is simply going a bit haywire trying to adjust to the sudden change of the other.

Since Thursday, I’ve seen ophthalmologists and a retina specialist at three hospitals in two states. It took several days to figure out what happened because it is extremely unusual for somebody at my age and with my health to experience a sudden, painless collapse in vision with no apparent cause. What happened is now clear. My second ophthalmologist put it in layman’s terms: “You had an eye stroke.” The first ophthalmologist put it bluntly: “The back of your eye exploded.”

That’s the bad news!

There’s no “good news,” per se, but there is the absence of worse news. At my age, having a stroke of any kind is fairly alarming. The doctors were as concerned about a possible underlying condition as they were about the loss of vision. But after ultrasounds, scans, lasers, and enough blood tests to feed a family of vampires, they have ruled just about everything out. In fact, it turns out that I’m in stellar health (surprisingly so for a guy who eats three meals a week at “The Hotcake House”).

So, it seems that the back of my eye exploded for no particular reason.

It’s possible that I’ll regain some vision, and even if I don’t, my right eye will adjust over time to pick up the slack. To give my left eye a fighting chance, however, I’ll need to undergo a fairly intensive regimen of treatments. There’s no pretty way of putting it: Every four weeks, for the next year, and possibly longer, they’re going to stick needles through my eye.

Yep.

Much remains to be seen (ha!). It’s possible that this will have no effect whatsoever on No Reply. It’s also possible that I’ll be incapacitated after each procedure. The Press might race ahead as planned this year, or plod along while my vision allows. I am adjusting my goals for the year to address this uncertainty, but, ultimately, I’m a happy camper. If I permanently lose vision in my left eye, c’est la vie. But I’m also hopeful that things will return to normal. Only time will tell!

In the immediate coming days, I’ve been told in no uncertain terms to limit the use of my eyes as the first treatment attempts to stop my retinal hemorrhaging. So, things at No Reply will be a little slow. If you’ve got a package headed your way or a question that needs answering, I greatly appreciate your patience! I’ve actually been delighted to find that I can do quite a bit of the craft by touch alone now, so I am continuing to work in the workshop. Emails, however, are a bit difficult to read at the moment. I’ve blown everything up to maximum size, so I can read them, but it’s a strain. My emails will be briefer and/or less frequent in the near term. However, I will certainly read every email I receive in the end and try to get back on urgent matters as swiftly as possible.

2023’s Accomplishments

My goal last year was to reduce the wait time between announcements and shipping. This has been accomplished. The Science Fiction Trilogy shipped within months, rather than years, of announcement, as did/will Preludes, Passages and Language.

Going forward, I will announce most No Reply editions simply when they are ready to ship. Some may still involve a short wait, but nothing like the yearslong limbos of past editions which are so common in fine presswork. Ultimately, I want ordering from No Reply to be a delightful and stressless experience – for both you and me. This calls for quicker turnarounds. We made great progress last year, and I look forward to continuing that progress.

This will be made all the easier with the addition of Claire McArthur to my workshop. Claire is an extraordinarily talented and committed craftsperson. She is already making a big difference here. Four hands are better than two, after all. (And, come to think of it, three eyes are better than one!)

This year’s goal:

Before my eye exploded, I had big plans for the year. My goals were to (1) finish No Reply’s three “Big Books,” (2) announce five new editions currently in the works, as well as (3) a new line of chapbooks and some fine art prints.

I am scaling back my ambitions a bit. Only time will tell what will be possible. Therefore, my only goal will be to finish and ship the “Big Books”. By the end of this year, every single No Reply reservation will be fulfilled. Nothing will remain on order, and we will approach next year with a clean slate for new announcements. This is how I will personally measure the year’s success or failure.

Furthermore, with fewer editions in the works at any given time, and with Claire lightening my load, I am going to try to update No Reply’s “Workshop Notes” more frequently – at least every other week – to give collectors a more granular sense of where any given particular edition stands.

Upcoming editions (and a note about their limitation):

If all goes well, there will still be a few announcements this year.

I actually have one ready to launch on Kickstarter this Friday, the third collaboration with my friend and incredible artist Rūta Kuzmickas. I haven’t decided yet whether to go ahead with it or wait…

Several of No Reply’s upcoming editions will be extremely limited – forty copies in one case, fifty in another, etc. As the limitation of some editions gets smaller, I am trying to think through the best way to ensure that steadfast collectors don’t risk missing out. By the end of this year, I’m hoping to have a better model in place so that whether or not one can reserve a No Reply edition doesn’t come down to how fast one clicks an email. But I don’t particularly like subscription models or rights models. In the past, I’ve always set copies aside for collectors that I’ve come to know well, but I have also been made increasingly aware this past year of a sizable group of collectors who closely follow No Reply but with whom I simply haven’t corresponded!

So… I’m thinking on it. Hopefully by next year I’ll have a decent idea for how to fairly and transparently allocate limited reservations among an ever-increasing audience. In the meantime, if you have thoughts or suggestions, I’m eager to hear them. Also, if you are anxious about missing out on any upcoming titles this year, please go ahead and shoot me an email. We can work something out.

That’s all for now!

Greatly looking forward to more hand-bookmaking this year and beyond. In the meantime, best wishes to you and yours for a happy and fulfilling 2024,

Griffin

P. S. Given doctor’s orders, I’m not proofreading this letter. If anything reads like nonsense, it probably is!/BLOCKQUOTE

739PatsChoice
Feb 7, 9:25 pm

Even among this delightful community of ours, Griffin's star shines most brilliantly and with tremendous promise; his passion for his craft and its history is a joy to experience. Although all that lies down the road is not known, Griffin has friends here who will endeavor to provide bracing winds amidst his odyssey—I proudly count myself among them.

I wish you all the best, Griffin. I pray your eyesight is restored, and I am confident your vision is not lost.

740Lukas1990
Feb 8, 1:07 am

Much remains to be seen, Griffin! ❤️

741SuttonHooPress
Editado: Feb 8, 11:29 am

I had a 'central cirrus retinopathy' (sp?) at age 31. My right eye vision is obliterated. At the time the young resident intern tried to reassure me that I: "shouldn't feel bad, this is common among middle aged men . . . ." And then, the older opthomoligist came in to check his diagnosis, I kid you not his name was Dr. Blinder, and he looked at my eye and said "Rats! we can't make you better."

Amazing how eyes and perception adjusts and compensates. They can correct to 20/20 even after such episodes, as long as one can keep both eyes open.

All will be well for Griffon and we will see "and feel" many more books from No Reply. . .

742SDB2012
Feb 8, 12:45 pm

>741 SuttonHooPress: 31 is middle-aged?

743ambyrglow
Feb 8, 1:16 pm

>742 SDB2012: I once had a doctor tell me "well, that's just what happens at your age" when I went in about knee problems at the advanced age of . . . 25. I think it's a thing doctors say when they don't have any better ideas.

(Another doctor was much more helpful. My knees are mostly fine, fifteen years later.)

744SuttonHooPress
Feb 8, 6:22 pm

>742 SDB2012: Exactly! I guess I seemed so to a young resident.

745Glacierman
Feb 8, 8:13 pm

>744 SuttonHooPress: Who did you get, Doogie Howser?

746const-char-star
Editado: Feb 11, 2:02 pm

No Reply announced their next edition: The Tell-Tale Heart https://www.noreplypress.com/limitededitions/thetell-taleheart

747Pax_Romana
Editado: Mar 11, 6:43 pm

Este mensaje fue borrado por su autor.

748kdweber
Feb 11, 3:45 pm

>746 const-char-star: Wow, the deluxe edition sure sold out quickly.

749What_What
Feb 11, 3:46 pm

>748 kdweber: Yes, I was surprised, especially without a prototype to view. Good for the press.

750kdweber
Feb 11, 3:52 pm

The Barbarian press doesn’t mind selling more copies of the deluxe than the original. If the text block is the same, I don’t see why publishers don’t allow the market to determine the split between standard and deluxe. I assume publishers make more money on the deluxe.

751const-char-star
Feb 11, 4:00 pm

>750 kdweber: Not quite the same text block, in this case. The Standard is printed on Hahemühle Biblio while the De Luxe is printed on a handmade paper from the paper mill in Velke Losiny, Czechia

752kdweber
Feb 11, 4:19 pm

>751 const-char-star: That’s true in this case which is why I made the comment about the same text block. But thank you for making it clear.

753Shadekeep
Feb 11, 7:01 pm

Ah, this is what I get for not checking email all day. Missed a chance at the deluxe, but will still be delighted to have a standard. I love Rūta Kuzmickas's art, this will be a glorious finish to the Poe series.

754Shadekeep
Editado: Feb 12, 9:06 am

Update from Griffin on The Tell-Tale Heart:

Yesterday's announcement saw an almost immediate sellout of the De Luxe state, and over a hundred reservations for the Standard. As promised, we are keeping the edition open for reservations today. After today, however, the edition limitation will be set. Any further copies will only be offered at a higher rate, if at all.

If this edition interests you, please don't hesitate to make your reservation.

755yolana
Feb 13, 8:30 am

If you bought story of an hour you will have received an email about 10 minutes ago you should check.

756Shadekeep
Feb 13, 8:34 am

>755 yolana: Indeed one should.

757Shadekeep
Feb 15, 10:13 am

Just an update that the limited signed chapbook is showing as fully reserved now. Public details are still forthcoming, so I shan't say more at the moment.

758NathanOv
Feb 15, 10:59 am

Those curious can find it in the catalogue section of the website!

759Shadekeep
Feb 15, 11:04 am

>758 NathanOv: Ah, you're right! Neglected to check there for public exposure.

I will say that I wasn't terribly surprised when the author was revealed. They have a number of works put out by Aralia Press, which Griffin has confessed to possessing a large collection of. I'm a fan of the press as well.

760gmacaree
Feb 16, 3:16 am

>758 NathanOv: seems to be gone. But I'll wait to see what it is

761jveezer
Feb 16, 11:06 am

The first chapbook, The Story of an Hour is an absolute beauty! Got it yesterday. Especially love the hand-painted cover matching the color of the caps on the title page and initial word in the story. Looking forward to the quick read.