Pleasant surprises
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1JedediahG
I thought it might be fun to talk about our most pleasant LEC/Heritage surprises. I'm sure we all expect to enjoy our purchases (or else why would we make them?) but every now and then we receive a book that surpasses all expectations. It might be that the content itself is better than you thought it would be, the quality of the production is higher, or the condition of the book is better. This probably happens most often when ordering online but I suppose you might find that something in a physical store that turns out to be even better than you thought once you've had more time with it at home.
To start us off, I'll mention my pleasantest surprises over the last year or so. First, the Limited Editions Club version of Kim by Rudyard Kipling. It was printed in 1962 so it falls neither in the George Macy era nor the Shiff era which many seem to consider the best eras of the club. I picked my copy up fairly cheap—around $30, if I remember right. When it came in, it was in pristine condition except for a slight wrinkle in the leather binding. I found that I liked it in my hand much better than the pictures. I liked the binding but the interior of the book is more important to me because it's the experience of reading that I care about. And for me, that was perfect. The paper was this lovely thick, slightly rough (but quite soft, if that makes sense) texture and a light cream color. The illustrations were perfect and the text was nicely printed and had colorful and decorative capitals and little decorations at the end of each chapter. The story, which I'd never read before, was amazing! I talked about it in the "what are you reading" thread but I really loved it. It's maybe my second favorite read of the year.
My other very pleasant surprise was the LEC Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. The book itself was not quite as nice as Kim—I'd say it's much more of a run-of-the-mill LEC which is to say that it's much nicer than just about anything you can buy now—for less than a few hundred dollars, at least. The illustrations aren't reproduced quite as brightly but I think they're very nice and truly capture the characters they're representing. So the book itself is not the most stunning of all the LECs but it's beautiful and very cheap. What really surprised me was how much I enjoyed the story. For being a book largely concerned with a woman making a Very Bad Choice, it was amazing how riveting I found it. James invested most of his scenes with all the tension of a hostage negotiation. No conversation was simple or straightforward: they were fraught with little mysterious undercurrents. I loved my time with it.
So those are mine (and I'm relatively new at this so I'm hoping I'll have lots more). What are yours?
To start us off, I'll mention my pleasantest surprises over the last year or so. First, the Limited Editions Club version of Kim by Rudyard Kipling. It was printed in 1962 so it falls neither in the George Macy era nor the Shiff era which many seem to consider the best eras of the club. I picked my copy up fairly cheap—around $30, if I remember right. When it came in, it was in pristine condition except for a slight wrinkle in the leather binding. I found that I liked it in my hand much better than the pictures. I liked the binding but the interior of the book is more important to me because it's the experience of reading that I care about. And for me, that was perfect. The paper was this lovely thick, slightly rough (but quite soft, if that makes sense) texture and a light cream color. The illustrations were perfect and the text was nicely printed and had colorful and decorative capitals and little decorations at the end of each chapter. The story, which I'd never read before, was amazing! I talked about it in the "what are you reading" thread but I really loved it. It's maybe my second favorite read of the year.
My other very pleasant surprise was the LEC Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. The book itself was not quite as nice as Kim—I'd say it's much more of a run-of-the-mill LEC which is to say that it's much nicer than just about anything you can buy now—for less than a few hundred dollars, at least. The illustrations aren't reproduced quite as brightly but I think they're very nice and truly capture the characters they're representing. So the book itself is not the most stunning of all the LECs but it's beautiful and very cheap. What really surprised me was how much I enjoyed the story. For being a book largely concerned with a woman making a Very Bad Choice, it was amazing how riveting I found it. James invested most of his scenes with all the tension of a hostage negotiation. No conversation was simple or straightforward: they were fraught with little mysterious undercurrents. I loved my time with it.
So those are mine (and I'm relatively new at this so I'm hoping I'll have lots more). What are yours?
2AMindForeverVoyaging
I read Kim recently and also came away impressed, especially by the maze-patterned binding and the illustrations. The story was a fun read, though I'm always a sucker for adventure stories :) I had been watching one of The Great Courses on the history of the CIA and the lecturer frequently referenced Kim as an influential book to various spies, so that made me move it to the top of my to-read mountain and now I can see why cloak-and-dagger types would go for it.
My biggest LEC surprise so far was The Bridge of San Luis Rey. I knew nothing about it going in and only snapped it up because it was dirt cheap and in Fine condition. What a thought-provoking and funny book it proved to be! Add in beautiful illustrations and an elegant cover design and for me it stands as one of the best LEC values out there.
My biggest LEC surprise so far was The Bridge of San Luis Rey. I knew nothing about it going in and only snapped it up because it was dirt cheap and in Fine condition. What a thought-provoking and funny book it proved to be! Add in beautiful illustrations and an elegant cover design and for me it stands as one of the best LEC values out there.
3BionicJim
One of my most satisfying reads was when I sat down with a lesser-performed Shakespeare play without knowing anything about it. The LEC Shakespeare’s gorgeous presentation was something I was already very familiar with, but I didn’t know that Shakespeare had set a play during the Trojan War.
Troilus and Cressida inspired me to read The Iliad (finally) and many more books about these famous characters. Illustrated by Demetrius Galanis in a very unique and compelling way, I discovered that he was emulating Greek Red-figure pottery that was made during the 6th - 4th Century BC in Athens, so very appropo. Inspired again, I visited my local museum to see some in person and have a new appreciation for ancient vases that I never before had given a second glance.
I’ve yet to tackle the Chaucer version, but it is on my list.
Troilus and Cressida inspired me to read The Iliad (finally) and many more books about these famous characters. Illustrated by Demetrius Galanis in a very unique and compelling way, I discovered that he was emulating Greek Red-figure pottery that was made during the 6th - 4th Century BC in Athens, so very appropo. Inspired again, I visited my local museum to see some in person and have a new appreciation for ancient vases that I never before had given a second glance.
I’ve yet to tackle the Chaucer version, but it is on my list.
4Django6924
>1 JedediahG:
Glad you started this thread--an excellent idea and very pertinent to why I am a GMD. Without these books being issued in such tempting dress, I never would have read many of them, and I honestly can't say I regretted reading any of them--although some held my interest less than others.
My pleasant surprise was The Romance of Leonardo Da Vinci. I have to say while I respect the art of the Italian Renaissance, it doesn't speak to me the way much of medieval art and modern art does. Thus, I started reading just to gain a little knowledge about this major figure of the Renaissance, about whom I knew nothing.
I was spellbound by the story of this genius, who never seemed able to finish many of his major projects, due to political intrigues, to losing interest when drawn to something new, and by his own inability to finish something to his own satisfaction.
I also did not realize the opposing currents of thought that were clashing during this period: the obsession with recovering the buried (literally) treasures of classical Greece and Rome, and using them as guides for an artistic sensibility which reveres the human body, and the fanatical opposition to that sensibility led by the influential Dominican Savonarola, which finally led to "the bonfire of the vanities" (I had no idea before reading the HP where Tom Wolfe got his title).
My copy is probably from the June 1938 Series B issues because it has a colophon: I say probably because my copy is lacking that 1B Sandglass. In addition to the colophon, it has the pictorial binding of Leonardo's The Last Supper, which was also used on a later issue of the book, so I can't say for sure it is the first issue. The paper is thin (it is a LONG book) and for my aged eyes, though the printing is excellent, I find it somewhat cramped. I can't make any comments on the reproduction of the art, because so much of Leonardo's art was in dilapidated condition when the book was printed, so they may be excellent reproductions of the art as it was then. Definitely worth reading no matter what your interest in art. There is an uncanny parallel to the situation today, where religious fundamentalism seems to be making a last stand against humanism.
Glad you started this thread--an excellent idea and very pertinent to why I am a GMD. Without these books being issued in such tempting dress, I never would have read many of them, and I honestly can't say I regretted reading any of them--although some held my interest less than others.
My pleasant surprise was The Romance of Leonardo Da Vinci. I have to say while I respect the art of the Italian Renaissance, it doesn't speak to me the way much of medieval art and modern art does. Thus, I started reading just to gain a little knowledge about this major figure of the Renaissance, about whom I knew nothing.
I was spellbound by the story of this genius, who never seemed able to finish many of his major projects, due to political intrigues, to losing interest when drawn to something new, and by his own inability to finish something to his own satisfaction.
I also did not realize the opposing currents of thought that were clashing during this period: the obsession with recovering the buried (literally) treasures of classical Greece and Rome, and using them as guides for an artistic sensibility which reveres the human body, and the fanatical opposition to that sensibility led by the influential Dominican Savonarola, which finally led to "the bonfire of the vanities" (I had no idea before reading the HP where Tom Wolfe got his title).
My copy is probably from the June 1938 Series B issues because it has a colophon: I say probably because my copy is lacking that 1B Sandglass. In addition to the colophon, it has the pictorial binding of Leonardo's The Last Supper, which was also used on a later issue of the book, so I can't say for sure it is the first issue. The paper is thin (it is a LONG book) and for my aged eyes, though the printing is excellent, I find it somewhat cramped. I can't make any comments on the reproduction of the art, because so much of Leonardo's art was in dilapidated condition when the book was printed, so they may be excellent reproductions of the art as it was then. Definitely worth reading no matter what your interest in art. There is an uncanny parallel to the situation today, where religious fundamentalism seems to be making a last stand against humanism.
5abysswalker
>3 BionicJim: a few months ago I also picked up a copy of Troilus and Cressida based on the strength of the Galanis illustrations, but I haven’t read it yet. It’s one of my favorite sets of LEC illustrations. Off hand, the only other LECs I own with illustrations in the running are Dulac’s for Comus and Eichenberg’s for Simplicissimus (though, the consideration set is not that large; LibraryThing tells me I own 22 LEC releases at the moment).
6dlphcoracl
This is a bit OT since it is not a George Macy LEC book, but........
From the marvelous Sidney Shiff LEC transitional period (1980 to 1989)..........
A Lost Lady by Willa Cather (1983).
An elegant book with marvelous, atmospheric pen and ink illustrations by William Bailey. Excellent letterpress printing on a beautiful (and appropriate) creme white Mohawk letterpress paper. This can easily be purchased in fine or NF condition for about $100 and it is FAR superior to the recent edition by the Arion Press offered at $600.
Incidentally, if you are an LEC collector and are unfamiliar with these transitional Sidney Shiff designed books, prior to his full conversion to LEC livres d'artistes editions, they are well worth your time to fully explore them. They represent exceptional value.
https://booksandvines.com/2011/08/11/a-review-of-a-lady-lost-by-willa-cather-lim...
From the marvelous Sidney Shiff LEC transitional period (1980 to 1989)..........
A Lost Lady by Willa Cather (1983).
An elegant book with marvelous, atmospheric pen and ink illustrations by William Bailey. Excellent letterpress printing on a beautiful (and appropriate) creme white Mohawk letterpress paper. This can easily be purchased in fine or NF condition for about $100 and it is FAR superior to the recent edition by the Arion Press offered at $600.
Incidentally, if you are an LEC collector and are unfamiliar with these transitional Sidney Shiff designed books, prior to his full conversion to LEC livres d'artistes editions, they are well worth your time to fully explore them. They represent exceptional value.
https://booksandvines.com/2011/08/11/a-review-of-a-lady-lost-by-willa-cather-lim...
7Django6924
>3 BionicJim: >5 abysswalker:
Shakespeare's Troilus is a fascinating play, and very different than Chaucer's poem. Chaucer begins his Troilus with an invocation to Thesiphone to help:
... for tendyte
Thise woful vers, that wepen as I wryte
Chaucer concentrates his tale on the "double sorrow" of Troilus, a tale so pitiful the verse weeps as he writes it. A very beautiful poem, especially read in the Middle English original, and seen by most scholars as his most perfect (though not his greatest) achievement.
Shakespeare's play of course alternates the tragedy of the two lovers with much low comedy, especially revolving around Thersites. Infidelity is a major theme running throughout, and this aspect made it dismissed during the Romantic era. There is, perhaps, some anti-war sentiment, though one never can be sure with Shakespeare whether the sentiments expressed are his, or only his character's. Hardly ever staged after Shakespeare's time, it had gotten increasing attention in the 20th century for its "modernity."
Shakespeare's Troilus is a fascinating play, and very different than Chaucer's poem. Chaucer begins his Troilus with an invocation to Thesiphone to help:
... for tendyte
Thise woful vers, that wepen as I wryte
Chaucer concentrates his tale on the "double sorrow" of Troilus, a tale so pitiful the verse weeps as he writes it. A very beautiful poem, especially read in the Middle English original, and seen by most scholars as his most perfect (though not his greatest) achievement.
Shakespeare's play of course alternates the tragedy of the two lovers with much low comedy, especially revolving around Thersites. Infidelity is a major theme running throughout, and this aspect made it dismissed during the Romantic era. There is, perhaps, some anti-war sentiment, though one never can be sure with Shakespeare whether the sentiments expressed are his, or only his character's. Hardly ever staged after Shakespeare's time, it had gotten increasing attention in the 20th century for its "modernity."
9ubiquitousuk
My biggest delta between reality and expectations was probably Bel-Ami by de Maupassant. I bought it from an online charity shop for about £30 (a bargain when you consider how rare LECs are in the UK). It's a nicely produced book in most respects, but the real thing that set it apart for me was the scale of reproduction of Lamotte's wonderful oil paintings. Reproducing these paintings across two large quarto pages makes for quite an impact!
10Django6924
>9 ubiquitousuk:
I've never understood why this book seems so undervalued: the production values are outstanding, with the slipcase serving as an example of what all LEC slipcases should have been, the story is a compelling one, and the illustrations are superb.
I've never understood why this book seems so undervalued: the production values are outstanding, with the slipcase serving as an example of what all LEC slipcases should have been, the story is a compelling one, and the illustrations are superb.
11BuzzBuzzard
>9 ubiquitousuk: >10 Django6924: Just recently I bought a pristine copy with glassine, ML and announcement card for $35. May be not a popular read?
One of my pleasant surprises from that period was the 1965 Master of Ballantrae. The binding is original and nice. The book is 6 and 1/4 x 10 and 3/8 inches. Excellent size for holding it comfortably. The page design is masterly. Although the book in not wide the margins are ample. The 12 point Monotype Bell is spaced enough that the text is easy on the eyes. Lynd Ward's two-color stone lithographs are great as well as the special white laid paper by the Curtis Paper Company. Last but not least the story is outstanding. Better that Kidnapped in my opinion. My mint copy was $45. I can't recommend this one enough!
One of my pleasant surprises from that period was the 1965 Master of Ballantrae. The binding is original and nice. The book is 6 and 1/4 x 10 and 3/8 inches. Excellent size for holding it comfortably. The page design is masterly. Although the book in not wide the margins are ample. The 12 point Monotype Bell is spaced enough that the text is easy on the eyes. Lynd Ward's two-color stone lithographs are great as well as the special white laid paper by the Curtis Paper Company. Last but not least the story is outstanding. Better that Kidnapped in my opinion. My mint copy was $45. I can't recommend this one enough!
12Django6924
>11 BuzzBuzzard:
Well, Duroy is a very unsavory fellow, and one wishes he would get his come-uppance, but he never does. Maybe that's why it's unpopular.
I also prefer Master of Ballantrae to Kidnapped: a much more gripping, complex novel: a hugely expanded riff on the old Cain-Abel story.
Well, Duroy is a very unsavory fellow, and one wishes he would get his come-uppance, but he never does. Maybe that's why it's unpopular.
I also prefer Master of Ballantrae to Kidnapped: a much more gripping, complex novel: a hugely expanded riff on the old Cain-Abel story.
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