Mad Parrot Press Wind in the Willows

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Mad Parrot Press Wind in the Willows

1jveezer
apr 18, 2020, 12:04 pm

2jveezer
apr 18, 2020, 12:10 pm

I am over the moon that I have been able to reserve a copy of this upcoming book. Anyone who has seen Zimakov's work in books for the Centipede Press, Folio Society, etc., or been able to drop by his table at CODEX will expect something special from him. And Chad and Jim at Mad Parrot have produced such masterpieces as the Heart of Darkness by Chester River Press. So I'll be on pins and needles until this fall, which Chad projected as the potential publishing date in his last newsletter update.

One of my favorite books from my childhood. You'll hopefully see it on my blog shortly after I have it in my hand and read. In the meantime, the FS edition is reviewed on my blog at http://www.thewholebookexperience.com/2011/10/18/the-folio-society-wind-in-the-w...

3Sorion
apr 18, 2020, 1:44 pm

Very excited for this one as well and managed to get on the list after the initial announcement. Now I only hope I'll be able to afford it once it launches!

After Heart of Darkness we can only expect this to be one of the highlights of 2020-2021.

4kdweber
apr 18, 2020, 3:50 pm

Not much of a website. $2000 for The Wind in the Willows (75 copies). The Chester River Press Heart of Darkness is one of my favorites.

5SolerSystem
apr 18, 2020, 4:12 pm

Really wish I was into fine press books when Heart of Darkness was released. Everything about it is fantastic, and it’s still one of my favorite novellas.

6Niurn
apr 18, 2020, 4:37 pm

How did you reserve a copy ?I see no such option on the website ?

7jveezer
apr 18, 2020, 7:09 pm

>6 Niurn: I just contacted them directly. There's an option to do that through a webform on the website. Yeah, primitive website, I suppose in part because there are no books to buy yet. The books from the previous imprints (if not OOP) are available on the old websites, I think.

8astropi
apr 18, 2020, 7:13 pm

Oh wow. $2000 is way beyond my price range. I do hope that those of you that order this book find it as beautiful as you might want, and please share pics once you receive it! By the way, I have to agree their website leaves much to be desired
http://madparrotpress.com/
Then again, I think many of these small fine press publishers could use to upgrade their websites! but I guess there's not much incentive...
Anyway, one of my favorite stories too.

9ultrarightist
apr 18, 2020, 9:20 pm

Enticing, but the $2K price tag is steep. Does anyone have both the FS LE and the LEC? If so, which do you prefer? I have the LEC, in one of Don's high quality custom rebinds. When I spoke to Chad at Codex 2019, he opined that while he loves Rackham, he did not think that the LEC Wind in the Willows was amongst his better work, and perhaps lacked the inspiration and energy at the end of his career. Chad thought that Zimakov could outdo Rackham in the Mad Parrot edition. I look forward to seeing the final product.

10kdweber
apr 18, 2020, 9:25 pm

>9 ultrarightist: I only have the FS LE, which I highly recommend.

11dlphcoracl
apr 18, 2020, 10:38 pm

The Mad Parrot edition of TWITW will certainly be one of the private press high points in 2020. I have an edition published in 1951 by Methuen & Co. (London) which was the 100th separate edition of this classic. It also used the Rackham illustrations but the letterpress printing and paper quality were superior to the LEC edition. It was printed at Western Printing Services, Bristol, U.K.

12ultrarightist
apr 18, 2020, 10:41 pm

>11 dlphcoracl: Are the Rackham illustrations of equal quality between the two editions?

13gmurphy
apr 18, 2020, 10:55 pm

>12 ultrarightist:

Comparing the two,I think the color tipped-in illustrations are of similar quality. However,the LEC edition has 16 color illustrations,whilst the 1951 100th edition has only 12. The 1951 edition does have additional black & white line drawings which are not in the LEC edition.

14kermaier
apr 18, 2020, 11:28 pm

I’d been hoping, though not expecting, that this edition would fall within my price range. Alas....

15astropi
apr 18, 2020, 11:53 pm

I'd love to see pictures of the 1951 edition. Rackham was amazing. It's a tough call, perhaps the FS Wind in the Willows is the most beautiful edition thus far, although it is not letterpress.

16dlphcoracl
Bewerkt: apr 19, 2020, 2:09 am

The 2K price tag takes me out of the Mad Parrot edition lineup. I enjoyed the story but reading it was not a seminal event in my life.

17wongie
apr 19, 2020, 4:22 am

And all this time I've just been waiting for the website to announce the book open to pre-order.

Ever since I first head about this book I was ardently committed to purchasing it, now that I find I can reserve a copy at any time I suddenly find myself hesitant taking that final step of committing $2k...

18gmacaree
apr 19, 2020, 5:34 am

I'm more excited for The Machine Stops.

19jveezer
apr 19, 2020, 12:29 pm

>17 wongie: Mad Parrot seems a bit like Barbarian Press or Larkspur Press: printers who choose to spend their time making books not websites. That can be disconcerting these days now that we've been conditioned to the instant gratification of seeing things in our 'cart' and then seeing a shipping notification instantly upon ordering (or a 'We've saved your cart for you! You forgot to hit the purchase button!'). Of course, we've also been conditioned to the money disappearing from our account or showing up on our c/c the instant we hit the 'buy' button. I'm pretty sure that some of the Barbarian Press titles sell out while there is still only an 'upcoming title' blurb on the website, and eventually go to the 'past titles' section without ever showing up in the 'available' section. And their edition limitation is usually in the same neighborhood of around 100 copies. Larkspur titles can only be ordered via mail. No credit card either, I don't think. The cool thing is you actually talk to Grey Zeitz if you call, instead of a sales associate.

I had no idea if Chad was reserving copies and whether any were still available when I sent an inquiry. But I seem to remember it saying somewhere on the primitive website to 'contact us' to reserve a copy. I feared that they had all been reserved. It took a few days to get a reply but I believe there is a copy with my name on it now if I can handle it when the payment details are determined, which I was told was 'shortly'. (I think that is letterpress printer in a pandemic 'shortly', not web commerce 'shortly'!)

20dlphcoracl
apr 19, 2020, 12:45 pm

>19 jveezer:

The Barbarian Press has recently updated their website with extensive, informative, and up-to-date commentary regarding their upcoming books over the next two years. If you have not visited their website recently I encourage you to do so.

You are correct in stating that Barbarian Press editions are often fully subscribed to before publication, especially the deluxe editions, so much so that one must reserve a copy well in advance. Their books almost never appear on the secondary market, either at auction or from fine booksellers and their past titles have achieved cult status, fetching jaw-dropping (and unreasonable) prices. A recent PBA Galleries auction held on 01/23/2020 featured 17 of their books, the first time I have seen them at auction, and the prices they commanded were multiples above their original price (see link). To a lesser extent, Jamie Murphy's Salvage Press books from Dublin, Ireland, also sell out prior to publication.

https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/512/?page=1&key=barbar...

Regarding the Mad Parrot Press edition of TWITW, they can only be reserved by directly contacting them from their Mad Parrot Press.

21wongie
apr 19, 2020, 3:03 pm

Well I took the plunge and got my name added to the preliminary list. After pining for this for so long I can't get cold feet now.

22jveezer
apr 19, 2020, 6:54 pm

>20 dlphcoracl: Haha, yes I know. One of the endearing things about Jan & Crispin is that they joke about their website habits and also send out a letter/email to subscribers that gives us most of the information that then appears on the website. So I get out of the habit of looking unless there is something specific about an old book I am looking for.

Several years ago, I was one of the 'surprise' visitors referred to in the last letter, and it was fantastic to see the place where so much beauty, craft, and art is created. My favorite press, for sure. I hope they get around to that rumoured edition of Metamorphoses.

23dlphcoracl
apr 19, 2020, 7:22 pm

>22 jveezer:

Frankly, the Barbarian Press book I am most interested in is their forthcoming edition of John Clare's 'The Shepherd's Calendar' with Andy English wood-engravings. Ovid's Metamorphoses is private press royalty and is already well-represented by outstanding private press editions from several presses, e.g., the Golden Cockerel Press, the Shanty Bay Press, etc . No real need for another one.

24jveezer
apr 19, 2020, 7:59 pm

>23 dlphcoracl: I agree that there might not be a great need but I trust a BP Ovid (Lazarov!!!) might be special like the "private press go-to and over-printed" Shakespeare turned out to be with their Pericles. Also, this reader has yet to read Metamorphoses. I do have the Heritage Press edition and can certainly live with that but...

It is nice when a subscription provides new material for me as a reader, so I am also looking forward to the Clare, as well as the Molly Holden, who I know nothing about.

In the same vein, I'm perfectly happy with just my FS WITW. But I love Zimakov's art (for musicians like Amanda Palmer in addition to his book work), so I'm ecstatic to think I might have a copy of Mad Parrot edition in my hand to read at some point. I hopefully have a handful of re-reads of the book in me before the end of my reading life...

25kdweber
apr 19, 2020, 8:05 pm

I'm excited that my first Barbarian Press book (Endgrain Editions 5: Richard Wagener) has shipped. I managed to snag the last deluxe edition back when it was mentioned in another thread. Everyone else should have already gotten theirs. Time to see what all the fuss is about.

26ultrarightist
apr 19, 2020, 8:16 pm

>23 dlphcoracl: I am greatly looking forward to both, but more so the Ovid. I suspect that >24 jveezer: is right and the BP Metamorphoses will be a crown jewel like their Pericles. Btw, do you have the leather or cloth bound version of the Golden Cockerel Press edition of Metamorphoses?

27astropi
Bewerkt: apr 19, 2020, 8:25 pm

Quite honestly, the only Barbarian Press book I saw that I was interested in was their Pericles. To be fair their Venus and Adonis looks beautiful too, but there are many beautiful letterpress editions of that. But their Pericles... holy moly!! That is beyond amazing. I believe it was $2000 back in 2011, which even today is incredibly expensive. However I'm hard pressed to find a more beautiful book - based on the pictures I have seen
http://www.thewholebookexperience.com/2011/09/18/the-barbarian-press-pericles-by...

ps Just in case anyone has a copy for sale or trade, let me know! I'll see what I can do :)

28dlphcoracl
Bewerkt: apr 19, 2020, 8:32 pm

>26 ultrarightist:

I have both the Special Edition of the GCP Metamorphoses (one of 75 copies) in the full tan morocco/maroon & gilt inlay binding with separate suite of the 11 wood engravings + 3 additional engravings not included in the book and the edition from the Shanty Bay Press. Both are splendid, especially the copy from Shanty Bay. I am a sucker for pochoir illustrations and Walter Bachinski is a gifted practitioner of this art. Chris Adamson wrote an extensive article on the Shanty Bay Press and 'Metamorphoses' in late 2013 and the photographs of their books and illustrations will make you weep. Unfortunately, so will their prices.

https://booksandvines.com/2013/12/11/a-look-at-shanty-bay-press/

29dlphcoracl
Bewerkt: apr 19, 2020, 8:55 pm

>25 kdweber:

Prepare to be amazed......... VERY amazed! This book is a tour-de-force of both Richard Wagener's world-class wood-engraving (with nearly one-hundred of his illustrations printed directly from his wooden blocks) AND the printer's art as well. Jan Crispin is a master printer and her work in faithfully reproducing these complex wood engravings is almost certainly the high point of her career as a printer.

I am not usually a collector of books devoted solely to wood-engravings and this was my first foray into the Barbarian Press Endgrain Editions series because of my interest in and admiration for Wagener's body of work. I wasn't disappointed - the book is simply jaw-dropping, spanning Richard Wagener's entire career and a multitude of his different styles.

30jveezer
apr 19, 2020, 10:14 pm

>25 kdweber: What @diphcoracl said: the Endgrain Editions are amazing. I usually only go in for books I can read but I have the last three and they are all amazing. Wagener, Brett, & Lazarov, the last of which I picked up for a song when my fave Seattle bookstore closed. I'd love to see the others but, again, my dollars mostly go towards things to read...

I did see the Shanty Bay Metamorphoses at CODEX. Big fan of their books as well but well out of my budget.

31kdweber
apr 20, 2020, 2:03 am

>30 jveezer: Hopefully the Richmond CODEX will be a go in February 2021 and I'll stop by their table. I too usually avoid books without text but I really wanted to try the Barbarian Press and I love Wagener's work. I have both of Wagner's Book Club of California Books and I met Wagener at the BCC release party for Sierra Nevada Suite. If I love it, I'll be tempted to pick up the Simon Brett Endgrain edition.

32wongie
apr 20, 2020, 11:17 am

I just noticed the site has been updated and the official release date announced for September 12th. Also, first 20 respondents to put down a $500 deposit will receive the book at a 10% discount.

33jveezer
apr 20, 2020, 11:50 am

>32 wongie: Done. Hopefully in time for the discount. Every little bit helps...

34booksforreading
apr 20, 2020, 1:09 pm

Interesting! I just checked their website yesterday, and this new information was not there. The must have just added it!
I think that it might take time to get 25 people to pay $500 for advance reservations, but who knows...

35booksforreading
apr 20, 2020, 4:31 pm

I have just received an email from Mad Parrot Press with the same information. This means that now they have contacted every person who has reached out to them with questions about the book.
If you are thinking of purchasing the book, I suggest "jumping" on the early pre-order list ASAP, as now everyone is informed about this early possibility. There is a 6% sales tax that will apply to everything, except the initial deposit - this is another big reason to do the deposit now.

36DWPress
Bewerkt: apr 20, 2020, 8:00 pm

Everyone,

First, my thanks to you all for patience and grand expectations for The Wind in the Willows. We were surprised how many of you beat us to a purchase before we even launched the email campaign this afternoon - which traced me back to this forum. It's true that this has been long in the making now and we are still waiting on the remaining illustrations from Vladimir which I should have by the end of May which means I'll be printing all summer to meet that fall deadline - but happy to be doing it!

As of now, 15 of those 25 at the 10% discount have been spoken for and we've reserved copies for a number of other individuals. If you didn't receive the email notice today you are not yet on our mailing list. If you would like to be on the list I added a link on my deepwoodpress.com homepage yesterday. These early payments will help us finish the book and I'm hoping to get a few more pieces of art from Vladimir as well. Payment plans are also welcome, I know it's an expensive book.

The Mad Parrot site IS abysmal, agreed. All our previous imprints under Chester River Press are available on my DWP website still (except Heart of Darkness and Chesapeake Voyages of John Smith which are long gone). CRP was initially a partnership between 4 of us and when that dissolved Jim and I kept at our wonderful partnership under CRP but then decided that this new venture needed a new imprint. Jim owns a crazy parrot that likes to bite me so the name was clinched when we discovered any reference to TWITW for a domain name was unobtainium.

I'm hoping to finish my second new translation of Kafka - The Hunter Gracchus following up from In the Penal Colonoy before I get the last of the art from Vladimir. Once again the artwork is the slow down as my 2nd studio building with the big intaglio press and Linotype machine is still cold as I refuse to heat 3 buildings 24/7 and it just snowed again today. The MPP edition of The Machine Stops will be started next winter after the show tour but I am in the process of doing the intaglio prints for it already.

Thanks again. Looking forward to seeing some of your faces again in the future when this current crisis is over. I plan to be at Oak Knoll and Oxford this fall as well as CODEX next spring providing they aren't canceled.

Stay safe everyone,

Chad

37dlphcoracl
apr 20, 2020, 8:52 pm

>36 DWPress:

Chad:

The MPP edition of E.M. Forster's classic 'The Machine Stops' cannot be published soon enough. Truly a visionary short story.

38astropi
apr 21, 2020, 12:41 am

>36 DWPress: Such amazing work. I have to say, I do wish I had more money to be able to afford "In the Penal Colony". That said, any price estimates for THE MACHINE STOPS and THE HUNTER GRACCHUS?

39SebRinelli
apr 21, 2020, 5:10 am

>36 DWPress:

I absolutely agree with >37 dlphcoracl:.

40booksforreading
apr 21, 2020, 12:14 pm

I think that one person can only do so much! As follows from DWPress's post, Chad is working on finishing another Kafka book, and is going to work A LOT on printing The Wind in the Willows to finish it in time for September's release. Seems like he has his hands very full. Under the circumstances to tell somebody that it is a good idea to push for a book that they themselves announced as planned in the future is a little redundant, in my opinion.
That said, I myself look forward to the Machine Stops when they release it, if I can afford it.

41dlphcoracl
apr 21, 2020, 12:26 pm

>40 booksforreading:

You are not quite up to speed with the plans and projects of the Deep Wood Press/Mad Parrot Press. The Machine Stops has been in the works for nearly five years, well before The Wind in the Willow was announced. It was shelved because of copyright issues which took several years to resolve. Its successful resolution and restoration to the list of forthcoming projects of the MPP explains why several collectors are keen to see this particular book published.

42jveezer
apr 24, 2020, 12:57 am

If you haven't heard the Waterboys do "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" from their album Where the Action Is, you should check it out on YouTube. The Wind in the Willows is just one of those stories from my childhood that resonates and Mike Scott reciting this passage brings tears to my eyes. So, if that's the power of the story on me for whatever reason, I'll want every edition or reading of it I can find...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3soptZ60Xy0

They also have a wonderful album of Yeats, in addition to their wonderful original stuff.

43kermaier
apr 24, 2020, 10:13 am

>42 jveezer:
>41 dlphcoracl:
The 3rd track from their album "An Appointment with Mr Yeats" is entitled "News for the Delphic Oracle" :-)

44ultrarightist
apr 25, 2020, 2:42 pm

>28 dlphcoracl: Is the Special Edition of the GCP Metamorphoses (one of 75 copies) in the full tan morocco/maroon & gilt inlay binding printed on the same Millbourn mould-made paper as the standard edition (125 copies)?

45dlphcoracl
apr 25, 2020, 3:06 pm

46DWPress
apr 27, 2020, 4:48 pm

>astropi: Probably around $1500 for Gracchus (only 35 copies if I'm lucky with the mezzotints holding out) and probably around 2k for Machine Stops.

Yes, copyright slowed us down on Machine Stops and we dealt with a UK firm to straighten it out. Fortunately, it's the same firm that handles another famous authors estate I'm keen on maybe having a shot at under our MP imprint. Anyone like a little Milne and Pooh bear?

Machine Stops has been on our list of books to do for over 12 years, shortly after Jim and I started working together we started drooling over the idea. Seems like every years it just gets more and more appropriate for it's time. Tentative thoughts are to have Marc Castellii illustrate again, we enjoyed working with him on Heart of Darkness and his style would be most appropriate for the book.

47astropi
apr 27, 2020, 6:31 pm

>46 DWPress: The work you do is absolutely amazing, and Marc Castelli is fabulous! I'm guessing there is no way those prices could go down? I hate to say it but most of us won't be able to afford those prices, although we would love, love, love, to be able to purchase a copy from you. I also think novellas are a perfect length for letterpress. Not too short like most poetry, and not exceedingly large.

48U_238
mei 2, 2020, 8:48 pm

I think something by Milne would be very popular!

49jveezer
mei 18, 2020, 10:51 am

>37 dlphcoracl: Saw this article you might be interested in to get you even more anxious for Machine Stops, or at least make it more topical:

https://lithub.com/how-e-m-forsters-only-foray-into-sci-fi-predicted-social-dist...

50dlphcoracl
Bewerkt: mei 18, 2020, 2:16 pm

>49 jveezer:

Thank you for that.

I've just finished reading it and it is indeed prescient, many years ahead of its time. I have been eagerly anticipating seeing this in a private press edition from the Mad Parrot Press but the proposed asking price of $2,000 will take me out of that ballgame.

51handandeye
jun 5, 2020, 4:26 pm

Excellent printers! I have a copy of their extensive type specimen book.

52Sorion
sep 1, 2020, 10:39 pm

An update from the press:

Dear Friends of Mad Parrot Press,

This long-overdue update comes after several months of anxiety-laden delays amongst our suppliers for the various elements of our edition of The Wind in the Willows. COVID, artists unexpectedly having to switch to online teaching in the middle of a semester, workers hesitant to return to the paper mill, and high summer heat causing one bad batch and then some sheet shrinkage, has interrupted our efforts to bring this book in on the promised date. We’ve only just last week received the 50-sheet sample of our bespoke paper made to our specifications at St. Armand Mill in Montreal, Canada.

We apologize for this delay due to a compounding of variables, all exacerbated by this spring and summer's pandemic and its fallout. Suffice to say that the book will be well worth the wait.

We have, however, used this unexpected additional time to augment the book even further: Initially we had commissioned Vladimir Zimakov to produce twelve full-color illustrations and six smaller works for the book. Since time allowed, many of those twelve illustrations are now four-color instead of three and we (gently) coerced Vladimir to produce additional smaller images. The result is a pleasing total of nine in two colors instead of one! Though this adds cost and considerable effort to the book, the price remains as originally quoted. We make books because we love them — certainly not to get rich quick!

The new mill sheet size has dictated a minor change in text layout, along with a redesign, to accommodate the slightly narrower page size of 10.5 x 14 inches.

Leather has been secured from Steven Siegel in a dark moss green natural goat. Some 37 goats shelter now in the Deep Wood Press bindery awaiting their final appearance in this world. Alas, the rest of the binding design has yet to be finalized. Having only just received the paper, collating the layout and final section count for the book are the tasks immediately at hand which will give us a definitive book thickness.

Printing should begin by mid to late September (not unironically exactly when we had hoped printing would be finished) and, though we hesitate to make any firm promises, the goal is to have the printing finished and some books ready by the holidays.

In the meantime, here is a tiny preview of Vladimir Zimakov’s linoleum block prints to soothe and entice. Remember, the full-color images will be sized at 8 x 9.25 inches in the book.

We hope you all are well and will remain safe during this unrelenting craziness.

~Chad and James

53mnmcdwl
sep 2, 2020, 9:24 am

I also received this, and though I’ve been following and waiting a long time for this one, it’s an update that makes me happy to wait even more. The updated illustrations look great, and I’m sure that whatever form the binding takes will be impressive.

54DWPress
sep 2, 2020, 2:34 pm

Thanks for sharing our latest update Sorion. Update 2 went out today as we neglected some important information. If anyone would like to be on the mailing list there is a form on my homepage at deepwoodpress.com.

Crazy times we live in indeed!

55astropi
sep 4, 2020, 8:15 am

>52 Sorion: can you include a picture of the illustration? Thanks in advance.

56Sorion
sep 4, 2020, 11:19 am

57DWPress
sep 4, 2020, 1:10 pm

Thanks again for posting Sorion!

A note about Vladimir's linocuts - the full color images will appear in each chapter complimenting the text block size of 8 x 9.25 inches while the 2 color images are reduced to roughly 3x5 and scattered throughout the text pages very similar to what we did with Heart of Darkness but the pages are formatted with a more informal "ragged right" margin.

Yes, I'm aware that Toad driving the car is repeated in the little montage. You'll all have to wait in breathless anticipation for Vladimir's rendition of the Gypsy Wagon on the road. Also, I'll get Jim to fix those annoying errors on the Mad Parrot website.

58U_238
sep 4, 2020, 3:12 pm

I was very happy to receive this update, and agree, the delays are not unexpected, and indeed the additions make it worth the wait even more so.

59jveezer
jan 23, 2021, 2:20 pm

I was just thumbing through my Folio Society WitW with my tea. It's brilliant and I can't wait to pair it up with the Mad Parrot edition. So excited to see Vladimir's illustrations in one of my childhood favorites!

60kronnevik
jan 24, 2021, 7:55 pm

Anyone heard an update since early September when they said "the goal is to have the printing finished and some books ready by the holidays"?

61jveezer
jan 25, 2021, 1:52 am

I've seen nothing since the update that said copies might start to roll out during the holidays. We're still definitely and firmly within the acceptable fashionably late grace period for a private press in a pandemic, I'd say. But I'd also sure like to have it in my hands while I'm stuck at home...

62booksforreading
Bewerkt: jan 25, 2021, 11:15 am

This is not official, so do not hold me responsible if the information proves wrong, but I have heard that printing is full speed in the process, and it should be finished in about a month or so.

63U_238
feb 3, 2021, 9:52 pm

I'm torn about a possible imminent shipping date - it means I have to pay off the rest of it.

64MobyRichard
feb 3, 2021, 10:00 pm

>63 U_238:

Hoo hoo....we've all been there my friend.

65LoveAlice
feb 25, 2021, 8:33 am

I’m new to this forum, and interested in The Wind in the Willows. Is anyone going for the deluxe version? What’s the difference between the $2000 and the deluxe one? Has anyone had any updates or how many left to purchase?

66jveezer
feb 25, 2021, 12:25 pm

>65 LoveAlice: No news lately, so you'd have to check with Chad to get an update. The last news was that he was hoping to have some books ready for the holidays. So he's still within what I'd consider the "private press fashionably late" window and hopefully we'll see an update (or books!) soon. His website indicated that there were still some books available but I don't know what state nor whether they are still available.

67jveezer
feb 26, 2021, 6:35 pm

Ha! There IS news. It looks like the book is in printing and copies will start to be bound in April. Full page illustrations are done. And still some standard copies available!

68DWPress
feb 27, 2021, 11:58 am

Thought I'd better check in here today after put out a blog post last night with details of the book progress so far.
(https://deepwoodpress.blog/)

I wont elaborate on the frustrations of getting materials here to Northern Michigan or point any finger to blame but production could not even begin until early February and I've been printing nearly every day since then. My apologies though for not keeping people better updated as we waited. I've left most of the correspondence to James so hopefully we've adequately answered private emails along the way. At this point I hope to complete printing in April and then on to binding immediately after.

To answer some questions I read above: Yes, there are still copies available in both editions I believe. The difference between the regular and deluxe edition is primarily in the presentation. In recent years I've burned out on edition binding so my deluxe books have each been individual treatments to bookbinding, unique presentation bindings - it keeps me creative and fun. What they have in common is the inclusion of a set of the artwork and that they are in a drop spine box. Nobody has complained so far outside of a couple library archivists.

James and I are truly appreciative of those of you who have already placed a deposit and have been patiently waiting. James is taking care of money side of things here as well and can take additional payments towards your purchase so that when the book is complete a big bill isn't looming.

Now that actual physical work has begun on the book there will be a lot more updates on my blog and facebook page since there is now something to actually show/report!

69vadim_ca
feb 27, 2021, 3:06 pm

>68 DWPress: I couldn't resist any longer - just reserved a copy. Looking forward to it!

70gmacaree
feb 27, 2021, 6:04 pm

>68 DWPress: this one isn't for me, but I always love following along with your work

71MobyRichard
feb 27, 2021, 11:30 pm

Anyone buying the unbound sheets? I've never read wind in the willows so I can't justify the purchase, but I'm curious to know if someone is buying the sheets and planning some ultra special binding :O ?

72LoveAlice
mrt 1, 2021, 11:56 am

>67 jveezer: thank you for both your messages, very much appreciated. It’s prompted DWP to give us further info/update. Like some here I already have the FS LE TWITW, beautiful edition......this one by Mad Parrot is pretty expensive, but the illustrations are amazing. It’s decision time.....

73U_238
mrt 3, 2021, 8:20 am

>72 LoveAlice: similar to you I have the FS edition; opted to get this one as well.

Maybe we can aim for a trifecta and pick up the Hand and Eye edition as well?

74DWPress
mrt 3, 2021, 12:33 pm

>71 MobyRichard: Several of the unbound books have been spoken for. I presume they will be offered for re-sale after the work is done.

A big thanks to those of you who have purchased or are still considering it. In an email the other night I mentioned to someone how I thought that the paper itself would be the silent star of this book. David Carruthers and I went back and forth through 3 versions of it before settling on this one for the correct surface quality, weight and opacity for a book this size. The end result is a paper that takes ink beautifully, drapes nicely and yet still has some "snap" to it. It reminds me of the paper used by Ricketts in some of the Vale Press books I have.

Today I finish the printing for the large color plates and then the focus will be on text. I'll keep checking in here if that's ok and try to answer any questions. Sort of feel like one of those manufacturers in the "desperate dealers" part of a website though. ;-)

75U_238
mrt 4, 2021, 9:59 pm

>74 DWPress: Are you able to share a few more details about the deluxe version? What sort of bindings would be up for offer, and what artwork?

76LoveAlice
mrt 8, 2021, 7:00 am

>73 U_238: believe me I don’t need enabling lol.....but just got the newsletter update from Hand and Eye and on FB an example of all three versions. They look fab so I think I will. These threads are great but bad for my wallet!

77jveezer
mrt 9, 2021, 11:07 pm

So Professor Zimakov did a presentation today on Zoom that went over his creative process for his new artist book of Haddock's Eyes by Lewis Carroll. He touched on the Wind in the Willows and there were some sketches from it hanging in his studio along with his other work. So fascinating. What a treat that was!

78LoveAlice
sep 3, 2021, 4:06 am

Hello all, just noticed an update on the Mad Parrot website, stating the following:

Update, August 25, 2021:
Mad Parrot Press is now beginning the binding process for The Wind in the Willows. We will be posting images during the next few weeks. Thank you for your patience. It will be worth it.

79jveezer
sep 3, 2021, 12:10 pm

>78 LoveAlice: Good to have some news, even if is Barbarian Presscient in its sparsity.

80DWPress
okt 2, 2021, 6:24 pm

Just a note to look out for an updated email in the coming week about progress on The Wind in the Willows. Regular edition books are now sewn and backed and by the end of this week I should have the foil dies here to finally show what the regular edition cover will look like in finished form.

It's been a long road getting here with nearly 700 press runs for the entire book but I hope the wait will be worth it. The deluxe edition is now sold out but we still have about 20 copies of the regular edition available at last count.

I hope to be shipping books by mid November, those of you who have placed a deposit will receive invoices in the near future but additional payments can be made via our website.

A few new pics of the book and process were put on our website by James earlier this week for the curious:
https://madparrotpress.com/

81jveezer
okt 2, 2021, 6:38 pm

>80 DWPress: Woot!!! I can almost smell the paper!

82Glacierman
okt 2, 2021, 8:58 pm

We collect editions of Wind in the Willows. Glad you've undertaken to do a fine letterpress edition. Unfortunately, we do not find the art appealing in the least. Those that do like it are welcome to it.

83jsg1976
okt 2, 2021, 11:36 pm

>82 Glacierman: I love the art, I just can’t handle a book that expensive

84ChampagneSVP
okt 3, 2021, 12:29 am

>82 Glacierman: I think the illustrations look fantastic! I personally wasn’t very taken with the illustrations for the upcoming Hand and Eye WITW and find these much more appealing - it’s all subjective. I’m really looking forward to this Mad Parrot edition!

85_WishIReadMore
okt 3, 2021, 3:31 pm

I find them unique and appealing as well.

86punkzip
Bewerkt: okt 11, 2021, 11:39 pm

>82 Glacierman: just looked at my nieces copy of WiTW published by Sterling Children’s Books in 2007 and illustrated by Robert Ingpen - retail $19.95. Quite surprised at the high quality of this edition - there are illustrations on every page and in particular the thickness of the paper surprised me - used to much thinner and lower quality paper for a mass market $19.95 book.

87DWPress
okt 12, 2021, 9:37 am

Just an update since James is still working on the Mailchimp letter to our mailing list.

Here's a title page:
https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/60/2a/602aaee62f9d1ad636c79767a41415...

The help I have in the bindery is excellent, my former apprentices and students have really shown up. The regular edition is now fully sewn, rounded and backed and we are working on the cover boards. The die for the spine will be here today so I will finally have a finished picture of the book exterior within a few days to share!

At this rate I see no reason we won't be shipping some books before mid November.

88Levin40
okt 12, 2021, 9:44 am

>87 DWPress: Great work and well done to you all! This edition is shaping up to be stunning indeed. Can't wait to see the binding.

But damn...this is going to be a rather expensive end to the year. This, CP's Dune and now Lyra's Dorian Gray all arriving together. Oh well.

89punkzip
Bewerkt: okt 12, 2021, 10:40 am

Dit bericht is door zijn auteur gewist.

90filox
okt 12, 2021, 2:02 pm

>88 Levin40: Yep, and if Folio announces Gormenghast LE...

91jveezer
okt 27, 2021, 5:24 pm

On the MP website:

Update, October 26, 2021: Finishing binding and will be sending out invoices to our depositors soon.

Yes, they will be shipping soon.

92DWPress
okt 28, 2021, 1:53 am

Indeed, I have about 2/3 of the regular edition cased into boards now, should have the balanced done by the end of next week. Still have inside stuff to do like the cloth hinge to board, flyleaves and must still print the endpaper sheets.

Hope to have them in peoples hands by this time next month. Here's a pic of the pile:
https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/95/ac/95acdc7d4e9f032636e38727a51415...

93grifgon
okt 28, 2021, 2:00 am

94ChampagneSVP
okt 28, 2021, 2:20 am

>92 DWPress: Looking fantastic! I’m so excited for this one. Thanks for sharing the photo.

95jveezer
okt 28, 2021, 9:13 am

>92 DWPress: Yay for rounded spines!!! Love that extra touch.

96DWPress
nov 4, 2021, 11:58 am

New blog post last night with some more pictures and the final details.
https://deepwoodpress.blog/2021/11/04/the-wind-in-the-willows-nears-completion/

97Levin40
nov 5, 2021, 4:07 am

>96 DWPress: Thank you for that, it looks beautiful and elegant. Can I ask if it will come in a slipcase or solander box?

98kronnevik
nov 5, 2021, 10:53 am

>97 Levin40: I wondered the same thing.

99DWPress
nov 5, 2021, 11:31 am

Sorry to say, no. The deluxe copies will be in a solander box of course with an additional folio of prints from the book. I hate making slipcases but in the future will offer a price level (for deserving books) for a part of the edition with a slipcase. See, I've learned something here too.

Should have finished studio quality pics within the week, stay tuned! Shipping boxes arrived yesterday - so close to being done!

100What_What
Bewerkt: nov 5, 2021, 9:40 pm

Am I the only one surprised it doesn’t come with a solander, or at the very least a slipcase? Are there any other fine presses books at the $2,000 price point that do not?

Lyra’s Stardust had a slipcase with leather panel at around $600-700.

Hand and Eye Press’ Numbered edition comes in a cloth slipcase, at £325.

The Case of Death and Honey has a cloth slipcase with leather label at £395.

Many (all?) of Barbarian Press’ books come slipcased at the price points lower than $2,000.

I understand you hate making slipcases, but what is it about such a finely crafted, oversized and not cheap book, such that you think it doesn’t deserve a slipcase for protection at least, if not additional adornment? How could this be something new to learn at this stage?

In the 1.5 years since customers started to pay down for a book sight unseen, it surely would’ve been appropriate to contract out someone to make even the most rudimentary slipcase to protect the book.

This feels like having a fancy meal at a restaurant only to find out near the end the chef hates making desserts, so you’re kicked out at the end of the main course.

Edited to add: on further research, this issue seems to be longstanding. I came across the publisher’s comment regarding slipcases. How do other publishers of much less expensive books offer slipcases without impoverishing themselves?
https://booksandvines.com/2011/07/14/heart-of-darkness-chester-river-press/#comm...

101punkzip
Bewerkt: nov 5, 2021, 9:54 pm

>100 What_What: actually the Barbarian half cloth volumes typically don’t come with slipcases - but the deluxe half leather (or A and B if there are 3) states come with slipcases as well as other extras at a much lower upgrade cost (compared to half cloth) compared to other publishers. Agree about slipcases at higher price points - I’d actually expect solander boxes

102kronnevik
nov 5, 2021, 11:15 pm

>100 What_What: You're not the only one. Given the price point, the absence of a solander/slipcase is disappointing.

103the_bb
Bewerkt: jan 25, 2022, 10:47 am

Dit bericht is door zijn auteur gewist.

104What_What
Bewerkt: nov 5, 2021, 11:29 pm

>101 punkzip: Here's a random sample of in-print books and a couple upcoming books. All of them less expensive, some considerably so.
Sudden Immobility
DELUXE. 72 copies, with 62 copies for sale & 10 copies hors commerce.... Slipcased with an accompanying portfolio containing a suite of ten of the engravings from the book.
PRICE: C$1,250.00

STANDARD. 53 copies, of which 43 are for sale and 10 hors commerce. Half cloth with a printed paper label and patterned paper, slipcased.
PRICE: C$950.00

Endgrains 5
DELUXE STATE: 80 copies... slipcased with a folder containing a signed and numbered strike of the commissioned frontispiece for the book.
PRICE: C$1,500.00 OUT OF PRINT
STANDARD STATE. 50 copies. As the Deluxe state, but quarter black cloth with a printed paper label and patterned paper, not slipcased.
PRICE: C$1,200.00. OUT OF PRINT

Ten Poems with One Title
The A state will be bound in half leather and slipcased...
The B state will likely also be bound in half leather and slipcased...
The C state will be bound in half cloth and slipcased...

105kdweber
nov 6, 2021, 12:33 am

>104 What_What: However, Endgrains 4 standard edition did NOT have a slipcase. I know because I was late to the party and only recently subscribed to the Barbarian Press. My deluxe copy of Endgrains 5 is slipcased but I needed to make my own slipcase (which I documented in a LT thread) for the standard Simon Brett issue. Barbarian's last book 56 Ontological Studies has no slipcase. The Pegana Press books don't usually come in a slipcase. Most of the Allen press books did not come with a slipcase (note, I only own half of them). The Arion Press often skimps on the slipcase (drives me up the wall) e.g. The Silverado Trail and The Sundial. In short, I agree with your premise that books at this quality and price level should have a slipcase but there are many such books that were/are not sold with them.

106grifgon
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 12:56 am

I think all fine press books should come housed (or with the option to be housed).

That said, it's easy to underestimate how hard and time consuming it is to make slipcases and solanders, which can take longer than the book itself. >99 DWPress: I understand completely why you hate making them.

>105 kdweber: "Only" half!!! And here I am feeling high and mighty with my FOUR Allen Press books... 🤤

107Levin40
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 4:38 am

I'm pretty disappointed about this too. I don't think I've ever purchased a book much above $100 which doesn't come with a slipcase (a few Subpress volumes in the $100-$200 range excepted). Even standard Folio editions at under $60 come with a rudimentary one as standard. At $2,000, WitW would have been my most expensive book purchase, by quite some margin, and I guess I just assumed that some kind of protection would be provided. I've a feeling that just slotting it into the bookshelf amongst other books will eventually result in damage to the cloth binding, and without enclosure the binding might be subject to fading in the long term (perhaps unevenly given its size).

I think the book itself looks wonderful - a real work of art and labour of love. But that's precisely why the lack of protection is giving me second thoughts about my order. $2,000 is a heck of a lot to spend on something which might get damaged easily. I'm not interested in the book as a financial investment - my intention is to keep it for the rest of my life and hopefully pass it on to my kids - but I would at least like to protect my initial outlay and keep the book pristine as far as I can. And I don't really care about a slipcase as a fancy embellishment, I'm just concerned about the protection aspect. >99 DWPress: would such an addition be possible, even at this late stage?

108wongie
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 5:47 am

I'm on the side of the minority who isn't at all concerned or bothered by the lack of one given that it was never at any point mentioned along with the details of printing and binding etc. I can see that to an extent some expect it, and is somewhat a norm at this price point, so perhaps there would have been merit in the fact that one would not be included to be have been explicitly communicated but at the same time I wouldn't say it's a surprise if one had read the actual content of the book's selling points on the site.

109Levin40
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 6:00 am

>108 wongie: If I recall correctly very little information was provided on the final binding or finished product until quite recently. I guess assumptions were made on both sides.

Also to note that >99 DWPress: states that 'The deluxe copies will be in a solander box of course...'. Well, the 'of course' part of that was my assumption also about the standard edition...still a $2,000 book!

110abysswalker
nov 6, 2021, 8:46 am

I understand (and share) the preference for some form of book armor, but have y'all considered just buying a box of the correct size? Any papercraft or hobby store will likely have a wide selection, and there are some benefits of having the particular suit of armor not tied to the issue state. Probably around $25 for a basic but attractive option.

(Note, I am not in for this book, but that's nothing to do with the slipcase; the work just doesn't speak to me enough to justify such an edition.)

111the_bb
Bewerkt: jan 25, 2022, 10:47 am

Dit bericht is door zijn auteur gewist.

112the_bb
Bewerkt: jan 25, 2022, 10:47 am

Dit bericht is door zijn auteur gewist.

113What_What
nov 6, 2021, 9:14 am

>110 abysswalker: Are you saying there’s a shop somewhere out there that somehow stocks precisely the right size box to fit this custom made book?

I mean, I could also put my $2k book in a cereal box, but that’s not the point is it?

114punkzip
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 9:27 am

>109 Levin40: When I subscribed to the SJPP 1984 there was no information on the binding or enclosure on the website (and there still isn't) but given the price point I just asked James and he gave me a preliminary sense of what these will likely be (it will come in a solander box). So I'm wondering if it is not to some extent the responsibility of the subscriber to ask, particularly given the price point. Having said that the enclosures didn't have to be made by DWP, they could have been outsourced and if offered as an option everyone would have chosen it given the price point I think. Suntup offers their very sturdy slipcases for $35-$50 and even the very nice Japanese cloth solander for Exorcist is only $95 (these are spares if the originals are damaged). But these are produced in large numbers. Hand and Eye offers optional cloth slipcases for the least expensive state of WiTW for 35 GBP. So I think if outsourced these would not be a significant expense for someone already spending $2000. I'm almost wondering if the purchasers of WiTW here could not band together and have slipcases or solanders made, perhaps at a discount over having one individually made.

115What_What
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 9:24 am

>114 punkzip: Hopefully there’s still the opportunity for the publisher to change course, and leverage the fact they have the precise dimensions of the book, and presumably someone else to take on the much-hated responsibility of making the enclosures which “of course” come with the Deluxe state.

Failing that, I agree there’s definitely the opportunity for someone to organize a group buy.

With regard to James - did you ask WHETHER it would come with an enclosure, or did you ask him what kind of enclosure it comes with?

116punkzip
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 9:47 am

Actually now that I look at the email again, I just asked about the binding. I would have followed up with questions about the enclosure (and would indeed have assumed there would be one) but he mentioned the solander when answering the binding question.

117booksforreading
nov 6, 2021, 9:35 am

Out of all types of book protection, slipcases are the least desirable and should be avoided with fine books at any cost, as they can (and very often do) cause abrasions to the bindings over time. Even lined slipcases leave book spines exposed to sunning.
Historically, book owners never expected their books to come in protective cases -- they custom ordered them for each new book.
If I so desire, I can make a complete protective custom book enclosure out of thick watercolor drawing paper or similar in 30 minutes at almost no cost, and it will provide complete protection from abrasions, sunning, and dust. The methods of doing the enclosure are described in books on preserving fine libraries, and I have done this with many fine books in my home.

In short, I do not think that any book protection should be automatically expected from fine press artisans when ordering their unique handmade artistically-designed editions. Book prices should not make a difference in this regard.

118What_What
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 9:56 am

>117 booksforreading: That’s great it would take you 30 minutes and no cost. Unless you’re doing that for everyone here, I don’t see what difference that makes? There are many things I can do in 30 minutes that others can’t - it doesn’t take away from the effort and skill it takes, and I wouldn’t expect someone else to be able to do it with the small time and material outlay I would.

Also, we’re not in the Gutenberg era - it’s demonstrated above that many fine press books come with slipcase enclosures, and the books do just fine over time.

>116 punkzip: Thank you for the additional details.

119Dr.Fiddy
nov 6, 2021, 9:57 am

>115 What_What: >116 punkzip: According to the prospectus, 1984 will be "housed in a hand-made solander box".

120punkzip
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 10:12 am

>119 Dr.Fiddy: I received the prospectus (by mail) after subscribing. If it was linked on the website I didn't see it.

121booksforreading
nov 6, 2021, 10:20 am

>118 What_What:
I am not pushing anyone to make enclosures.
In my opinion, the sense of entitlement should only be directed to the books themselves, UNLESS protective covering is mentioned in advance as part of the deal. No reason to get angry, just because one assumed that protection was included in the price. As demonstrated in posts above, many contemporary fine press books came; and continue coming without slipcases.

122Dr.Fiddy
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 10:30 am

>120 punkzip: It was stated on the website in September 2020:

"The book will be bound with a cloth spine and original printed pattern paper boards, housed in a solander box." Web Archive Sept 2020

For some reason, that statement disappeared from the website, but came back in the prospectus with the "hand-made" added to it.

123abysswalker
nov 6, 2021, 10:25 am

>113 What_What: "Are you saying there’s a shop somewhere out there that somehow stocks precisely the right size box to fit this custom made book?"

Yes. Many shops. It's not that strange of a size.

The web search "gift box 11 by 14 in" returned many options.

Some other possibilities:

Lineco Clamshell Folio Storage Boxes
717-1114 11.5" x 14.5" x 1.75" (holds 11" x 14") $18.75

Museum storage flat box

Album storage flat box

Etc.

(I'd check the cover dimensions carefully first.)

124What_What
nov 6, 2021, 11:01 am

>123 abysswalker: That’s actually very helpful, thank you!

125ChampagneSVP
nov 6, 2021, 11:07 am

At this point, even if he’s not going to be offering a slipcase or solander as part of the $2000 WITW order (and while I’d have hoped one would be included, I think the “it wasn’t ever mentioned/promised” side of the argument is fair) maybe DWP could jump in and help coordinate slipcase or solander purchases for the sizable contingent of us who want them. Foolscap did the same for me for a small add on fee when I ordered Phisicke Against Fortune, which is issued without a slipcase.

126kdweber
Bewerkt: nov 6, 2021, 3:11 pm

>125 ChampagneSVP:. Of course, the deluxe edition of Phisicke Against Fortune did come with a slipcase. Fine press publishers often differentiate a standard vs deluxe edition partly by the addition of a slipcase or tray case/solander box.

>117 booksforreading: A lined slipcase does not damage books unless it was made to fit too tightly. To protect the spine I generally (not FS books) shelve the book spine in and label the spine of the slipcase. One can prevent all scratching by using a chemise or making a Mylar dust jacket. I buy large rolls of DuraLar and can whip out a simple clear dust jacket in minutes.

It would be nice if high end publishers provided or made provision for protecting these fabulous volumes but if one is paying $2000 for a book isn’t it worth it to spend $35 to $50 on a custom slipcase?

127ChampagneSVP
nov 6, 2021, 3:27 pm

>126 kdweber: Agreed. My point was just that I was able to get a solander direct from the publisher without having to source one on my own (and worry about getting something poor quality or wrongly sized, etc.) and that it would be nice if DWP offered the same.

128DWPress
nov 6, 2021, 4:02 pm

I understand why some of you are upset, though there was no mention of an enclosure for the standard edition of The Wind in the Willows. It was stated at the beginning that the presentation bindings would be in a solander with an extra folio of prints. Also, I agree that this book would benefit from some protection and I apologize that my remark about making slipcases seemed flippant to some. I am a one man operation here but do hire former students and apprentices for bindery work. Surveying my own collection of some 100+ historic and contemporary private press books, less than half came with protection.

>100 What_What: To be fair, Heart of Darkness did come with a slipcase for the standard. The conversation you cite on Books & Vines was from a customer that was upset the slipcase wasn't additionally lined and I did indeed offer to make him one.

James and I are looking into outsourcing slipcases for those of you who want one. If it proves unsuccessful to do so in a timely fashion which seems quite likely I will make them myself. Unfortunately this will be at a small additional cost and of course it will delay shipment by a bit. As >106 grifgon: mentions, boxes of any sort can be time consuming but I have excellent help in the bindery right now and I have invested in a proper board sheer in the past year which aids in this sort of work tremendously. I was hoping to jump into the comparative fun bit of starting the presentation bindings but we will address this issue posthaste.

I will know by Monday evening which way this will go and let all of you know.

James and I do have an update ready to go out to our mail list subscribers, this issue is delaying it slightly but it should be in your inbox by tomorrow. A follow-up will go out by the end of the week with finished pictures of the book.

129ChampagneSVP
nov 6, 2021, 4:11 pm

>128 DWPress: I think the way you’ve addressed this is perfect and thank you for it. I think everyone will be happy you’ve acknowledged the issue and are working out an optional slipcase for those who want it. First rate service.

130What_What
nov 6, 2021, 4:18 pm

>128 DWPress: Thank you very much for such a well-explained response, it really does help quite a lot, and it’s great service as the poster above me said. Looking forward to the update on Monday, and being able to put my hands on what I’m airw will be a highlight of my collection.

131vadim_ca
nov 6, 2021, 6:27 pm

>128 DWPress:

First of all, I would like to say that the pictures of the book look fantastic and that I cannot wait to receive my copy! With respect to an enclosure, there was never a mention of one on the website or in any other communications, so I was not expecting one. That being said, I welcome the idea of having an option to order one at an additional cost. (I appreciate that I can alway have one made by a local bookbinder; however, I always prefer to have it made by a press - makes it more special - at least to me.) If this means a delay in receiving my copy, so be it - no rush. Looking forward to receiving further information next week.

132Sport1963
nov 7, 2021, 12:39 am

>128 DWPress: Chad - "Semper Gumby"! I think you've done an admirable job of listening to your customers, and adjusting accordingly. I will happily chip in a bit more to get a slipcase (and even more if you offer a solander box option). I'm okay waiting a bit too, though your description of reading the book by a crackling fire certainly makes me wish I could have the book sooner. Good art takes time. (Yeah, I also ordered the custom "In the Penal Colony" and deluxe "The Mad Angler" from you). We have even longer winters here in MN than you do in MI, so I trust there will be plenty of "crackling fire" nights in the coming months to read this beautiful book.

133NathanOv
nov 7, 2021, 12:56 am

I know >128 DWPress: has stepped up with a solution which is fantastic - but if anybody prefers a box to slipcase, Todd Thyberg at Angel Bomb makes really nice cloth-bound custom clamshells with letterpress printed labels and other options, and the last one I got close to this size was around $125 which seems pretty economical for a $2k book.

134What_What
nov 7, 2021, 8:04 am

>132 Sport1963: That’s a great idea, would be interesting to poll purchasers to see if they’re interested in a slipcase or a solander.

135DWPress
Bewerkt: nov 9, 2021, 12:39 am

Looks like I'm making some slipcases. Fastest quote I could get was 2 months. I'll work up a materials list and order additional product tomorrow. Today I was busy printing the endpapers.


136What_What
nov 8, 2021, 8:18 pm

>135 DWPress: Thank you very much! Sincerely.

137Levin40
Bewerkt: nov 9, 2021, 4:01 am

>135 DWPress: Yes, thank you. This is very much appreciated.

The endpapers are lovely.

138kronnevik
nov 9, 2021, 11:59 pm

A cloth-covered slipcase with leather around the opening (both materials matching the book) would be quite nice.

139What_What
nov 10, 2021, 3:29 am

>138 kronnevik: Similar to The Road from Suntup? That was well-executed.

140kronnevik
nov 10, 2021, 8:57 am

>139 What_What: Yes, The Road is a good example of that style.

141DWPress
nov 10, 2021, 9:09 pm

>138 kronnevik: I will entertain individual commissions for some unique slipcases but otherwise they will be straightforward in full cloth and serve their purpose.

142DWPress
nov 24, 2021, 2:53 pm

I'm happy to say I'm finally content with the final cover treatment. I had hoped to use some vellum for the cover image but the skins were not cooperating and I was unhappy with the results so I have dyed some fair goat to get the shade I wanted with a dull copper impression in foil. Slipcases will be available for an additional $65. We should have better pics and a mailing out to our email list soon. James has sent out invoices for the balance of deposits for our subscribers.





143ChampagneSVP
nov 24, 2021, 6:07 pm

>142 DWPress: The copper foil looks great. I can’t wait to have this one in my hands!

144What_What
nov 25, 2021, 7:13 am

>142 DWPress: Looks great!

145Sorion
nov 25, 2021, 1:01 pm

>142 DWPress: The covers are just beautiful!

146DWPress
nov 29, 2021, 11:54 pm

Another new blog post with images of the finished standard edition of the book and the final specs. James and I are working on the draft email going out to our subscribers.

https://deepwoodpress.blog/2021/11/29/the-wind-in-the-willows-finished/

147mnmcdwl
nov 30, 2021, 5:04 am

>146 DWPress: Absolutely beautiful and well worth the wait! I can’t wait to see my copy in person.

148DWPress
dec 3, 2021, 4:37 pm

The first 21 copies shipped out today. After my visit to the PO I found out I may have been exposed to Covid so a few days of quarantine waiting for test results and no kids this weekendn (I feel fine). Plenty of time to make more slipcases to get out the next batch early next week. Some of you should expect a package on Monday or Tuesday. They shipped fully insured and will need a signature.

149jveezer
dec 3, 2021, 7:18 pm

Would I have got a tracking email that I was one of the lucky ones? ;) Take care of yourself first, of course! Can't wait to see the book.

150DWPress
dec 3, 2021, 8:35 pm

>149 jveezer: James is dealing with all the shipping logistics, he sends me the PDF files to print the shipping labels here and I box them up as I receive them. There is a tracking number of course but I don't know how he set it up and if anyone gets notified. I have a list of whose books went out today but I don't know who most of you are here because of the screen names/avatar stuff.

151jveezer
dec 5, 2021, 4:44 pm

Woot!!! I got a tracking number. Looks like it could be here tomorrow even. It's a good day for a book lover.

152What_What
dec 5, 2021, 6:48 pm

>151 jveezer: Please do share photos when you get it!

153Nightcrawl
dec 7, 2021, 1:58 pm

Looks like folks have started to receive their copies. Anyone here want to share their impressions? I'm on the fence about ordering based on some feedback I saw in the small press FB group.

154jveezer
dec 7, 2021, 5:51 pm

It's glorious. And the smell of the paper....I'll try to get a couple photos up on my website quickly but a solid review will be a month or so as I'm backlogged.

155What_What
dec 7, 2021, 5:53 pm

>153 Nightcrawl: What was that feedback like?

156Nightcrawl
dec 7, 2021, 6:43 pm

>155 What_What: An owner reported "fingerprint" like markings on the leather spine, and someone in the comments confirmed that these "oily" markings were present on their copy as well. They did say that it didn't bother them much, and that it is still a lovely book (which no doubt it is), but for that kind of money it was enough to give me pause.

157What_What
dec 7, 2021, 6:55 pm

>156 Nightcrawl: Ah ok. Thanks for sharing.

158jveezer
dec 7, 2021, 7:29 pm

>156 Nightcrawl: My copy doesn't have anything like that but it is more of a matte finish than a glossy one, if that makes sense. Unless it's faux-leather there will be natural variation in hides. So some variation is expected. I've also read that the "best" treatment for leather spines is to handle them often so that the oils from you hands keep the leather conditioned. When I dust my books I run my hands completely over all the leather surfaces of my books.

But I suppose fingerprints could happen. I don't wear gloves with my books as I'm a reader not a collector. I do wear gloves with other people's books if they seem delicate or easily marked or they request that I do so.

159DWPress
dec 7, 2021, 8:02 pm

I'm glad some of you like your books. I've got another batch scheduled to be sent out Thursday which should almost catch us up.

The leather is from Siegel, it is a veg tanned natural goat. The project entailed some 40 skins so there is a broad range of surfaces within those 40 individual goats. There is a possibility that a few of the first batch didn't get a final rub down with dressing (I use Leather Saver from Talas) which evens out the surface after all the extensive handling these books have during the finishing process. If so, my apologies to those owners but it is a very simple fix, any fine leather dressing would be suitable. The skins come without a typical sheen finish like Harmattan or Hewit leathers do and are more dull. The marks are definitely not from greasy fingers but surface irregularities.

Gloves are not used in conservation settings these days. Cotton gloves have been found to be too abrasive for paper and remove what natural or accumulated oils are in leathers. I was surprised myself to be handed a Gutenberg bible on 2 occasions without any sort of barrier.

160grifgon
dec 7, 2021, 8:38 pm

>159 DWPress: I had the same experience Chad! When a curator let me pick up and flip through a Gutenberg Bible without gloves I was flabbergasted.

Leather surface variation is one of the wonderful things about leather, and I think people can sometimes mistake variation found in genuine Morocco and other high-end leathers as stains or scuffs. Once in awhile at Thornwillow we'd receive correspondence from people saying that they found stains in their paper, which were actually just bits of unbleached pulp which sometimes make it into the mix of smaller batch papers.

I haven't seen "Willows" in person, but I can't wait to down the line! Looks stunning.

161jveezer
dec 7, 2021, 9:02 pm

162What_What
dec 7, 2021, 9:32 pm

>159 DWPress: Are you able to share any more details about the printing process? Really enjoy getting a peek behind the curtains, to go along with all the details about the paper, binding, etc.

163DWPress
Bewerkt: dec 9, 2021, 9:37 pm

There is a blog post with more information here:
https://deepwoodpress.blog/2021/02/26/the-wind-in-the-willows-printing-has-begun...

The paper is incredible and I'll be using it again in various weights. David and I went back and forth with 4 small sample batches after he'd been bugging me for years to be DWP's papermaker. Because of timing (COVID) shortages of labor at Saint Armand and machine difficulties held up the balance of my delivery and I ended up with what I would consider at least 2 weights of paper, I tried to distribute them inconspicuously throughout the book. It was a joy to print on but since I started in February and finished in September it went through several incarnations of humidity. It was difficult to keep the printing consistent as some sheets were printed damped intentionally to varying degrees but certainly no need to at all in July and August here in the swamp next to the river. For my real books I use a special formula oil based ink from Graphic Chemical which had to be modified as the climate dictated as well.

I had hoped to print directly from Vladimir's linocut blocks when I commissioned him to do the project but he wanted to work bigger (he'll have them for sale eventually) so plates had to be made in our size. I pretty much followed the color scheme Vladimir presented and chapter 1 is the only one I'm unhappy with. For the title page I took one of the small vignettes and cut up the plates, carved on them a bit and printed them in transparent layers in more muted tones to my taste.

The text is printed from photopolymer. My Linotype machine maxes out at a 30 pica line and my studio just does not have the storage space to store 100 galleys of Monotype composition type over the time I knew it was going to take. It did give us the opportunity to print a book in a typeface that James and I both admire but previously didn't fit for a given project. Centaur works nicely with Vlad's illustrations. James does the computer end of things with the layout and we go back and forth with design decisions between MI and MD, it's getting easier for me to visualize the layout in PDF form to an impression on a page.

All of it was printed by hand one color at a time, one sheet at a time on my Old Style Vandercook 219 proof press.

Ok, a little scotch, music's playing and back to boxing up the next batch of books going out on Thursday, takes a lot of time to package these buggers too BTW.

164DWPress
dec 9, 2021, 5:51 pm

2nd batch shipped out today including most of the international orders. You should get a tracking number from USPS directly this time around.

165wongie
jan 2, 2022, 6:57 am

Here are some long overdue snapshots of the book after having read my copy over Christmas break. Luckily mine has no binding or production faults such as the issue with the leather mentioned. jveezer will be able to do a better job at reviewing it than me but I agree with his initial assessment that this is a glorious production.

Apologies for the large photos but they need to be shown this big to do the book justice especially to show, what for me is, the real star of the production; the Saint Armand Canal paper which has a wonderful tactility to it and beautiful graining. It has a nice weight to it too, and given the size of the sheets, which allows the pages to drop on their own; good for those who aren't big fans of overly rigid/stiff paper that requires paperweights to hold down.

All the artwork I believe is available to view on the DWP blog posts so I've included a small selection in close up that show the fantastic combination of print work, which was beautifully done as was the text which was consistently crisp and more on the kiss side of the spectrum which is to my liking, together with the paper grain.

I don't even remember how long it's been since the original announcement but it was certainly worth the wait.














166gmacaree
jan 2, 2022, 9:27 am

That is lovely. WitW is not my cup of tea, but I'm started to regret not being in on this.

167SebRinelli
Bewerkt: jan 2, 2022, 10:54 am

168booksforreading
jan 2, 2022, 9:12 pm

>166 gmacaree:
>167 SebRinelli:
It is not too late. I think that few copies are still available.
>165 wongie:
Thank you for great photos!

169What_What
Bewerkt: jan 29, 2022, 12:57 pm

Now that most/all of the books have shipped, is everyone willing to share their feelings? It's been pretty silent.

170jveezer
jan 29, 2022, 1:40 pm

>169 What_What: Don't wait for The Whole Book Experience review to make a buy decision. Buy this book now if you love the story, love moles or badgers, or love an immaculately done private press book. I've already read and opened and re-opened that book and am still in shock that I have one in my hands. But my reviews are backed up and probably somewhat bogged down in pandemic-induced malaise.

171DWPress
jan 29, 2022, 2:00 pm

Just a note on available books; we do still have 23 available but I am going into show season soon and will be at the Manhattan show as well as Codex, going to pass on Oxford again. I have not offered any of the edition to institutions that collect my work at this point but once I do I expect it will be gone soon after.

No pressure for anyone to decide on a purchase. I always prefer these books go to individuals rather than stuck in collections somewhere basically unavailable.

172mnmcdwl
jan 29, 2022, 2:20 pm

>169 What_What: Others will be more eloquent than me, but it's an absolutely gorgeous edition, through and through. I was hesitant at first—I don't buy many books at that price point—but am glad I reserved a copy. It was worth the wait.

173What_What
Bewerkt: jan 29, 2022, 4:05 pm

Apologies for the misleading comment - I actually do have a copy and I am very happy to have one. Had a minor issue that was sorted out. I started the comment intending to expand on my own feelings then ran out of time and truncated it.

The illustrations are amazing, and the paper very luxurious. I’m in the process of reading it, and while it’s a large, it isn’t heavy, so can comfortably read it on a couch. Overall very happy with my purchase.

174antinous_in_london
jan 29, 2022, 4:24 pm

I considered buying but assumed that as im in the UK i would get totally hammered by shipping/tax/customs charges etc.

175DWPress
jan 29, 2022, 5:00 pm

>174 antinous_in_london: I know I've shipped at least 4 to the UK already but James handles the paperwork, I just stick the label on the box. You could contact him through our MPP site and get an idea what the cost of shipping might be. Sorry I'm not making the trip to Oxford, several people would have benefitted from me hauling them over in my box and shipping within the country.

176gmacaree
jan 29, 2022, 5:22 pm

>174 antinous_in_london: Books are zero rated for customs and VAT, aren't they?

177Sport1963
jan 29, 2022, 6:04 pm

>170 jveezer: For any forum members who have not purchased a copy, buy it while you still can. You will not regret it, but celebrate it, every time you open the book.

Mr. Pastotnik did an amazing job on the printing and the binding. Worth every penny.

178wongie
Bewerkt: jan 29, 2022, 6:23 pm

Mirroring people's sentiments that this is a book you will not suffer buyer's remorse over. If you can afford it but it.

>174 antinous_in_london: As >176 gmacaree: says there are no duties for book imports into the UK. I faced no charges or other surprises from HM Customs. Shipping was also very reasonable compared to other sellers that I've bought from the US.

179punkzip
jan 29, 2022, 6:49 pm

Are there any other publications of this length that use handmade paper?

181antinous_in_london
Bewerkt: jan 29, 2022, 9:14 pm

>176 gmacaree: Wasn’t sure if the zero-rate applied also to importation or just for purchases within the UK. Even without VAT i thought there might still be import duties which are usually payable on anything imported over £135 value & carrier charges etc.

182antinous_in_london
Bewerkt: jan 29, 2022, 9:16 pm

>178 wongie: That would be good news. The HMRC website seemed to suggest that even though books are zero rateable for VAT, import duties would still apply if customs pulled a parcel & you’d have to try to claim it back. “You’ll be charged Customs Duty on all goods sent from outside the UK if they’re either: excise goods or worth more than £135. You can claim relief on import duty and VAT for miscellaneous documents and related articles which are of: an educational nature, a scientific nature, a cultural nature”

183Nightcrawl
jan 30, 2022, 1:54 am

>179 punkzip: I'm sure there are a few. Just off the top of my head, I believe the Arion Press Moby Dick paper is handmade.

184ultrarightist
jan 30, 2022, 2:22 am

>183 Nightcrawl: It most definitely was.

185punkzip
jan 30, 2022, 9:07 am

>184 ultrarightist: What is the handmade paper used in Moby Dick? No info on the Arion Press site.

186dlphcoracl
jan 30, 2022, 9:27 am

>185 punkzip:

A special made-to-order Barcham Green paper. The paper is tinted pale blue and it contains a 'white whale' watermark.

187gmacaree
jan 30, 2022, 9:28 am

>185 punkzip: >186 dlphcoracl: If you would like to see/touch the paper used in Arion's Moby-Dick without breaking the bank, they used what was left over for their collection of Melville's poems

188punkzip
jan 30, 2022, 9:35 am

>186 dlphcoracl: I see numerous handmade Barcham Green papers listed among the papers used - for the illustrations - of the SJPP 1984. I wonder if any of these will be like what was used in the AP Moby.

189ultrarightist
Bewerkt: jan 30, 2022, 11:47 am

Handmade Barcham Green paper is something to behold (and more - feel). It's truly a loss to the fine press world that the mill closed.

190dlphcoracl
jan 30, 2022, 9:55 am

>187 gmacaree:
>188 punkzip:
>189 ultrarightist:

Gmacaree is indeed correct and this is an astute recommendation. What is not well appreciated, however, is that Herman Melville was a superior poet, occupying the second tier of great American poets just beneath Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson.

191abysswalker
jan 30, 2022, 9:58 am

>189 ultrarightist: the LEC 1954 Masque of Comus is printed on Barcham Green hand-made. Also hand marbled papers over the boards, and the last book illustrated by Edmund Dulac.

Still surprisingly affordable on the secondary market. I guess allegorical chamber drama doesn't quite have the cachet of some other works by Milton? (I still quite enjoy Comus; it can easily be read as a thematic companion to works such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Manfred.)

(I think the LEC might also include the notation for the music written to accompany the masque.)

192ultrarightist
jan 30, 2022, 10:06 am

>191 abysswalker: Good to know - thanks!

193kermaier
Bewerkt: jan 30, 2022, 1:21 pm

The 1933 LEC Hamlet (Eric Gill) is printed on Barcham Green paper, as well, though I would guess a thinner and less luxuriant sheet than the AP Moby Dick.

194kermaier
jan 30, 2022, 1:45 pm

And, if I recall correctly, Hayle Mill papers are also from the Barcham Green mill.

195ultrarightist
jan 30, 2022, 2:48 pm

>194 kermaier: I believe that is correct

196dlphcoracl
jan 30, 2022, 3:20 pm

>194 kermaier:
>195 ultrarightist:

To be precise, Hayle Mill is the name of the actual paper mill and J(ohn) Barcham Green (1820-1883) was the founder and original proprietor of Hayle Mill. However, the two names are used interchangeably.

197DWPress
jan 31, 2022, 8:54 pm

I printed the deluxe edition of In the Penal Colony on some Barcham Green stock (long gone, sorry), still have a stash of it for another small book and the standard edition books were covered in NOS 50's era Fabriano Ingres. I have some piles of Fabriano Muguet, Twin Rocker, Iowa PC4 and Revere as well to roll into future books where appropriate. Wish I had the means to have invested in more paper in the 80's when so much more was available...

198BorisG
feb 2, 2022, 4:54 am

Hello from a long-time lurker on this forum! I first of all have to thank you all for creating a wonderful corner of the internet, which I recently found myself spending more and more time in, with great enjoyment. There was also quite a bit of enablement going on, which resulted in quite a few purchases over the last months:

The case of death and honey (Arete)
Hand and Eye WITW standard edition
Two of the big No Reply Press books
Lyra's Dorian Gray numbered

And now I’m on the fence about the Mad Parrot WITW and wanted to ask for your advice. To sum the issue (also for myself):

- I love the book itself to the extent of considering another, very expensive copy
- the Mad Parrot production seems gorgeous based on the photos I’ve seen.
- the illustrations are 4/5 for me - I like them quite a bit, but not to a “must buy immediately” level
- this would be by far the most expensive book I bought
- I can afford it
- but that amount of money could cover 6-10 books on my wishlist (e.g. LEC Martian Chronicles + Tallone Editore Dickinson poems + Gwasg Gregynog Story of Heledd + several Thornwillow titles + most of my FS wishlist)
- non-buyer’s remorse / FOMO

What do you think? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

199dlphcoracl
feb 2, 2022, 8:34 am

>198 BorisG:

1. If you already have the Hand and Eye WITW and the Mad Parrot WITW is not a true "must have", I would consider the following. Instead, I would purchase a copy of James Freemantle's forthcoming edition of '1984' from St. James Park Press (SJPP), if copies are still available. It will cost about $3,000 USD (an additional $1000.) but it will be a private press book for the ages.

2. If the SJPP '1984' is not to your liking, I would purchase the Mad Parrot WITW rather than buying 6-10 books that are not in the same league. The Mad Parrot WITW is printed and produced to the highest private press standards and it is a unique book.

200punkzip
Bewerkt: feb 2, 2022, 8:46 am

>199 dlphcoracl: according to an email from James on 12/1 1984 was sold out and unless someone has changed their mind (unlikely I suspect) it’s not available…couldn’t hurt to inquire though

201dlphcoracl
feb 2, 2022, 9:19 am

>200 punkzip:

I would still contact James Freemantle and put my name on a Waiting List in the unlikely event someone backs out of their commitment.

202punkzip
Bewerkt: feb 2, 2022, 9:55 am

>201 dlphcoracl: Yes of course. The comparison between WiTW and 1984 is apt as that was the direct comparison I made before subscribing - as WiTW was the closest work in ambition to 1984 at the time.

203ultrarightist
feb 2, 2022, 10:51 am

If anyone has both the Mad Parrot edition and the LEC edition of Wind in the Willows, how do they compare? Which do you prefer?

204jveezer
Bewerkt: feb 2, 2022, 11:51 am

>198 BorisG: If what @diphcoracl says about the highest standards of private press is not enough, I would add two words Vladimir Zimakov. Yes I know illustrations are subjective but his work in book illustration is exemplary to the point I went through some hoops with a friend in the U.K. to get the U.K. cover of Hag-Seed with his cover art even though I had a (free) copy of the U.S. book. His work for Folio Society(FS) and other publishers is great as well as his work for and of some of my favorite musicians. I wish I could add his self-published book, Lewis Carroll's Haddock's Eyes, to my library. (Edited to add link to artist).

>203 ultrarightist: I don't have them both but I have perused the LEC at Rare Book Shows. While I would love to have it, the illustrations seem much more traditional and reminiscent of how I remember the book as a kid reading it. I'm still trying to find the book I had as a kid to nail down exactly which illustrations are in that foggy corner of my long-term memory. All of this just to say, while I hope to add the LEC to my library someday, I would grab the Mad Parrot first (before the LEC or the FS) in a fire or to take to my desert isle of only one WITW.

205ultrarightist
feb 2, 2022, 11:25 am

>204 jveezer: Thank you for the feedback. I have Don's custom rebound copy of the LEC edition.

206ChampagneSVP
Bewerkt: feb 2, 2022, 12:45 pm

>199 dlphcoracl: “ The Mad Parrot WITW is printed and produced to the highest private press standards”

I hesitate to comment critically but while I think the Mad Parrot WITW has fantastic illustrations and an absolutely beautiful design and is stunning from a few feet away, up close I don’t think it quite meets the highest private press standards. On my copy alone: 1) the title is not centered on the spine, 2) the spine is rather lumpy and not evenly rounded, 3) the text has substantially bled through the page in several instances (I understand there were difficulties getting the same paper weight for the full book and perhaps this is a result), and 4) Methuen is misspelled in the colophon as Methuan. None of this prompted me to try to return my copy and I don’t expect perfection from a handmade book but I also can’t agree that it is as meticulously crafted as other fine press books in my library and think it is worth noting since >198 BorisG: is weighing whether to order. I think whether you are happy with it depends on your tolerance for imperfections at such a high price point.

Edited to add that I wouldn’t go as far as to advise against purchasing it but it would be wise to temper expectations slightly in regards to the production.

207dlphcoracl
Bewerkt: feb 2, 2022, 1:37 pm

>206 ChampagneSVP:

The clarification and qualifications regarding my comment are appreciated. Since I do not own a copy I defer to your comments. I was thinking specifically of:

1. The book design.

2. The Vladimir Zimakov illustrations, which are a bit offbeat (sharp and angular lines) but very much to my liking.

3. The quality of the letterpress printing, based upon other books I own from the Deep Woods Press and Chester River Press.

4. The quality of the Papeterie St. Armand handmade paper.

Chad did note the problems with regard to the variation in paper weight and thickness as well as difficulties (I think he mentioned this) regarding evenly inking the type due to climate variations and I am surprised to hear this is how it is manifesting itself.

208What_What
feb 2, 2022, 1:19 pm

I am happy to own my copy, as it seems to have escaped the issues pointed out by >206 ChampagneSVP: above (apart from the error on the colophon of course). Anecdotally, however, I do know of more than one other instance where patrons had similar issues, including fading of the stamping.

Similar to >206 ChampagneSVP:, I hesitate to mention it, but decided it would only be fair. The book is clearly crafted with a tremendous amount of effort, devotion and spared no expense, but issues are present in some copies.

209ChampagneSVP
feb 2, 2022, 1:28 pm

>196 dlphcoracl: >194 kermaier:

Here are some photographs from the Janus Press' Papermaking at Hayle Mill that show the mill itself:
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=spe...

210dlphcoracl
feb 2, 2022, 1:41 pm

>209 ChampagneSVP:

I wish you hadn't posted that. This Janus Press book is high on my Wants List and your beautiful photos have moved it up several notches.

211grifgon
feb 2, 2022, 1:44 pm

>207 dlphcoracl: Handmade paper is sold in "states" – usually 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and "Junk" states. For example, the University of Iowa's famed Chancery paper (used for The Travels of Sir Mandeville) costs $4, $3, or $2, per small sheet depending on the state. 1st state is naturally perfect. 2nd state allows for some thickness variation, but not much. 3rd state allows for quite a bit of variation. And "Junk" states may contain holes or obvious defects, and are used mostly for mockups and that sort of thing.

Total speculation, but given the size of "The Wind in the Willows" I wouldn't be surprised if Chad & Co. were actually unable to obtain a sufficient supply of the paper in the 1st state, and therefore some sheets might be 2nd state, accounting for the occasional variation. This is one of the real hazards of using handmade paper. As Chad mentioned elsewhere, you sometimes simply cannot get handmade paper in sufficient quantity anymore.

212ChampagneSVP
feb 2, 2022, 1:44 pm

>210 dlphcoracl: I can't take credit for the photos, they're from RISD, but I agree that it's a beautiful book.

213Nightcrawl
feb 2, 2022, 1:48 pm

>208 What_What: Just to add to the conversation, and help any prospective customers make an informed decision, I will share that my first copy and its replacement suffered from faded stamping on the spine. I unfortunately had to request a refund in the end. I am not suggesting to avoid at all costs, as some may have more tolerance for this type of issue than I do. However, at this price point it was a deal-breaker for me.

I still commend the production overall. The illustrations are lovely, paper is amazing, printing is very well executed (though I think it is worth noting that it is printed from polymer plates)...but as some have mentioned, the book is certainly not without its flaws. Minor imperfections are expected in a handmade book, but in this case some are particularly glaring, and I feel could have (and at the $2k asking price, should have) been avoided.

All of that said, I still hope to support the press in the future if they produce more books of interest to me. Particularly, if they are executed at the same level as Heart of Darkness seemed to be, granted I've never seen a copy in person.

214BorisG
feb 2, 2022, 2:06 pm

Thank you all for your comments and thoughts! 1984 wasn’t on my radar at all; I followed dlphcoracl’s and punkzip’s advice and wrote to James - he replied very promptly, confirming that 1984 was sold out and kindly putting me on the waiting list.

But I’m going to assume that this is not an option (realistically). Thinking again of the Mad Parrot WITW, I must admit ChampagneSVP’s comments give me some pause… I never purchased a book at this price point, so I don’t have a valid point of comparison. Would these issues normally be expected and accepted as part of the handmade process?

215ChampagneSVP
feb 2, 2022, 2:19 pm

>214 BorisG:

I still think it's an edition for the ages. If I consider some of the top publications of the past few decades -- Arion Press Moby Dick, Barbarian Press Pericles, etc -- I'm pretty sure I'd still buy a copy of them in a heartbeat, even if the copy I found happened to have some of these issues. I'm not sure that this WITW will join the ranks of either of those books but I do think it will be very desirable and hard to find in a few years. I'd rather have it now at publication price than hunt it down for a premium later.

216ultrarightist
feb 2, 2022, 2:21 pm

>213 Nightcrawl: My copy of the Heart of Darkness is flawless.

217Nightcrawl
feb 2, 2022, 2:23 pm

>216 ultrarightist: I'm not envious at all...haha

218dlphcoracl
feb 2, 2022, 2:52 pm

>211 grifgon:

Fascinating.

Frankly, I had no idea and assumed all handmade paper of a particular type from a world-class paper mill would be uniform in all aspects.

219dlphcoracl
feb 2, 2022, 2:55 pm

>214 BorisG::

Re: St. James Park Press and '1984'..........

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Stranger things have happened.

220jveezer
feb 2, 2022, 5:38 pm

>218 dlphcoracl: "handmade paper uniform in all aspects" is an oxymoron, I believe. World class handmade means perfectly & humanly imperfect, or as Mary Poppins famously said, "Practically perfect in every way." ;)

221realto
feb 2, 2022, 8:37 pm

>213 Nightcrawl: I am interested to know what is meant by "faded stamping on the spine." Did the stamping rub off? Or was it just a duller tone that you did not like? Photos would be appreciated, as I wonder if this is a matter of flawed copies or a matter of different perspectives on a design element.

222CTPress-Tony
feb 2, 2022, 9:15 pm

Ill add my two cents as someone who happily preordered a copy based on my experience with Heart of Darkness.

Other than the misspelling in the colophon which I would not have noticed otherwise and will be in all copies, I don’t have any of the issues mentioned in the thread. I’m exceedingly happy with it. It’s big without being too big; the illustrations are well done and printed in multiple colours; the materials and colours are well-suited to the book and add warmth to the reading experience; and finally, the paper is St. Armand which is lovely and Canadian.

I was in a store recently looking at some St. Armand paper and was advised that it’s best to order all at once as variations can occur if orders are fulfilled with large spaces of time in between. Unfortunately it seems to have happened here but as mentioned above I haven’t seen in my copy any of the issues mentioned.

223Nightcrawl
Bewerkt: feb 2, 2022, 9:24 pm

>221 realto: unfortunately I'm not sure how to upload photos to this forum, but it was definitely not an intentional design element. The stamping looked like it was rubbed off, specifically on half of the author's name, but more likely it was just not evenly applied to begin with. Very clearly a flaw.

224wcarter
feb 2, 2022, 9:55 pm

>223 Nightcrawl:
How to add a picture to a post is explained here.

225Nightcrawl
feb 2, 2022, 11:11 pm

>224 wcarter: Thanks for sharing. Seems pretty complicated haha. And something I would have to do from my desktop rather than phone, which is where I do all my Librarything-ing.

226kermaier
feb 3, 2022, 1:07 am

>209 ChampagneSVP:
Oh my… that is a wonderful thing!
Thank you for sharing it!

227jveezer
feb 3, 2022, 8:22 pm

Mine is practically perfect in every way, despite being copy #13.

228BorisG
feb 25, 2022, 3:12 pm

Just to report I decided to purchase the book. I discussed the concerns raised here with James and Chad, and they sent me photos of the copy I’d be getting - which to my eyes look great. Will report next week once I get the book.

Thank you all for your advice on this!

229booksforreading
feb 25, 2022, 5:06 pm

>228 BorisG:
Congratulations!
I am sure that you will enjoy it!

230ChampagneSVP
Bewerkt: apr 20, 2022, 10:27 pm

This pic from CODEX on Vladimir Zimakov’s IG put a smile on my face and I thought it deserved to be shared here. Nice to see these two talented guys with their book. (Recognition due to James too, of course!)

231grifgon
apr 20, 2022, 10:37 pm

232kdweber
apr 20, 2022, 11:11 pm

>230 ChampagneSVP:. Their tables were right next to each other. And yes, I succumbed to the last copy of TWITW that was at Codex. I also picked up two prints from Zimakov, one from TWITW and one of a sunflower growing in the ruins of a Ukrainian city with the proceeds going to Ukrainian war refugees. It was wonderful to talk with both of them.

233jveezer
apr 27, 2022, 8:39 pm

And the Mad Parrot Press The Wind in the Willows review is now up on The Whole Book Experience:

http://www.thewholebookexperience.com/2022/04/27/the-wind-in-the-willows-by-kenn...

234fp13
jul 23, 2022, 9:34 am

Have anyone received the Deluxe binding version?

235What_What
jul 23, 2022, 3:58 pm

>234 fp13: Unfortunately I don’t move in those circles.

236DWPress
jul 26, 2022, 2:01 pm

No, nobody has. I've 6 of them sitting here to be photographed today and they will be going out soon with the rest to follow.

There has been some sickness and death here in the DWP family which has taken a significant amount of my time and energy the last couple of months. I apologize to everyone for the lack of communication which I know to be an important aspect of doing business. Apologies.

237jveezer
jul 26, 2022, 2:29 pm

We appreciate the level of communication you DO maintain on this thread. But also realize that life in all its aspects happens and pulls us away. We'll look forward to the photos (and the lucky ones to their books, I'm sure) and can only offer our condolences for your loss. Thanks for posting Chad!

238ChampagneSVP
jul 26, 2022, 3:13 pm

>237 jveezer: Seconded. Sorry for your loss, Chad.

239fp13
aug 16, 2022, 3:56 pm

I have received my deluxe copy. It was a long wait, especially hard after most of the community had received their regular editions many months ago now. So without delay I started my reading and experiencing of the book. I have to say, I am delighted about the binding and overall presentation, and quality of the craftsmanship, and want to thank Chad and anyone else involved at deep wood press for their exceptional work. One of a few deluxe editions in my collection. I only wish Zimakov would do the illustrations as original linocuts, as was intended, I have seen some of his other work and feel these illustrations would be better portrayed in that particular way. Or maybe different kind of paper would suit better, as much as I like the hand made paper used here, the illustrations probably needed some different medium.

240grifgon
aug 16, 2022, 4:46 pm

>239 fp13: I'm confused! Are the illustrations not original linocuts? I thought they were. And one note: The St. Armand canal rag paper is machine-made not hand-made.

241kronnevik
aug 16, 2022, 5:20 pm

The illustrations are linocuts, though I think they were printed from polymer or metal plates rather than the original linoleum (perhaps this is standard practice for these types of multicolor prints?-I'm not sure). This does not seem to be what >239 fp13: is referring to, however.

242Lukas1990
aug 16, 2022, 5:44 pm

I am very happy with my Limited Editions Club version with illustrations by Arthur Rakcham. Designed by Bruce Rogers.

243grifgon
aug 16, 2022, 5:52 pm

>241 kronnevik: Oh interesting! There are many reasons you might want to print off a polymer copy of the original rather than the original linoleum itself. But yeah, I still don't understand the original comment, but curious to know what is meant.

244fp13
aug 16, 2022, 6:00 pm

I had an impression it is a hand made paper, one should read the large print description at the mill's web page after all, now I can see that it clearly states "machine made",
There was a comment earlier that the intention was to print from original linocuts but they had to use polymer, I don't now if it would make much difference or not, but the final product in my book does feel somewhat misrepresented, not what I was expecting, which would be some harder/crispier/sharper prints or paper, maybe it is my subjective perception only.

245grifgon
Bewerkt: aug 16, 2022, 6:07 pm

>244 fp13: Oh interesting! Thanks for clarifying.

These things are always so subjective. Given their expertise, I imagine Chad and Co. achieved exactly what they wanted to achieve print-wise, but preferences vary. I'm a huge fan of heavy heavy impression which I've been told by very respectable collectors and printers is "God awful" 😂.

246ultrarightist
aug 16, 2022, 6:24 pm

>245 grifgon: "I'm a huge fan of heavy heavy impression which I've been told by very respectable collectors and printers is "God awful"

As am I. They can keep their kisses.

247NathanOv
Bewerkt: aug 16, 2022, 6:36 pm

>245 grifgon: >246 ultrarightist: I agree as well - though with the caveat that the paper needs to be heavy enough to accomodate it so you're not getting ridiculous impressions on the opposite side.

Also, the depth of impression is totally secondary to the broader quality of the printing and typography in my opinion - a light or heavy bite doesn't equal good or bad printing all on it's own.

248DWPress
sep 8, 2022, 2:08 pm

Sorry for not checking in here until now, been a busy couple of months. More copies of the deluxe edition are starting to make their way to owners. I'm glad Fp13 likes his book. Hadn't heard back personally so wasn't sure and feared the worst!

The illustrations from Vladimir were indeed printed from plates instead of the original blocks. Vladimir works bigger than our page size so as to get the sort of detail he wants with his tools which necessitated making plates in a reduced size. Even at this reduced size and printing from plates on damp stock it would be very difficult to get a deep impression on a image that big with any press I currently own - maybe a 15x22 platen made for blocking work could do it. Pure physics.