Over the last few days on social media I have been revealing the final designs of the three different editions of Stardust. Just to put them all into one place, here they are again with a brief description of the binding processes. I hope you like them!
First up – the Standard edition. This one is limited to 500 copies and is signed by the illustrator ONLY.
This edition will be split into two states. 250 copies will be quarter bound in dark blue cloth, the other 250 copies will be quarter bound in mustard cloth. You will be able to choose a colour at the time of pre-order (as long as stocks last).
The top edge is hand coloured using dark blue ink and spattered with gold. Internally, the text is printed on 120gsm Munken paper. This edition does not have tipped on plates, instead the illustrations are printed directly to the pages. These pages are then individually inserted into the book.
The Standard edition comes in a dark blue, buckram covered slipcase which has the Charles Vess design stamped to the front in gold.
The Leather edition – This book is limited to 100 copies and is signed by the author and illustrator. It is fully bound in dark blue smooth calf which has been hand sprinkled with gold ‘dust’. All three page edges have been gilded and the endpapers are made with handmade marbled paper. Internally, the text is printed on 148gsm Mohawk Superfine paper. All illustrated plates are tipped on with tissue guards.
The Leather edition comes in a curved edge, suede lined slipcase covered with purple cloth. There is a large leather label to the front which has been stamped with the Charles Vess design.
The ‘Lettered’ edition – This is limited to just 26 copies and is signed by the author and illustrator. It is a bradel binding with vellum boards front and back and a smooth calf leather spine. All page edges are gilded and the endpapers are made from handmade marbled paper. The interior design of our limited edition has been heavily influenced by the ‘Golden Age of Illustration’ books of the early 20th century by the likes of Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac and Kay Nielsen. The cover of this ‘Lettered’ edition echoes the signed editions of the ‘Golden Age’ which were often vellum bound with presentation ribbon ties. As with the Leather edition, all illustrated plates are tipped on inside with protective tissue guards.
The solander box for this book is half bound in dark blue, gold dusted calf with handmade marbled sides. The spine is rounded and has five raised bands which have been hand tooled with gold. Between these bands are two black leather labels with the title and author/illustrator names. Internally, the trays are covered with a dark blue suede and cream coloured cloth. The book itself sits in a well and can be lifted out with a wide ribbon.
This book will come with a portfolio containing three A4 giclee prints signed and numbered by Charles Vess.
All three editions will be printed letterpress from polymer plates by Phil Abel of Hand and Eye Letterpress (London) using his Heidelberg SB cylinder press. The marbled paper was commissioned especially for this limited edition, handmade by Freya Scott of Paperwilds (UK).
There will be nine illustrations by Charles Vess in this edition of Stardust. One of the three illustrations is completely new and painted especially for this edition, the other two have been finished from older sketches. The remaining six illustrations are older but did not appear in the original DC version.
Further details, including pricing and postage etc will be given when I announce the pre-order (I’m aiming for the pre-order to be on the 18th of July but will officially announce it a week before – just waiting for the new website to get up and running now).
I expect production to take 2-3 months, so delivery some time around October.
Thanks!
Rich
