October 2023

Store opens Nov. 4th at 5pm GMT. https://www.arete-editions.com/

The classic story by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a wonderful tale of magic realism by an American literary giant that tells the fable of a man who is born an old, aged man and regresses to a baby, born on the eve of the American civil war, its subtle satire covers the changes of society in a world in transformation.

This book is lavishly illustrated by the extraordinary Dave McKean. Dave has produced seventeen letterpress relief prints in three colours. These are printed and bound in to a seventy-two-page book. It is a true artist’s vision.

The Lettered Edition

72 pages, 286 x 206 mm

An edition of 36 copies, of which 26 will be lettered A-Z for sale. Six copies hors de commerce will be marked in red roman numerals

Seventeen three-colour relief prints by Dave McKean including three double-page plates that are tabbed into the book blocks to allow opening without a gutter

Signed by Dave McKean and numbered

Typeset in Baskerville and printed letterpress by Phil Abel at Hand & Eye Editions on Liber Charta 170 gsm paper

The book will be fully bound with a square spine in chocolate brown Canada Grain cow hide. There will be two passes of foil blocking to the front board in black and cream and one pass to the spine in cream. All three of the page edges will be gilded.

It will come in a cloth covered solander box with a large leather label affixed to the front. The label to be foil blocked in three passes, with a further pass to the spine in black.

Remarqued with an original Dave McKean illustration.

£1450.00 plus shipping

Just in! New photos of the bindings of our next pre-sale. Dave McKean has illustrated F Scott Fitzgerald’s fantasy short story and has been collaborating with Richard Tong on the bindings, who created the designs from Dave’s concepts and images. We think they’ve done a fantastic, elegant, job.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

These fabulous books will be available for pre-sale from our website from https://www.arete-editions.com/

Saturday 4 November at 5pm GMT

The Numbered Edition

72 pages, 286 x 206 mm

An edition of 200 copies, of which 180 are for sale.

Seventeen three-colour relief prints by Dave McKean including three double-page plates that will be tabbed into the book blocks to allow opening without a gutter.

Signed by Dave McKean and numbered.

Typeset in Baskerville and printed letterpress by Phil Abel at Hand & Eye Editions on Munken 150 gsm paper.

The book will be quarter bound, with a square spine in chocolate brown Canada Grain cow hide. The face papers are hand marbled by Freya Scott of Paperwilds and foil blocked in two colours to the front board. The top page edge will be gilded.

The book will come in a cloth-covered slipcase, lined in light brown suedel. The front of the slipcase will be foil blocked in three colours.

£395.00 plus shipping

We’ll be announcing prices and details and showing photos of Rich Tong’s beautiful bindings tomorrow Monday 30th.

We will be opening the store on Saturday 4th November at 5pm GMT

We are proud to tell you about our new book, a true Fine Press, elegant edition, of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic satirical fantasy short story.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The classic story by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a wonderful tale of magic realism by an American literary giant that tells the fable of a man who is born an old, aged man and regresses to a baby, born on the eve of the American civil war, its subtle satire covers the changes of society in a world in transformation.

This book is lavishly illustrated by the extraordinary Dave McKean. Dave has produced seventeen letterpress relief prints in three colours. These are printed and bound in to a seventy-two-page book. It is a true artist’s vision.

All letterpress printed by Phil Abel at Hand & Eye.

All books signed by Dave McKean.

All books handmade by Richard Tong and Sam Cartwright at Ludlow Bookbinders.

Each of the lettered edition will be remarqued with an original Dave McKean illustration.

Got a package from Rich which had this slipcase, made by Rich with design ideas by Dave McKean! I really love the way Dave has used the title and the concept of the timer going backwards. Should get photos by Monday and details will be going out for a sale on the following Saturday (I hope!). Here is a quick photo of the cloth bound suede lined slipcase and Dave’s first concept idea for the design.

Ohh, Rich Tong sent me a couple of photos of the prototype for the leather edition of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, wow, it is going to be so elegant! Perfect! And each book will have an original drawing by Dave McKean inside… I love Dave’s design for the cover! Coming very soon! https://www.arete-editions.com/

A complete set of page proofs for Frozen Hell, an essential reference. The book’s on the press and is available for pre-order at www.arete-editions.com

We are proud to tell you about our forthcoming book, F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic satirical fantasy short story.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

It will be available for pre-sale in a couple of weeks and we’ll be sending an update to this newsletter in the next few days when we’ve been able to set a date.

The book is a wonderful tale of magic realism by an American literary giant. It is the story of a man born on the eve of the American Civil War as an old man who gets younger as his life progresses. It subtly satirises the changes in society in a world in transformation.

This book has been lavishly illustrated by the extraordinary Dave McKean, who has produced seventeen letterpress relief prints in three colours. They will be printed and bound into a seventy-two-page book to create a true artist’s vision. Text and image will all be letterpress printed by Phil Abel at Hand & Eye Editions and the entire edition will be hand-bound by Richard Tong at Ludlow Bookbinders.

It will be available in two versions, the Lettered and Numbered Editions. Each copy of the Lettered Edition will be remarqued with an original drawing by Dave McKean.

Dave McKean’s visualisation of the classic short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A wonderful story of magic realism by an American literary giant tells the tale of a man who is born an old man and regresses to a baby, born on the eve of the American civil war, it subtly satire that covers the changes of society in a world in transformation. This book is rich with Dave’s letterpress relief prints! An art book with tactile three colour letterpress prints. As Rich Tong develops the bindings, here are some more of Dave’s terrific interpretations of Benjamin Button.

Coming very soon!