Published in 1931 as a limited edition of 1200 for $12.50 (when hardcovers sold for $2.00), the Random House edition has a new preface by Wells. The AIGA web site gives the design details for the book. Lloyd Currey in his Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors (Boston: G.K. Hall, 1979) says the limited edition was issued in unprinted tissue paper DJ and paper slipcase. There are also copies without the limitation statement on page [88]. My copy is the latter one. This also came with a slipcase but I don't know if it is different from the limited edition's slipcase.
A division of Random House, The Modern Library, published a trade paperback edition in 2002 that reproduces the 1931 edition.
Below is the 1931 edition's front cover, slipcase and the four colour plates plus the Modern Library edition.
Thank you so much! This certainly answers some of my questions. I've always thought it was a beautiful book and I knew there was something special about it. Is your book numbered?
ReplyDeleteThanks. Glad it helped.
ReplyDeleteNo the book isn't numbered.