Letters from Father Christmas Centenary edition published
26 Oct, 2020
(edited)
2020-10-26 6:35:01 PM UTC
2020-10-26 6:35:01 PM UTC
The new edition arrived today. Ignore the dings which I will seek a replacement for.
The book is much larger than I expected, pleasantly so. The paper is matte, images look fabulous. End-papers are a montage of various images. Printed at Rotolito, Italy.
The pages follow as the deluxe (2019) until page 18 (letter) and 19 (envelope and text) where the 1924 letter to John is present in place of the 1924 letter, envelope and text to Michael. Page 20-1 are the same as deluxe. Page 22-3 contain Michael's letter, envelope and text. From there pages match until 64-5 when the images are switched correcting the error from deluxe. Pages 92 and 94 switch the envelopes. Page 136 on we see some textual corrections and a different envelope found on page 144 with the envelope from 137 (deluxe) found on page 149. Page 144 is now the letter alone without the envelope which is now found on page 136. Page 152 no longer has the envelope behind the letter, the letter is presented alone. Page 163 sees more textual corrections. Page 202 now shows the wax seal.
Printed text does not run exactly as in deluxe and there are some textual corrections with italics.
As always with HarperCollins there is something that stops it short from being a definitive edition. The 'Envelope to Michael verso with commercial Father Christmas seal' is still missing unless I am mistaken and the fold out from deluxe with the stamps has not been reproduced which is a shame, especially as there is a blank page at either end. The rear envelope with 3 wax stamps is still missing from this new edition.
Overall I think this is a very beautiful book and it is clear that HarperCollins have taken time to try and get it right.
The book is much larger than I expected, pleasantly so. The paper is matte, images look fabulous. End-papers are a montage of various images. Printed at Rotolito, Italy.
The pages follow as the deluxe (2019) until page 18 (letter) and 19 (envelope and text) where the 1924 letter to John is present in place of the 1924 letter, envelope and text to Michael. Page 20-1 are the same as deluxe. Page 22-3 contain Michael's letter, envelope and text. From there pages match until 64-5 when the images are switched correcting the error from deluxe. Pages 92 and 94 switch the envelopes. Page 136 on we see some textual corrections and a different envelope found on page 144 with the envelope from 137 (deluxe) found on page 149. Page 144 is now the letter alone without the envelope which is now found on page 136. Page 152 no longer has the envelope behind the letter, the letter is presented alone. Page 163 sees more textual corrections. Page 202 now shows the wax seal.
Printed text does not run exactly as in deluxe and there are some textual corrections with italics.
As always with HarperCollins there is something that stops it short from being a definitive edition. The 'Envelope to Michael verso with commercial Father Christmas seal' is still missing unless I am mistaken and the fold out from deluxe with the stamps has not been reproduced which is a shame, especially as there is a blank page at either end. The rear envelope with 3 wax stamps is still missing from this new edition.
Overall I think this is a very beautiful book and it is clear that HarperCollins have taken time to try and get it right.
10
3706