Hi everyone, I'm new here. I'd like to ask you all about good bound editions, excluding the most expensive collector's editions (like Easton Press and Folio Society)
I've found a comment on Buccaneer Books that they are overpriced and badly bound, but no other comments. Biblio Life and Kessinger have a good selection, but they're a tad too expensive for me to buy when I don't even know their quality. Are they well enough bound with good enough quality paper etc. to be worth the extra money?
Here's some publishers listed. I'd appreciate comments on any of them (hardcover editions). What kind of bounding (strong bounding, glue etc.), paper quality, font, typographical errors etc. And your opinion of the pricing in relation of the quality. Comparing different editions would also be helpful.
1st World Library
Biblio Life
Buccaneer Books
Everyman
HarperCollins
Hendrickson Publishers
Idylls Press
Ignatius Press
Kessinger Publishing
Modern Library
Overlook Press
Sterling
W. W. Norton & Co.
Wildside Press
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Here's my (amateur) opinions on few (I'll add more later):
Shabhala Publications. I got two Shabhala Library editions, which are pretty small sized 17.8 x 11.5 cm / 7.2 x 4.6 inches. The clothe covers with sturdy bounding. Good quality paper and clear font. Price is good.
Charles Scribner's Sons. I got one book. Not sure if they are still publishing. Sturdy clothe covers. Binding is tight, but I see some glue in there. Seems properly bound though. This particular edition is a short story collection with stories divined to two different types with different font on each type (the other one is just bold, I think) and they're both comfortable to read. Overall I think this is very sturdy and beautiful edition. Can't say anything about the price since I bought mine used. From '74 and still in great shape.
Victor Gollancz. One book. The covers are sturdy cardboard, but mine are (very) slightly bend (barely noticable), but this one's from '77. Perhaps a bit sturdier pages than the average. Quite well bound. Golden, pressed letters on the spine, looks as new. Font is clear.
Collancz Black Books. These are leather bound editions. Someone said these are not leather, but to me they look (and smell) leather. I've probably not seen a leather edition is 10 years, and never a new one, so I'm not sure. It has sturdy looking glue "binding). The pages are a bit thinner than the average (but over 1000 pages, so it seems good. The font is clear few full page black and white illustrations by Les Edwards, and small ones at the beginning of each chapter. The price is about 20-30€, 25-35$. The quality isn't anything special, but it's not bad either. For it's price it's a good buy.