A Fond Farewell to my last Easton Press Books

Just sold my last Easton Press set -- a complete set of the Harvard Classics. I collected them myself over a period of over four years. I remember waiting forever to get the last book. I finally called EP and inquired about it. If I hadn't called them I don't know if I would have ever gotten the last volume. But at any rate. They're gone now.

Over the years my EP collection shrank or expanded along with my available shelf space and my misguided desire for high-end looking books. I first discovered them back in the 90s, back during EPs hay-day, when Danbury Mint was slapping faux leather covers on seemingly everything printed in English. I used to droll over those advertising flyers they mailed out, wishing I could afford them all, imagining the library I'd have if I was rich. Signed up for numerous sets. I was such a good customer they even sent me boxes of the 100 greatest book series all in one shipment even as I paid for them a month at a time. And then I met a girl. Suddenly the books seemed foolish. I boxed a bunch of the pre-shipped, not-yet-paid-for books up and sent them back. I had other things on my mind.

So that was my first doubts about EP. And over the years my taste matured, and my reasons for doubting EP changed. (I have to be careful what I say here. I know this a fan club.) But through all of that, I kept the Harvard's. I was attached to them, having struggled to collect them - those were some lean years financially.

Over the years my love for EP was an on-again off-again affair. But the Harvard Classics where always with me -- over numerous moves around the country, and various bouts of leather-book fever. I didn't think I'd ever sell them. I thought the gaudy criticism of EP didn't apply to the Harvard's, although the cheap printing still did (again I have to be careful). But now I'm completely done with Easton Press. There are other threads on here that critique EP, and I tend to agree the haters. But I certainly understand the appeal.

P.S.

I do still have the set of facsimile first edition novels EP did. But they're not leather so they don't count. Plus I've actually read them. And that's the thing: I've decided to only keep books I have read, and enjoy rereading, or books I realistically intend to read. Well, there's that and the fact that I'm moving to California and don't want heavy towering bookcases in my living area in an earthquake prone area.

I could flame Easton Press. And it was part of my reason for posting. But I can't do it. I understand the appeal of these books. But having said that: No Easton Press leather-bound books will ever be in my house again. Come on guys. Easton Press is not a publisher. They are a manufacturer of cheesy collectables. They are Danbury Mint. I do not intend to fill my man cave with Dan Berry mint junk. I have a very small carefully curated Library of America collection of favorites, and for non-American authors I generally do Everyman Library, but have a few Modern Libraries (with the ugly dust covers removed), and a couple Penguins -- even some Norton Critical's. I like to think I'm manning up my man cave. Not sure about that. But it feels good once in a while to declutter and give yourself a fresh take. Moving to a new location often helps with that.

P.S.S

You know what really bugs me? EP books displayed in cheap-ass shelving. In my case I went down to Home Depot and bought some trim and trimmed out a row of Billy shelves from Ikea and installed accent lighting to at least give the impression of excellence -- even in the bosom of cheapness. But now they are even gone. Again earthquakes. I don't care to have rows of books above my head. And I'm not Ron Burgundy, so why try?

Most of us in this forum have mixed feelings about Easton. We learned early on, like you did, that subscribing to lengthy series is not a good idea because you get too many books that don’t interest you. There are, however, a few things they do very well, such as commissioning new art for many of their limited editions. I might have a different take on it if I lived in California, but I have a fairly large house here in Oklahoma, where real estate is relatively inexpensive, so shelf space is not a serious issue.

You show good taste in your alternatives. I, too, am a big fan of Library of America, where I get most of my American literature.

>1 Slim_:

I forgot all about those first edition facsimile editions! I still have my set of the Harvard Classics. The print is generally too small to enjoy reading, though. Most other non-EP versions of the Harvard Classics that I’ve come across are just as small, though, so I guess EP’s version is par for the course.

What brought about this post, anyway? If you were truly “done” with EP, I’m not sure I see how a post like this would give you any closure. If you wanted to convince other people to give up EP, wouldn’t it have been better to list a profit or a loss on your sold collection, to reflect the alternate value proposition?

>1 Slim_:

Wow what a great post, you and all of the useful (priceless?) posts and information you've readily contributed to this forum over the last several years will truly be missed.

P.S.

Please read the above with the strongest sense of sarcasm possible.

Personally, I always think it's hilarious when people disdainfully talk about "manufactured collectibles." As opposed to stuff that was produced to be disposable crap, like vintage comics or vintage pulps or hundreds of other non-book-related items but that accidentally became worth something later because people decided they were actually pretty cool, after all. Or as opposed to the fine art market, which is rife with... you guessed it: "manufactured collectibles." I mean, how about these sculptors like Rodin, who would do one real sculpture and would then knock off as many as a few dozen "castings" (read: manufactured collectibles).

Easton Press sells the same dream as Rolex, Armani, BMW, and every other true luxury and mass luxury brand, that YOU will become different and better once you own their stuff. Sorry that you feel you were hoodwinked by EP and have become disenchanted. But it is possible to understand what Easton Press books are and are not in the larger sense and to still enjoy them for their attractiveness (in some cases) and their utility (in most cases) as mid-range luxury editions, even if they're not actually the be-all and end-all of book publishing that EP would like you to believe. And even if owning a library of them doesn't actually turn you into a rich, erudite, sophisticate.

>3 treereader: “I still have my set of the Harvard Classics. The print is generally too small to enjoy reading, though. Most other non-EP versions of the Harvard Classics that I’ve come across are just as small, though, so I guess EP’s version is par for the course.”

Ah, yes, the Harvard Classics, a set that has always fascinated me. Now more than a century old, the author selection contained some glaring omissions (Aristotle, for example), many of the translations have since been superseded with better ones, and a comparison with Britannica’s Great Books of the Western World is inevitable.

I know of no nicer edition unless it might have been the original one of which EP’s set is a reproduction. I once collected on a monthly basis in the 1970s or ‘80s a set published by Grolier’s in a burgundy faux leather edition, but they unexpectedly stopped publishing them after 39 volumes, leaving the remaining 11 unpublished to this day. I was furious and let them know it, but they were unmoved.

My recollection is that the Grolier set had the same page size as EP’s, but the print had been slightly enlarged to fill the page, whereas EP’s has more generous margins and a smaller but crisper font.

Those of us with aging eyes might profit from one of at least two editions for the Kindle, but be careful. One of them is published by a Catholic publisher who has excised works that he/she/they deemed to be heretical. No Martin Luther, for example. You only discover this bias after you have downloaded it, although I think there is now a customer review warning about it.

>1 Slim_: completely disagree with you. Books are books and does not matter in what form they come, they still books you can read and learn from. Has nothing to do with Denbury mint. I enjoy reading beautiful Easton press books. Yes, I love their design but mostly I love what’s inside. Me and my family enjoy the looks of these books, illustrations and just pleasure of reading leather bound editions. I understand you can’t satisfy everyone. My EP editions will be passed down to my future children and hopefully they will do the same. For now, I love reading and Easton press gives me ability to read my favorite novels; philosophy; history, etc in beautifully designed and leather bound books. But, of course, this is just my opinion about EP. Good luck to you in California and hope no books gonna end up on your head. Lol

P. S.

None of my Easton books ever be for sale.

P.S.S.

I want to collect all EP books from Easton Press even more after your post. Also, hard to believe that EP sent you all 100 books in the same shipment for being nice customer. And, what exactly your girlfriend had to do with realizing that collecting EP books is “silly.” Doesn’t make any sense. Most of your post does not make any sense to me. Sorry number 1

>1 Slim_: Hardly a FOND farewell.

I don’t know anything about this user but don’t understand melodramatic and catty farewell posts. I stopped going on mommy message boards mainly because of those! Didn’t think to find one on here lol

>1 Slim_: No Easton Press leather-bound books will ever be in my house again. Come on guys. Easton Press is not a publisher. They are a manufacturer of cheesy collectables. They are Danbury Mint. I do not intend to fill my man cave with Dan Berry mint junk. I have a very small carefully curated Library of America collection of favorites, and for non-American authors I generally do Everyman Library, but have a few Modern Libraries (with the ugly dust covers removed), and a couple Penguins -- even some Norton Critical's. I like to think I'm manning up my man cave.

I think it's too bad you feel that way about Easton Press. They are absolutely a publisher, whether you like their work is something entirely different. I think most of us have criticized Easton Press at some point, but I have to disagree with your assessment that Easton Press is "junk". Personally, I find their books of much higher quality than Library of America - and I think the LOA is a great way to get a lot of literature very inexpensively. However, Easton Press is about the leather binding and overall quality. Yes, it varies. However, their limited editions and signed editions are often excellent and make for lovely reading.

ps How do you know you're in a great relationship? Your partner looks at your books and says "these are just so lovely!" :)

>12 astropi: Here Here!!!

I’ve always been interested in the Harvard Classics especially the history behind it. It seems such a beautiful production though I’ve never seen it in person I still dream of picking up a set

To each their own.

I too have been trimming down my library. As I approach 60 and see all the books I wanted to read, but the little time left. I am starting to purge.

But this purge is equally applying to plain ol books, Easton Press books, George Macy Books, and Folio Society books, and Franklin Library as well It has come down to a matter of shelf space and years left before I die.

But the gorgeous, easily readable, and yes durable EP books are faring at least as well under this ruthless purge as the others. I have even started shelving what remains mixed together. that is, the EP and GM books are side by side in those bookcases which house ʻGeneral World Literatureʻ.

The large collection of EP Science Fiction/Fantasy get their own book case. And the Folio Society Science Fiction publications are starting to get put in with them as well. They seem to get along just fine, I have yet to see them bickering with one another on the shelf.

I donʻt see another publisher doing what EP did with their science fiction publications again. I am sure as heck glad I subscribed to the various EP subscriptions of those.

I guess what I am trying to say is that yes, I understand the need to downsize for whatever reason (marriage, moving, aging). But I have always viewed these books, from all the publishers, as Literature (with a capital L) and as such deserving of a place in my home.

-Shawn

>15 sdawson:
60! I’m 76 and have no intention of downsizing. I figure I can’t die as long as there is an unread book on my shelves. And since “Ulysses” is on a shelf, I expect to be immortal!

So sad to even talk about death at 60. This is still young. >16 jroger1: that’s a spirit 76 is not an old age as well. Enjoy your books for many years to come.

>17 fancythings:
76 is like being 19 four times. I’m now going for five.

>15 sdawson: I'm nearly 57 and have occasionally had similar thoughts. But then the latest offering of EP or FS snaps me out of it. Hey, I figure there are worse and more expensive hobbies. I don't golf, for instance. What did Mark Twain say about golf? "A good walk, ruined." Wishing you many decades of reading happiness.

>16 jroger1: Good for you! I'm in my early 50s, and I'm just gearing up in my collecting and in my reading. Passion of all sorts keeps one young in mind and in spirit.

>20 whytewolf1: Well said

>1 Slim_: “ And then I met a girl” lol - the books will have been inexpensive in comparison

just caught up on the thread. i hope to live another 25 years as well but ....
also i too am still buying books while at the same time getting rid of others. My mother is a hoarder and i do not eant to be. with basically all the cases filled and books overflowing and just stacked in piles such that one bedroom is filled to the unusable status i need to get rid of 4 for every new 1

more bookcases will not help ss there is no more wall space left in the house. i am cursed with windows taking up valable space

>23 sdawson:

Try placing two identical bookcases back-to-back, each with one side against a wall. They'll stick out further than one case with its back against the wall but you could create additional shelf space.