A modern take on Dante's masterpiece: Hand-lettered, beautifully illustrated, printed letterpress, and hand-bound.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
April is the cruellest month . . .
almost 8 years ago
– Thu, Apr 12, 2018 at 08:56:22 PM
Friends,
THANK YOU for your quick response on the surveys. We have received most already, and our editor is beginning to assign numbers. Stay tuned for updates from our production team as we go to press . . .
In the meantime, I have a big announcement. This morning we launched our latest edition, a tour de force often called the most important poem of the twentieth century: T.S. Eliot’s THE WASTE LAND.
As you may know, Eliot was immensely influenced by Dante. The Waste Land includes several direct quotes from the Divine Comedy. Even its dedication, to "il miglior fabbro" (the better craftsman), is taken from Dante.
The first British edition of Eliot’s masterpiece was published by Virginia Woolf at Hogarth Press, bound in paste paper wrappers on her kitchen table. That is to say, this poem is intertwined with the fine press movement of which Thornwillow is one of the last remaining presses. In this way, we are bringing the poem back to its roots. Like Woolf's, our edition is a handmade labor of love. I can’t wait for you to see it.
We are honored to be able to add this title to our series of crowdfunded editions. Thank you for helping us make this possible!
Best wishes, and highest regards from the Press,
Luke
SURVEYS SENT
almost 8 years ago
– Tue, Apr 10, 2018 at 08:35:23 PM
Friends,
I am thrilled to announce that I have just clicked the "SEND" button on our surveys. They don't all go out at once, but in batches over the next 12 to 24 hours. By this time tomorrow, all 535 will be sent. (Nb. When you get your survey doesn't affect things like copy numbering.)
Two very important things:
1. How the surveys work.
We are using Backerkit for our surveys. Backerkit allows you (if you choose) to add rewards to your pledge. We had so many requests for this function, that we decided to do it. The steps in your survey are as follows:
First, you are asked about copy numbering and the subscribers list. Remember: if you have a good reason for requesting a specific number, let us know!
Second, you are given the opportunity to add books to your pledge. You do not need to do so: you can just click right on through if you'd like. We have made a few things available here as a thanks for your enormous support of this campaign:
This is the last time that pre-publication pricing will be offered for Inferno in cloth and paper-wrappers. As the edition becomes more and more scarce, the price goes up and up.
We are offering (most likely for the last time) cloth copies of Sherlock and Sonnets. Very few of these are left.
We are offering three splendid editions from our archives: Remembering the Moon by Walter Cronkite, Partnership in Liberty by Helmut Kohl, and The Lady Who Liked Clean Restrooms by J. P. Donleavy. These are true rarities. Further, any proceeds from will go to the Thornwillow Institute, a non-profit focused on teaching and furthering the arts and crafts of the printed word.
Third, you will be asked for your address. You can change your address if you need to up until June 1.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the survey. You can reach out via a Kickstarter message, or reach our editor directly at [email protected]
2. A big announcement is coming . . .
I can't say any more. You may want to keep your antennas tuned around, say, 8am EST this coming Thursday.
Survey + Welcome to the Thornwillow Universe
almost 8 years ago
– Fri, Apr 06, 2018 at 10:01:11 PM
Friends,
The surveys are inches away from your mailbox. We are simply waiting for approval by Backerkit (the survey service we are using) before we can send them. We were sure this would come yesterday, but are still waiting. It should be any day now!
In the meantime, we wanted to welcome you to the broader Thornwillow Universe!
Consider joining us on Facebook (or as our publisher Luke says, "Face-Book"). We are building a community of book and literature enthusiasts. In the past, we've posted the stories behind books from our archives, we've shared photos of the production process, and we've held discussions about upcoming titles and favorite literature. It's a lot of fun, so we hope you'll join us.
Further, considering joining our Broadside Subscription on DRIP. The Broadside Library was started on Kickstarter, and has been a smash hit ever since. Each month, we choose a theme, and print ten letterpress broadsides related to that theme. One might be a poem by Emily Dickinson, or an article on the Kessler Syndrome (look it up!), or a speech by Sojourner Truth. These broadsides are sure to inspire. Best of all, we enclose all ten in a colorful letterpress portfolio case.
Subscribers receive a portfolio every month, as well as subscriber-exclusive updates, and the chance to help us select each month's theme. At the end of each season, subscribers then receive an engraved slipcase which fits three portfolios.
We'll keep you updated with the surveys. In the meantime, you have our highest regards, and best wishes for a wonderful weekend,
Team Thornwillow
T H A N K Y O U
about 8 years ago
– Sat, Mar 24, 2018 at 07:48:03 PM
Friends,
From all of us at Thornwillow, and from George, who has spent three years now on this project, we wanted to THANK YOU for your kind words, your enthusiasm, and your support. This has been the biggest pre-publication support for a Thornwillow edition yet, and (so far) among the biggest for any book in 2018. We can't wait to continue the journey. We will be posting photos from the Press so that you get fronts seats to the making of this edition.
In the meantime, here are a few announcements . . .
Surveys
For those new to Kickstarter, we use surveys to get information regarding your pledge (e. g. your shipping address, your preferred copy numbers).
We've had many requests from backers wanting to add books to their pledge. Therefore, we're using Backerkit for our survey process. When filling out your survey, Backerkit allows you to add rewards to your pledge, if you so choose. To celebrate the end of a great campaign, we'll be offering some (otherwise unavailable) Thornwillow rarities from the archives, as well as our recent editions at subscriber prices.
Be on the lookout for an email about your survey in the coming week. We'll also send out an announcement when they are sent.
Subscribers List
As part of the survey, you'll be asked to give the name you want included on our subscribers list. This list honors all of you for the part you played in this edition's creation. (Think, for example, the patrons lists at a theatre.) It is printed letterpress, and included in every copy.
In the past, we have restricted this to Cloth, Half Leather, and Full Leather tiers. We are very excited to announce that, for the first time, all backers regardless of tier will be included.
When submitting your name, you are welcome to give whatever name you'd like, or, in the case that the book is a gift, to list both yourself and the recipient. Some examples are:
John Doe
The Doe Family
John Doe for Jane Doe
Copy Numbers
For those who are new to fine press books, the "copy number" is a distinguishing element. Each book in the edition is numbered and signed by our Publisher to certify its number. Fine press books tend to increase in value over times, often substantially. (One Thornwillow book published in the 1991 and sold at the time for $100 recently went on auction for $1,500.) To book collectors, specific numbers can be very valuable. Who wouldn't want Copy No. 123 or Copy. No. 7?
As always, we are really excited to assign copy numbers based on your requests. That said, because this edition has so many subscribers, it may be harder than usual to be sure that everybody gets a number they want.
To be sure you get a number you want, you should:
1. Pick obscure numbers.
2. Request not just one, but several, numbers.
3. Don't request any number under 10, and don't request 42 (the answer to life the universe and everything), which is our most requested number—by far.
In the interest of complete transparency, here's how our editor is assigning numbers:
1. Based on a backer's past support of Thornwillow books. If, for example, Backer X has received No. 44 on The Shakespeare Sonnets, Sherlock Holmes Hexalogy, Three War Stories, etc. they are basically guaranteed to receive No. 44 on Inferno, if they request it. That said, they must let us know that it has been their number in the past.
Further, even if Backer X doesn't want No. 44, we will accommodate such longstanding backers first.
2. What we call "good reasons". For example, we are always heartened by how many backers intend to give our books as gifts for special occasions. If you're planning to give Inferno as a gift for you 32nd anniversary (strange book for the occasion, though it is) we'd love for you to get Copy No. 32 if possible.
If you have a good reason for requesting a certain number, include that reason in your request!
3. Based on backer number. Barring the above two circumstances, our editor assigns numbers simply in the order that you backed the project.
Next publication . . . ?
Many folks have written to ask what we're planning for our next publication. We're delighted by your interest, and (given what we've got in the works) are immensely excited to tell you. Alas, not yet . . .
A L M D W E A S W A A B A M A M I I — in the winter
Thank you again for your support. Keep your eyes open for the surveys within a week. We'll be in touch soon with more updates and photos from the Press.
