Rarest H.P. Lovecraft Book of the Decade?

Thursday, June 11, 2009


This terribly scarce deluxe edition of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" caught my eye on Horrormall.com. Originally published by Bloodletting Books several years ago, it's one of the most luxurious Lovecraftian books bound in recent years--and perhaps the rarest containing "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" since the original limited edition publication of this story in Lovecraft's own lifetime. The 125 copy print run of this book includes several bonus features as well:

The total edition is 125 copies, 150 pp, small octavo (5 x 7.5 inches). The book features a fold-out map of Innsmouth, drawn from Lovecraft's detailed descriptions of the town. The text is set in Centaur and Arrighi, with Gill Shadow for display. The pages were printed letterpress, in two colors, from polymer plates at David Clifford's Black Stone Press in Vancouver, B.C.

This BATRACHIAN issue comprises 125 numbered (1 - 125) copies printed on Mohawk Superfine (an archival, acid-free paper), sewn & cased by hand in full black cloth with an image gold-stamped on the front board. This issue also features specially printed endpapers.


So, if you're a fanatical follower of Lovecraft's Deep Ones and have some money burning through your wallet, you might consider purchasing this unusual item. This pricey specimen also illustrates an important matter of taste for Lovecraftian bibliophiles. Reprints of Lovecraft tales are fairly commonplace, seeing as how all of his stories are public domain. Genuine Lovecraft books worthy of a private library, however, are something else...

-Grim Blogger

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