“For billionaire booklovers”: George D. Sproul’s St. Dunstan Editions

2024/12/01 by Sarah Hovde · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #French Literature and Poetry #Historical and Literary Studies #Literature and Culture Studies

paper · doi:10.1086/733087

openalex publication_date 2024/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/05

Abstract

This article introduces the St. Dunstan Illuminated Editions, a set of editions de luxe produced by New York-based publisher George D. Sproul between approximately 1901 and 1903, and attempts to place them within the history of other “deluxe” editions published around the turn of the century . It provides a brief history of the books’ publication plan, illuminators, and intended subscribers, as well as a short overview of legal actions during their initial publication phase. It finishes by looking at their shifting financial value since publication as seen through auction outcomes and booksellers’ pricing.

Discussions

• In the Dec. PBSA, Sarah Hovde examines the St. Dunstan Illuminated Editions. Learn about the editions within the broader history of turn-of-the-century luxury publishing: production, audience, legal c [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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