Lost Art Press

Now Taking Orders for the Deluxe ‘Roubo on Furniture’

Posted on by Lost Art Press

lap-roubo-pressmark-1

Last night at dinner I laid out the finances involved in printing the deluxe “With All the Precision Possible: Roubo on Furniture,” and I think I saw the blood drain out of my wife’s face – just a little bit.

It’s like sending a child to college. It’s vitally important, and so you somehow find the money to make it happen. But when you stand back and count up all the dollars involved you wonder how the heck you did it.

We are pleased, thrilled and a little anxious to offer you “With All the Precision Possible: Roubo on Furniture,” the largest, most expensive and most incredibly built book we’ve yet to offer. We think the investment is worth it. Don Williams, Michele Pietryka-Pagán and Philippe Lafargue dedicated years of their lives to translate A.J. Roubo’s 18th-century masterwork “l’art du Menuisier” and have done a magnificent job. Designer Wesley Tanner has captured the experience of reading an 18th-century book. And so we have decided to put all our chips on the table.

If you approach this book with an open heart and mind, I think you will find yourself challenged to become a better woodworker in everything you do. It is the most involved piece of woodworking writing I’ve ever encountered. It is for beginners, intermediates and the advanced.

Even if you have zero interest in building French furniture, I think this book will speak to you as a maker and give you insights into how things are made “with all the precision possible.”

The book is $550 and will ship this summer. You can place your pre-publication order here.

— Christopher Schwarz

32 thoughts on “Now Taking Orders for the Deluxe ‘Roubo on Furniture’”

  2. i tried to order the deluxe version but when i wrote my adress it said there was no shipping methods available for my cart or destination. what do i do? i live in Norway

  6. Thanks for this kind of grand project. I am glad that you take these risks but I hope that you are getting some rewards for them. $500k is a lot to put into a project.

    I’m down for 1 Deluxe and 2 Regulars. If I add fries can I make one of those a basket?

    1. Hey Devon,

      John and I make a good living thanks to Lost Art Press. But most of our profits go back into the company to buy future inventory. This allows us to order bigger press runs at a lower unit cost to keep prices as low as we can. And it ensures a steady supply of books. It’s a long-term plan that will pay off for my kids no doubt….

      We have no complaints – as long as we get to make books and eat, we’re thrilled.

  7. Boom! Also one should note, the deluxe version is great at parties and a hit with the ladies.
    I am only sort of joking.
    I every time I pull out my Roubo (usually later in the evening and already deep into the bourbon) to regale guests and it never fails to impress. People who have no interest in the craft have never seen such a beautifully executed volume like this. It’s a real treasure!

  9. I am actually a book collector first, and have only recently within the last couple years gotten interested in woodworking and DIY projects. So when I saw this book was coming, it was kind of calling to me like a dangerously alluring siren. I had just backordered a miter saw a few days ago, so I was hesitant on jacking up my next credit card bill even higher… but I know that if I had passed up on this opportunity, I would be regretting it years later.

    One wonders what Roubo himself would think of your collective endeavors on this project.
    I expect he would be rather flattered for both the fuss and attention to detail.

  10. $550 may seem like a lot, but it is a nice savings over $8,000 for an original addition – and you can read it. Having translated five or ten page articles from French to English I can’t imagine the work this took to translate this entire book from 18th Century French. Book ordered, and if it is like the first one, worth every cent.

  12. Any chance you’ll release a PDF for the Deluxe edition of To Make As Perfectly As Possible as well?

    It would be fantastic to get a digital copy of both deluxe Roubo books. Yes, I know I can get a PDF of the standard edition, but it’s just not the same. While I prefer the printed editions, they unfortunately won’t fit in my carry on bag when I’m traveling for work, which is why I’m asking.

  13. Damn International Date Line. Now I have ordered the book 😉 For some reason the .pdf doesn’t link off the order, I expect that it will turn up in time to keep me up far too late at night reading.

  14. If I were to rob a bank so I could order one of these, when would I actually be charged? Now or when it’s shipped? Sooner would be better than later so I don’t have to rob multiple banks when the pound crashes post-‘Brexit’…

  15. Chris, now that Volume 2 is complete, will there be a volume 3? if so, do you have a target date in mind?

    1. Hey Jack,

      There has been preliminary discussions on the third volume, which would be Roubo’s dictionary of woodworking terms. But we have not even started the project. So no date is set.

      I can pretty much guarantee you that “Roubo on Furniture” will be the last deluxe edition in the series.

  16. After considerable thought, and much wavering back and forth on the pros and cons of spending sooooo much money for a book, I ordered one. At the very least it is an endorsement for LAP. I love the work that LAP and partners do to provide the “enlightenment” of the craft….. Keep it up. Now I have to go lie down and figure out how to justify the expenditure to kids and cats. Mostly the cats, as they have a hard time understanding me.

Comments are closed.