At Lost Art Press, we don’t enter contests or seek awards for publishing, design, woodworking or… anything, really. (The reason we don’t do this is complicated. Buy me a bucket of beer some time, and I might tell you.)
Despite this, we are gratified when our books are recognized. And so today I am particularly pleased to announce that our deluxe version of “With All the Precision Possible: Roubo on Furniture” has been named one of the 50 best books of 2017 by the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts).
This recognition is due entirely to the work of Wesley Tanner, who was the art director and designer of both the deluxe and standard editions of our Roubo volumes. Wesley went to enormous personal lengths when designing these books. They are, as I have said before, the nicest modern books I have ever held or seen.
We spared no expense in making these deluxe editions, and I doubt we will ever embark on a project this complicated or elaborate again. In short, this book is insanely nice. Printed on thick paper made by Mohawk using wind-powered turbines. The printing is at a line-screen resolution that our other printing facilities cannot match. The books are bound halfway across the country at the only place that can handle the 11” x 17” page size. And this same facility makes the custom slipcases by hand.
And here’s the kicker – the contents of this book are as exquisite as its manufacturing. This book isn’t a reprint of some public-domain classic. “Roubo on Furniture” is the first English translation of an 18th-century French masterwork on woodworking that is still used in court cases on workmanship. “l’Art du menuisier” by A.-J. Roubo is one of the foundations of Western woodworking. I consider it required reading for anyone who values traditional practice — as told by a traditional practitioner.
But enough of my blather. Congrats to Wesley on a job well done. Someday this $550 book will seem a steal to the collectors of the day.
— Christopher Schwarz
Happy to be a proud owner of this magnificent tome!
Congratulations to Lost Art Press!
A well deserved Award! and a testament to the oeuvre of Lost Art Press!
Looking forward to more!
P.S. ‘The Intelligent Hand’ is magnifico!
Congratulations to everyone involved and especially to Wesley.
Yes, the deluxe versions are nice. Very nice. And beautiful. However, for those that can’t afford them, the regular versions are pretty good too. Just a little smaller and not in color.
Congratulations to all involved.
FYI: To Make as Perfectly as Possible (the first of the series) won the same award in 2013 for the deluxe version. Again, congratulations.
Let me echo the others: Congratulations! It’s a gorgeous piece of work in every way.
I am also one of the ones that have both editions and I am proud that this will be part in my will.
Chris just suppose that you would embark on another tomb of this magnitude which one do you thick would you do. There must be at least one
Nothing comes to mind – I’ll know it when I see it. Perhaps.
Each of these deluxe editions required me to write a check for more than my storefront is worth. So John and I a quite cautious about doing it again.
IF i hit the lottery I will be more than glad to front the money
In both content and construction, they are the two most impressive books I will ever own.
Congratulations on the well-deserved recognition for these beautiful books.
I have the regular editions of both books. Magnificent. I missed out on the first run of the deluxe, I will have to correct that now. Any chance the first book will get a second deluxe run?
Congratulations to the whole team!
Congrats and well-deserved!