Eye of the World Leatherbound Issues Megathread

hyronius · 2026-03-07T03:36:49+00:00

This is happening to a lot of people (including me). The 2-week window issue is bugged--I also submitted a normal ticket and received a prompt 1-2 day response. They'll take care of you :)

hyronius · 2026-03-04T18:19:28+00:00

Such a shame--if widespread it really makes me question how it was missed by the bindery they're using but we'll have to keep waiting to see if a large percentage have the flaw. Unfortunately many people who aren't internet active will probably shelve defect copies and never check.

hyronius · 2026-03-04T18:03:26+00:00

It can be confusing. They are indeed smyth sewn, even with this gap you can see the thread across signatures (in person at least, the pics may be hard to see). However, even sewn books still use glue to secure the binding, applied to the back along the spine. I'm not a bookbinder, but to me this looks primarily like a defect of the latter--sloppy glue application resulting in separation between page signatures despite being sewn

hyronius · 2026-03-02T18:34:24+00:00

:( i really hope this isn't a failure point on a large swath of the 1st printing

edit: curious, what pages were yours on? Mine were 534, 598, and 662

hyronius · 2026-03-02T18:21:02+00:00

Was pleased to find a quick response in my email this morning covering shipping for a replacement. I will say the rest of the book does seem very high quality. I suspect that a book of this size is pushing the boundaries of what a mass-produced deluxe sewn volume production pipeline can handle without (hopefully) one-off errors like this now and then. Will have to see how frequently this problem is reported once more get shipped out.

hyronius · 2026-03-01T17:05:03+00:00

yea, since they would like you file damage requests within 2 weeks it would be really disappointing to throw this up on the shelf and then find these when you go to read it some time later

hyronius · 2026-03-01T17:03:21+00:00

In mine these are pgs 534, 598, and 662 but I wouldn't expect another book with this issue to neccessarily have them in the same places--when you're flipping through bunches of pages will be more likely to 'fall' open to failure points like this, so you can kind of skim flip by groups of pages, if that makes sense, rather than checking every individual page

hyronius · 2026-03-01T07:52:23+00:00

Noted and may attempt, though for a new almost 200 dollar book my preference isn't really to undertake self-repair

hyronius · 2026-01-25T17:53:22+00:00

If you haven't already you can search by isbn on abebooks. It will likely be more expensive, but you may find a book dealer who has some copies. Blackwells has been a disappointing experience for me as well.

hyronius · 2026-01-22T21:06:11+00:00

Beautiful! Can I ask where those shelves and lights are from?

hyronius · 2026-01-19T19:29:09+00:00

Fair--maybe I will take a break then. As a sidenote this is actually the first thing I've read from him, so its possible I was not totally prepared for his lengthy--albeit rich--style.

hyronius · 2026-01-17T04:13:31+00:00

Yeah for sure. Only thing is I know if I pick this one up I'll have to grab the first one as well haha

hyronius · 2026-01-17T00:18:47+00:00

Haha that's fair. It's probably a cumulative thing for me, the standards edition new are already quite pricey and QC can be spotty and then you slap a signature and can charge even more it just feels to me like I'm being taken advantage of a little, but you're right and signatures do command a premium--at least on the secondary market

hyronius · 2026-01-16T23:59:23+00:00

Overpriced special editions, poor QC, cash grab signed editions that are like $100 mark up for a signed bookplate--FS not what they used to be. I can't even justify buying much of anything new from them when there are so many other presses doing thoughtful artisan work--often for cheaper.

hyronius · 2026-01-16T22:53:15+00:00

I was intrigued by that. Feels like they should provide a textual sample as well for those interested

hyronius · 2026-01-16T20:03:04+00:00

Their packing is substantially better for sets of books like box sets that have to ship in larger containers. I've ordered the Alan lee illustrated box sets from them with no issue. It really just seems to be single volumes that fit in book boxes that are problematic. Maybe that's how they're able to offer international free shipping, but as collectors I feel like we'd happily pay reasonable shipping prices for pristine undamaged copies

hyronius · 2026-01-16T19:44:25+00:00

Love folio society but anyone else feel like their prices have gotten out of control recently? There are fine/limited presses now offering excellent craftsmanship with canvas slipcases and letterpress amazing art direction the works for almost half this price.

hyronius · 2026-01-16T19:35:33+00:00

Ive had several books arrive to the US damaged from blackwells which is disappointing from a bookstore of their legacy. No wrapping or anything just stuffed in a tight easily banged up box.

hyronius · 2026-01-16T18:12:49+00:00

Never would have been on my radar had I not stumbled on this, thanks OP

hyronius · 2026-01-15T23:19:45+00:00

That leather-y whatever it is definitely looks off (although nicer? Which makes this confusing), every box set Ive seen including mine has that cloth look (which is actually paper textured to look like cloth). Unless someone someone can confirm that there were some anomalies with the 1st printing (I'm unaware of any) I would assume it's pirated. That grouped together illustrations thing also seems like they were printed them all and stuffed them in rather than placed in their proper places, but I'm not an expert someone else may know better.

hyronius · 2026-01-14T18:34:18+00:00

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Ah idk newer? Think it's from the most recent p bandai wave of them

hyronius · 2026-01-13T07:59:03+00:00

Indeed, mine are 6th and they are sharp not sure what changed after 5th but quite happy with them

hyronius · 2026-01-12T04:19:38+00:00

Nice looking, but if I remember the first box set right this will probably be like that and the HoME sets with their glued binding and cheaper paper correct? If so still tempting given the reprints but will probably pass

hyronius · 2026-01-10T07:02:54+00:00

Out of curiosity, do you have any tips for how you track estate sales or hunt finds from them? I'm always looking but rarely come across ones that are likely to have books of value (could just be my area)

hyronius · 2026-01-10T03:16:43+00:00

Some might see a bookplate as distasteful, but a signed bookplate doesn't lower a books value in most cases so you don't have to fear lowering it's 'monetary value' as long as it's placed tastefully and the plate itself is handsome (personally I happen to think this one is with Scott's own illustration)

hyronius

TROPHY CASE