Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics: Signature Editions
Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics: Signature Editions
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Introduction
The books in the leather-bound ‘Signature Editions’ collection under the Barnes & Noble Collectible Classics series were published between 2011 and 2012. Although they were advertised internally through booksellers as Signature Editions, the set is also known among collectors by a variety of other names such as ‘single volume classics,’ ‘young adult classics’ and ‘mid-level classics’. These books are slightly smaller in format than the standard leatherbound classics series (measuring around 8″ x 6″) and the titles were drawn from those classic novels that are typically studied by a middle grade or young adult audience as part of a school curriculum.
FAQ
Who designed the covers of the Signature Editions?
The beautiful cover artwork is by brilliant lettering artist Jessica Hische, whose work you may also have seen on the Penguin Drop Caps series. (If you like her work, she has also written a design book about her work called In Progress which is quite interesting). To keep the books feeling cohesive, she chose a typeface for the author’s name that is used consistently throughout the series, used borders on the front and back covers, and the spine design follows a uniform design with custom ornamentation for each title. The cover design art director for this series is Jo Obarowski with book design by Patrice Kaplan. The marbled endpaper pattern is by Julio Alcobendas.
“One of the things that I find the most fascinating about this project is that there isn’t a logo or barcode in sight. The books feel perfectly modern but without all the ugly business-related adornments that modern book design usually entails.”
Jessica Hische, In Progress
What is the binding made of?
Similar to Barnes & Noble’s main line of leatherbound classics, the Signature Editions are bound in bonded leather (which is a combination of scrap leather and glue), and feature raised bands on the spine, color dyed page edges, a printed design with two-color foil and detailed borders on the front and back of the hardback cover, marbled endpapers, and a silk ribbon bookmark bound in.
How many titles in the Barnes & Noble Signature Editions Series?
There were 15 titles released in the Signature Editions collection, which has now been discontinued and all are out of print. It was replaced by the Flexibound Classics series
What’s the difference between the Signature Series and the Flexibound Editions?
The Signature series was replaced by the Flexibound Classics Editions collection, which includes most of the same titles re-released with similar cover designs, slightly altered spines and a soft flexible cover instead of the hard leather boards used for the Signature Editions. Personally, I prefer the higher quality of the Signature editions over the Flexibound editions, but they mix and match perfectly well on a shelf and all new titles released after 2012 are only available in the Flexibound format.
Above: Comparison between B&N Signature Edition on the left, Flexibound Edition on the right
Complete list of titles in the Barnes & Noble Signature Editions collection
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that, for that, I would give everything!
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
Barnes & Noble/Sterling (2011), 9781435129740
520p. 5.72(w) x 8.34(h) x 2.02(d). OP$15.
→ OOP. Check availability at Amazon | Abes | eBay
