What a pickle: An update on the signed editions
23 November 2023
Progress - Third Time's Charm?:
After two batches of slipcases for the numbered & lettered editions vanished in transit from China this year, the printer, Brilliant Graphics, is now working with a domestic US fabricator. Earlier this month, John Berry made the requisite adjustments to the slipcase design layout. Last week we received word that they are now "in production". We had hoped the slipcases would be completed in time for the signed, numbered & lettered editions to be sent to the distributor and mailed out to everyone before the solstice holidays, but it is now evident this won’t be the case. The latest estimate is that the signed books should be snug in their illustrated slipcases, boxed and trucked to Deep Vellum for distribution to finally commence in January, 2024. The upside here is that there will be a much lower volume of mail after the new year, which reduces chance of mishap en route.
Felicitous news:
We are delighted to report that the trade hardcover anniversary edition of Little, Big was selected as a winner in the Publishing Professionals Network (PPN) Book Show this year, "a recognition of achieving the highest standard of book design & manufacturing"!
We were also honored to learn that a copy of our Little, Big is on prominent display (until February 25) at a Fantasy and Folklore exhibition at the British Library in London ( https://www.bl.uk/ ). Tickets to the exhibition can be purchased online - https://fantasy.seetickets.com/timeslots/filter/fantasy-realms-of-imagination
Little, Big posters and our celebrated, award-winning hardcover edition make excellent gifts. These will not be reprinted and numbers are dwindling -- get them while you can!
Books - https://store.deepvellum.org/products/little-big
Posters - https://store.deepvellum.org/products/little-big?variant=43187529875705
27 September 2023
Further Fay-fickle news:
After 3.5 months of worrying silence from the printer, Brilliant Graphics, regarding the slipcases for the numbered & lettered editions, they just acknowledged the second, replacement batch has been declared "lost in transit" from China! At this point it is difficult to not interpret this as confirmation that the project has long been laboring under some fairy hex. We are now in the process of assessing a new, North American, fabricator for the job (we can only hope the third time truly is the charm!) and expect to have this confirmed in the next week or two. We're told slipcase production will then take 3-4 weeks, with another 2-3 weeks to have the books carefully ensconced in their illustrated slipcases, boxed and trucked to Deep Vellum for distribution. So we're likely looking at early December as the soonest the signed editions will commence shipping to your eager hands.
We are beyond exasperated with these latest mishaps and delays and doing everything in our power to make sure this final part of production is completed, to the project's high standards, as quickly as possible. The Completion Team offers our deepest, heartfelt gratitude for your continuous support and truly remarkable patience!
Please note: Roberto, our heroic web-manager, will be gone all October. The next progress update will be posted upon his return.
22 June 2023
Felicitous news:
Except for the slipcases, production on the signed Numbered and Lettered editions is complete. The books have all been carefully bound with the sheets signed years ago by John Crowley, Peter Milton and Harold Bloom. These unique limited editions are in safe storage at the printer, Brilliant Graphics, awaiting the final piece of production: the gorgeous slipcases -- Ron Drummond's stunning design which utilizes original Peter Milton art not found in the book. But...
Fay-fickle news:
The slipcases were originally to be produced by a US fabricator highly esteemed by Brilliant Graphics, but unfortunately they closed shop last year. After some deliberation, Brilliant Graphics decided to go with a firm in China they've previously utilized and know their work to be of consummate quality. After several production delays these past months, we just heard from Brilliant Graphics that the slipcases were completed...but were "lost in transit" on their way to the US! We've been assured this failed shipment was insured and a new batch of slipcases is already in production. However, they have yet to provide us with a ETA...
One more mishap and delay is very frustrating, to say the least, but we have to admit it is perfectly in step with the rest of this uncannily beleaguered, fay-fickle project!
Without further news from the printer, all we can currently offer is a guesstimate on when the Numbered & Lettered editions will ship to customers. Our guess, is that, at the very least, it will be another 60-90+ days before the new lot of slipcases arrive to Brilliant Graphics in Pennsylvania, the books are all inserted, boxed and trucked to Deep Vellum in Texas for final packing and distribution to those patiently (and valorously!) awaiting their signed editions.
As soon as we have any additional concrete news we'll post it here.
Thanks to the hard work of the fine folks at Deep Vellum, the Trade hardcover edition of the book has now been shipped to everyone who pre-ordered and confirmed their order address with us. Yet there remains over 200 unconfirmed addresses in our database. If you ordered a book between 2004 and 2022, we need confirmation of your current address to ship:
With a project whose order history spans 18 years, we need to hear from all of you who have pre-ordered, before we can ship your book. We can only ship to those pre-orders whose addresses have been confirmed!
Please confirm or update your complete mailing address and contact info by completing the form at--https://littlebig25.com/Form.shtml
Do NOT fill the form out more than once, multiple submissions will not get you your books any sooner and only add to our workload and possible confusion.
All trade hardcover orders should be mailed out within a week of confirming your address! Tracking will be emailed to each customer at the time of shipment.
Deep Vellum Publishing now handles sales and fulfillment. Copies of the trade edition and posters remain available through them: https://store.deepvellum.org/products/little-big
Thank you for your legendary patience and support for this long-awaited edition!
Ben Kamm & The Completion Team