Desiderius Erasmus

De correspondentie van Desiderius Erasmus (21 volumes)

Book coverDe correspondentie van Desiderius Erasmus (21 volumes)
Book coverDe correspondentie van Desiderius Erasmus (21 volumes)
Book coverDe correspondentie van Desiderius Erasmus (21 volumes)
Book coverDe correspondentie van Desiderius Erasmus (21 volumes)

That a publisher has taken on the monster job of translating, editing and then publishing 3,141 of Erasmus’ letters is evidence of a grand passion. In fact, a foundation was set up with this specific aim under the impressive name ‘Foundation for the promotion of the publishing of the complete correspondence of Desiderius Erasmus’. Delightful.

The project has resulted in an exceptional, beautifully published series. Following an equally impressive period of 19 years between idea and completion, we simply cannot ignore this generous gesture towards the reader. Our assessment is based on a consideration of the series as a whole; we did not zoom in on an individual title, even though it struck us that – in contrast to the other parts – the index was finally not done in ton sur ton. The series is otherwise without exception executed with admirable consistency and the choices made two decades ago in terms of form and typography stand up remarkably well. This while, however you look at it, in the years since then things have moved on in relation to (the experience of) books with a classic typography. The fact that the text is not printed in black makes for a pleasantly gentle reading experience.

 

Edition: 2020
Date of publication: 2004-2020
Language: Dutch
Translator: Dr. M. d'Hane-Scheltema, Dr. I.P. Bejzcy, Dr. T.L. ter Meer, Drs. M.J. Steens, J. Piolon, T. Osinga, Dr. J.C. Bedaux, Dr. F.P.T. Slits, Drs. R. Tuizenga, Dr. R. Buning
Final editor: Jet Quadekker
Publisher: Uitgeverij Ad. Donker, Stichting ter bevordering van de uitgave van de volledige correspondentie van Desiderius Erasmus, Rotterdam
Available through: Bookshop, webshop
Graphic designer: Bart Oppenheimer (Amsterdam)
Printer: Wilco BV | Boeken & Tijdschriften, Amersfoort
Binder: Van Wijk, Utrecht
Size book block (w x h x d in mm): 160 x 240 x 42 (volume 18)
Number of pages: 7534 (in total)
Print run: 350
Price: € 42.50
ISBN: 9789061005223 (vol 18)
Font and foundry: Renard No2 (The Enschedé font Foundry)
Binding style: Sewn hardback with rounded spine; cold-glued; linen over 2.25 mm greyboard; dust jacket printed on one side
Paper for interior (grammage): 90gsm Munken Premium Cream 19.5 (vol 18), Arctic Paper
Endpapers (grammage): 140gsm Woodstock Azzurro (vol 18), Fedrigioni
Material cover (grammage): Brillanta, L. Van Heek Textiles
Material slip case (grammage): 140gsm PlanoPlus®, Papyrus
Special features: Blind debossing on front and spine; bookmarker and headbands; interior printed in Pantone 4975; dust jacket printed in Pantone 361 (mixed with 802), 381 and 3385. Printing: conventional offset. Technical data of part 18; the other 20 volumes are the same in terms of materialisation, format, typesetting and binding, but each volume is distinct in the use of colour concerning dust jacket, band, markers, headbands and endpapers.