The Limited Editions Club published a masterful interpretation of one of the most profound books of the Bible, Ecclesiastes in 1968. This edition stands as a testament to the Club’s commitment to producing fine press books that are both visually stunning and intellectually substantive. It presents the biblical text, drawn from the Revised King James Version, in a unique bilingual format, with English and the original Hebrew printed on facing pages. The Hebrew text is rendered in a striking crimson ink, adding a layer of visual richness to the reading experience.
The book features a thoughtful introduction by the renowned poet Kenneth Rexroth, a central figure in the San Francisco Renaissance, whose essay provides literary and philosophical context for the ancient wisdom of Koheleth, the “Preacher”. However, the soul of this edition lies in the extraordinary illustrations by the American artist Edgar Miller . A painter and stained-glass artist, Miller contributed a series of poignant color paintings, including double-page spreads, that capture the text’s meditations on vanity, time, and joy with a unique and compelling beauty.
Printed at the Thistle Press in New York, the volume is a fine example of the bookmaker’s art. It was designed using the elegant Monotype Bembo typeface and printed on high-quality Curtis rag paper. The binding is a full natural lambskin, featuring an all-over decorative scroll pattern on the boards and elegant gilt lettering on the spine. Housed in a red paper slipcase and limited to just 1500 copies, each is signed by the illustrator Edgar Miller on the colophon page, making this edition of Ecclesiastes a cherished collectible for bibliophiles and a beautiful vessel for timeless scripture.
