Suntup Editions to Publish Fine Press Edition of Fahrenheit 451
Irvine, CA – This year marks the Centennial of Ray Bradbury’s birth, and to celebrate the life and work of this beloved and visionary author, Suntup Editions is delighted to announce a fine press limited edition of Fahrenheit 451. Highly regarded as Ray Bradbury’s masterpiece, Fahrenheit 451 depicts a dystopian society in which all books are outlawed and burned. The novel follows the personal evolution and journey of Guy Montag, from a fireman for whom it is a pleasure to burn books, to a man disillusioned with the censoring of knowledge and dedicated to the preservation of literature.
In a 1956 interview, Bradbury said, “I wrote this book at a time when I was worried about the way things were going in this country four years ago. Too many people were afraid of their shadows; there was a threat of book burning. Many of the books were being taken off the shelves at that time.” Bradbury has also described the book as a commentary on resistance to conformity, and how mass media can create a lack of interest in reading literature.
Though considered one of the greatest science-fiction novels of all time, much of Fahrenheit 451 has become science-fact. The novel predicted earbud headphones, flatscreen televisions, and 24-hour banking machines.
In 1954, Fahrenheit 451 won the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature and the Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal. It later won the Prometheus “Hall of Fame” Award in 1984, and a “Retro” Hugo Award in 2004, one of only seven Best Novel “Retro” Hugo Awards ever given.
ABOUT THE EDITIONS
The fine press limited edition of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is presented in three states: Lettered, Numbered, and Artist Gift editions. The editions measure 6” x 9” and feature six full color illustrations by Julia Griffin, as well as an introduction by New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, which originally appeared in the 50th Anniversary edition. The Artist Gift edition features an illustrated dust jacket by Michael Whelan.
Also included is a 77-page bonus section on the history, context and criticism of the novel edited by Jonathan R. Eller; as well as Bradbury’s short story The Pedestrian and his novella The Fireman, which later evolved into Fahrenheit 451. The Lettered and Numbered editions are signed by Neil Gaiman, Julia Griffin and Jonathan R. Eller. The Artist Gift edition is signed by Julia Griffin and Michael Whelan.
Lettered Edition
The Lettered edition is limited to 26 copies for sale and is a full goatskin binding. The edition provides a retrospective look at the publishing history of the novel. Each of the 26 copies feature a different original book cover, burned and encased behind an acrylic panel which is affixed to the front cover with stainless steel screws.
The spine is hot stamped and endsheets are hand marbled. The edition is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine, and is housed in a quarter leather clamshell enclosure with Italian cloth boards.
Numbered Edition
The Numbered edition is limited to 250 copies for sale and is quarter bound in Italian cloth with decorative French marbled paper covers. The spine is hot foil stamped, and the edition is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine. The top edge is gilded in copper and the edition is housed in a dual cloth covered slipcase with hot foil stamping on the spine.
Artist Gift Edition
The Artist Gift edition is limited to 1000 copies with a dust jacket illustrated by multiple award-winning artist Michael Whelan. It is a full cloth smyth-sewn binding with two-hits foil stamping, and is the only edition of the three with the dust jacket. The edition is printed offset, and is housed in a printed paper-covered slipcase. The edition is signed by Julia Griffin and Michael Whelan.
