Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - Lettered Edition

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With its gripping tale of pirates, buried treasure, and daring heroics, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island has captivated generations, standing as one of the most beloved coming-of-age adventures ever written. For over a century, its timeless storytelling has enchanted readers and ignited imaginations across the world. 

Before being published as a novel in 1883, Treasure Island was serialized in the magazine Young Folks from 1881 to 1882 under the title Treasure Island or the Mutiny of the Hispaniola and credited to the pseudonym “Captain George North”. The tale follows young Jim Hawkins, whose discovery of a cryptic treasure map propels him on a dangerous voyage to a distant island, alongside unforgettable characters like Long John Silver—a one-legged, morally ambiguous seaman as cunning as he is charismatic.

Hailed upon its release for its spellbinding storytelling and richly drawn characters, Treasure Island became an instant classic, delighting readers of all ages including Stevenson’s contemporaries of the time. J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, once wrote, “Over Treasure Island I let my fire die in winter without knowing that I was freezing.” With its enduring archetypes of pirate lore: deserted tropical islands, treasure maps where “X” marks the spot, mutinies on the high seas, and seafarers with parrots perched on their shoulders, Stevenson’s imagination created the blueprint for high seas and high stakes adventure novels.

In 1911, N.C. Wyeth’s extraordinary illustrations for Treasure Island further cemented its place in literary and artistic history, bringing Stevenson’s vivid world to life with unparalleled drama and beauty.

A work of imaginative wonder, Treasure Island remains a cornerstone of literature. Its themes of courage, loyalty, and the perilous allure of greed are as resonant today as they were over a century ago. Perhaps more important than its influence on storytelling and culture is the simple fact that it continues to entrance readers, inviting us on a timeless quest—a journey into the unknown, where treasure is both literal and metaphorical, and where each turn of the page feels effortless, bringing with it new revelations.

The limited edition of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is presented in three states: Lettered, Numbered and Artist editions.

LETTERED EDITION

• 7¾” x 11¼” trim size.
• 250 Pages.
• Limited to 26 copies.
• Signed by Sir Andrew Motion.
• Afterword by Sir Andrew Motion.
• Note on the text by Timothy Harding.
• Includes “My First Book: Treasure Island” essay by the author. 
  
• The text is that of the 1883 Cassell edition, which reflects the author’s final intentions, and our edition includes extensive footnotes.
• Handbound in full goatskin, inspired by the Vellucent bindings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The technique was developed by Cedric Chivers around 1903.
• A vellum print of the Captain Bill Bones painting is inlaid beneath the topmost cover board, which is precisely die-cut to frame and reveal the illustration, creating a striking depth and layered visual effect. The artwork is silkscreened onto the finest calfskin vellum, crafted by world-renowned parchment makers, William Cowley. 
• Cover features gold foil blocking from a brass plate as well as a leather spine label.
• Head and tail bands are handmade with leather. 
  
• Features all seventeen illustrations by N.C. Wyeth which were commissioned by Charles Scribner’s Sons for their 1911 illustrated edition of the novel.
  
• Illustrations are created from photographs of the original paintings which have been professionally captured using museum-grade reproduction techniques. 
• Illustrations are printed as giclée fine art prints on Hahnemühle Bugra and tipped-on, marking the first time they have appeared in this format alongside the text.
  
• Giclée reproduction of the recreated treasure map—originally hand-drawn by Robert Louis Stevenson.
• Printed letterpress in folio format on mouldmade Hahnemühle Biblio 150 gsm paper by Elias Roustom at EM Letterpress in Middleborough, Massachusetts.
• Interior design & typography by award-winning designer Mark Argetsinger.
• Text pages set in DTL Fleischman.
  
• Endsheets are Suminagashi marbled paper, created by artist, educator and designer Natalie Stopka, and printed on Saint-Armand handmade paper.  
• Housed in a quarter leather clamshell enclosure with a rounded spine and European cloth with velour lined trays.
  
• Bookmark with all pre-orders.
  

Published editions may differ slightly from mockups and prototype designs.