Sophocles (1975). Antigone; illustrated by Harry Bennett

This (post-Macy LEC) edition of Antigone has an impressive number of features: bilingual, rag paper, printed by the now more than 300 year old firm of Joh. Enschedé en Zonen using Van Krimpen's Lutetia typeface for the English, modern translation by Elizabeth Wyckoff (still used in the most recent University of Chicago edition), vibrant illustrations by Harry Bennett in lurid color, along with several smaller-scale black and white decorative illustrations.

Before posting this overview, I searched the board to see what info already existed, and I see that this release was nominated as one of the ugliest Ugliest Pre-Shiff era LEC books! To my eye, the meander design on the binding has a kind of archaic vigor, but I would agree that the binding is not the strongest point of this book (though I would suggest not dismissing it entirely based on web photos; the effect is somewhat more satisfying in person, as can perhaps partly be seen in the last photo).

On with the show.

(You can click through to higher-resolution versions of the images if you are curious.)

Excellent - thanks for the write-up and photo tour. I acquired this one recently. Yet to be read but I think the illustrations are brilliant and I agree the binding is a bit nicer in the flesh.

I noticed there are a few books nominated in the ugliest LEC thread that I rather like! Eye of the beholder and all that...

I'd pick this over the Allen Press one. It might not have the same production qualities but the bilingual text makes it a winner - the Greek font is also beautiful and crystal clear to read. Brave choice of illustrations for such a work yet suitably intense - definitely to my liking!

>3 bacchus.: I agree (and this is in fact what I have done). It doesn't have quite the same level of craft (the Allen Press edition uses a hand press and somewhat nicer paper), but the book design is in my opinion far superior, and it uses three (!) different typefaces created by Van Krimpen, perhaps tied with (or just behind, depending on the moon phase) Giovanni Mardersteig as my favorite designer of typefaces. Lutetia, Dante, Griffo... a tough competition. Also I appreciate the Enschedé tradition.

It doesn't hurt that the limitation of 2000 copies makes the price to acquire a fine condition copy of the LEC edition much lower than the Allen Press edition.

>4 abysswalker: Both editions are relatively inexpensive. The LEC cost me $40 while the Allen Press was a bit more at $140 but both were well worth the cost. The only thing I don’t like about the LEC is the binding.

The LEC edition has never appealed to me. Yeah, it has the Greek next to the English, which is great if you can read Greek! However, since I'm willing to bet very few (if any on this thread) can do so, it's rather a moot point. In principle the Greek might have been nice decor, but unlike the Allen Press edition it ends up looking dull and uninspired. The illustrations are much more befitting Poe than Sophocles.

Of course to each their own, but in my mind there is no comparison with the Allen Press edition which is hands-down fabulous. Here is a link to some pictures I took of the AP Antigone
https://www.librarything.com/topic/339435#7754179

>6 astropi: I posted initially as comparison point to your topic on the Allen Press edition! (I assume most people on the fine press forum are also on the George Macy board and vice versa).

In my case, one of my collecting interests is van Krimpen typefaces and Enschedé presswork. I do appreciate Ancient Greek drama, but the main reason I acquired this edition was because it is an example of this school of design.

Of course everyone is entitled to their own aesthetic preferences, and I'm glad you enjoy the Allen Press edition, but I'm not sure quite what to make of the comment about the illustrations. Have you read the play? It is every bit as grim as Poe, if not more so given its less phantasmagoric grounding. Google's plot summary: Antigone is a tragedy written by Sophocles in the year 441 BCE and is a play about the aftermath of a civil war in which the two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polyneices, kill each other, where the new king and their successor, Creon, tries to punish Polyneices for his disloyalty by not burying him properly.

Greek tragedy is no joke in the macabre department.

>7 abysswalker: Greek works are often very macabre indeed! Nevertheless, the art, which I do think is really quite wonderful, is just far more apropos for tales from say Poe than a classical work such as Sophocles. I feel that for their Antigone, Allen got everything right including the art. I tried to appreciate the LEC Antigone, but it just wasn't for me... and you know, I do wonder if most people on the fine press forum are also here and vice versa?
:)

>8 astropi: I’d guess we have a huge overlap between the Macy and Fine Press groups.

>5 kdweber: I'm going to change one word here - "Both editions were relatively inexpensive."
Lowest price I could find for the Allen Press on the second-hand market is $350. Also note that there are only two copies, the other at $475.

>10 astropi:
To buttress your point a copy of the LEC was just listed on eBay at 45 USD, free shipping (no affiliation, of course). I bought mine for 40 bucks in glassine.

I am a big fan of this edition. Although I can't read the Greek (more's the pity), I appreciate it being there, and much prefer the translation to the one by Jebb in my 2-volume Complete Greek Drama. I am also very impressed with Bennett's illustrations, which capture the Dionysian qualities of the play--and of Greek drama in general. (I am probably partial to Bennett as an illustrator: I have his illustrated Divine Comedy as well.)