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Hendrik · 09-15-2000, 09:04 PM

(thinks) ...this could go on for weeks or years...

Tyler Durden & samuelk: Both of you are even more cynical than I am!...

If the phrase 'Limited Edition' doesn't mean anything, then why use this moniker at all?...

Of course it's true that your basic Criterion DVD is 'Limited' even if it doesn't say so on the disc - let's face it: how many people do you know that would pay for a very early 1930s black-and-white German 'talkie' like "M"? How many of your DVD-collecting, cinemaphile friends ran out to buy Criterion's "Amarcord", "The Red Shoes", the faintly tedious Norwegian/Swedish "Insomnia" or - in the days of LaserDiscs - "Ugetsu Monogatari" or "Fires On The Plain"?(*) By their very nature such films have limited appeal and - since Criterion does not produce movies but leases them - any runs of such discs would perforce be limited - if not through their general appeal, or rather lack of it, then by whatever was stipulated in the leasing contract.

[(*)Ever notice that when people mention Japanese movies at all, they almost invariably refer to Kurosawa's films - as if there had never been an Ozu, an Ichikawa, a Kobayashi, a Mizoguchi, an Oshima, et al.]

Tyler: "...I'd be really interested in knowing what 1st edition books you have that are numbered editions?"

The answer is: none - but I know people who do collect first editions, and who spend quite a lot of money on them - there must be a reason for that!...

Don't know about books printed in the USA, but certainly in France it is quite common for a new novel, say, to have a very limited number of first-edition copies printed - on special paper and/or bound in some luxury material like Moroccan leather and/or with one or more illustrations not present in the 'standard' run - this is always mentioned in the frontispiece of such a book.

For that matter, the booklet that accompanies my DVD set of the "Fantômas" movies states on page 2: "Il a été tiré de cette édition vingt exemplaires hors commerce numérotés de I à XX, et 11980 exemplaires numérotés de 21 à 12000" ("This edition was released in twenty non-commercial copies numbered I through XX, and 11980 copies numbered 21 through 12000.")...

So, yes, I have no doubt that this - very handsomely designed, featuring color reproductions of contemporary posters, etc. - set is indeed limited --- Now if only I could get my hands on one of the copies numbered I through XX...

!

!

09-15-2000, 09:04 PM	#20 (permalink)
Hendrik Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Neuenhof, Switzerland	(thinks) ...this could go on for weeks or years... Tyler Durden & samuelk: Both of you are even more cynical than I am!... If the phrase 'Limited Edition' doesn't mean anything, then why use this moniker at all?... Of course it's true that your basic Criterion DVD is 'Limited' even if it doesn't say so on the disc - let's face it: how many people do you know that would pay for a very early 1930s black-and-white German 'talkie' like "M"? How many of your DVD-collecting, cinemaphile friends ran out to buy Criterion's "*Amarcord", "The Red Shoes", the faintly tedious Norwegian/Swedish "Insomnia" or - in the days of LaserDiscs - "Ugetsu Monogatari" or "Fires On The Plain"?() By their very nature such films have limited appeal and - since Criterion does not produce movies but leases them - any runs of such discs would perforce be limited - if not through their general appeal, or rather lack of it, then by whatever was stipulated in the leasing contract. [()Ever notice that when people mention Japanese movies at all, they almost invariably refer to Kurosawa's films - as if there had never been an Ozu, an Ichikawa, a Kobayashi, a Mizoguchi, an Oshima, et al.] Tyler: "...I'd be really interested in knowing what 1st edition books you have that are numbered editions?" The answer is: none - but I know people who do collect first editions, and who spend quite a lot of money on them - there must be a reason for that!... Don't know about books printed in the USA, but certainly in France it is quite* common for a new novel, say, to have a very limited number of first-edition copies printed - on special paper and/or bound in some luxury material like Moroccan leather and/or with one or more illustrations not present in the 'standard' run - this is always mentioned in the frontispiece of such a book. For that matter, the booklet that accompanies my DVD set of the "*Fantômas" movies states on page 2: "Il a été tiré de cette édition vingt exemplaires hors commerce numérotés de I à XX, et 11980 exemplaires numérotés de 21 à 12000*" ("This edition was released in twenty non-commercial copies numbered I through XX, and 11980 copies numbered 21 through 12000.")... So, yes, I have no doubt that this - very handsomely designed, featuring color reproductions of contemporary posters, etc. - set is indeed limited --- Now if only I could get my hands on one of the copies numbered I through XX... ! !