Joe Hill’s Faun Signed Limited Edition
In Faun, Joe Hill displays his mastery of the short form in a dark fantasy novella about a group of wealthy hunters whose members seek the thrill of hunting exotic animals.
During an expedition, one of the hunters mentions the existence of an even more exclusive hunting area, accessed through a little door somewhere in Maine. To see what lies on the other side, just speak with the ominous-sounding Mr. Charn. Oh, and bring your checkbook.
The story raises questions about the ethics of hunting, the repercussions of exploiting the natural world, and the consequences of human greed, masterfully interwoven in a tale that highlights Hill’s boundless imagination and leaves us wanting for more.
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Edition Information ❦ Standard ❦ Deluxe ❦ Lettered ❦ Roman Numeral ❦ Artwork ❦ Printing
Edition Information
Our edition of Faun is limited to 736 copies and is published in four states: Standard, Deluxe, and Lettered, which are covered on this page, and the Roman Numeral, which has its own page.
All copies are signed by author Joe Hill and artist Francois Vaillancourt, who contributed 12 full colour pieces of art and 3 pen and ink drawings which are printed letterpress.
The books are letterpress-printed by Nomad Letterpress and hand bound by Ludlow Bookbinders. The text is set in Perpetua, which was cast on Nomad’s Monotype machine. The page count is 50 pages + front and back matter + 12 tipped in pages of artwork.
To mark the transition from the world as we know it to the ever-twilight lands of Palinode, a single sheet of copper-coloured Lokta paper is inserted at the start of the second part of each book. This Nepalese handmade paper is screenprinted by hand in copper ink and air-dried, producing sheets with variations in the patterns and textures.
Standard State - $225
Limited to 500 copies and meant to evoke the everlasting twilight of the lands of Palinode, the Standard state of Faun is quarter bound in Elephant Hide and burgundy Napura Kepera papers.
Elephant Hide possesses a durable, parchment-like finish that takes the gold foil-stamped title on the spine exceptionally well.
The Khepera paper has a speckled appearance which changes texture and appearance when blind stamped on the front board with the faun skull and horn motif that runs throughout the edition.
This state has a trim size of 170mm by 240mm (6.7in by 9.5in) and is letterpress-printed on Swedish Munken Pure Rough 120gsm (80lb) paper with GF Smith Colourplan endpapers in slate with coltskin embossing.
Each copy comes with a custom slipcase wrapped in a beautifully textured FancyLinen fabric, with the insides lined in suedel.
The Standard state has already been printed and is being bound, with shipping expected to start in November 2023.
Deluxe State - $495
Limited to 200 copies, the Deluxe state is inspired by millimeter bindings. The case is covered in custom marbled paper from Paperwilds, only used in this state of Faun, reminiscent of the stony hill upon which the doorway to Palinode opens. Leather is exposed in the high-wear areas along the spine and foredges, with extra space allowed for the foil stamping of the title in gold.
With a similar trim size as the Standard, the Deluxe state is printed on smooth, luxurious Liber Charta paper, a new mouldmade paper developed by John Purcell Paper. It exemplifies the best qualities of the now-discontinued Zerkall paper and has quickly become the top choice for printers and wood engravers alike.
The endpapers are Japanese Takeo Tant Select, embossed with a delicate linen texture on both sides, and the top edge is gilded.
The book is housed in a custom slipcase wrapped in textured FancyLinen fabric with the top and bottom caps in leather. The inside is lined in suedel.
The Deluxe state has already been printed and is being bound, with shipping expected to start in November 2023.
Lettered State - $2,395
Limited to 26 copies, the Lettered State of Faun is over-sized at 240mm by 340mm (9.5in by 13.4in) and bound in the finest Harmatan goatskin leather.
Over 25 pieces of genuine mica stone veneer have been laser cut to precision and carefully assembled as onlays to the front and back boards. Together, they form a perfectly “fossilized” faun skull, complete with majestic horns.
The raised, sharp edges of the stone against the sumptuous leather are a reminder that Palinode’s creatures can be as breathtakingly beautiful as they are perilous.
The book is printed letterpress on specially commissioned paper handmade by Gangolf Ulbricht in Germany, one of the most talented and highly-respected paper makers in the world.
Each copy will include a remarque by Francois.
Svetlana Molodchenko, who is contributing original artwork to each copy of the Roman Numeral state, has drawn two decorative drop caps, which will be printed in a blood-red colour, as will the title on the title page.
The endpapers are custom marbled paper from Paperwilds, different from both the Deluxe and the Roman Numeral, and the top edge is gilded.
The book is protected by a chemise wrapped in Halblinen cotton bookcloth with extensive stamping in brown foil, creating a perfect outline of the faun fossil found on the boards of the book.
The book and chemise are housed in a custom-made solander box wrapped in Halblinen with brown Colorado cloth along the top, bottom and foredge. The spine features a Harmatan leather label foil-stamped in gold with the title and author’s name. The inside is lined with suedel and a strip of the marbled paper used as endpapers for the book.
Shipping for the Lettered state is expected to commence in February 2024.
Roman Numeral State - $7,995
See the Roman Numeral of Faun page.
Illustrated by Francois Vaillancourt
Our edition is lavishly illustrated by our fellow Canadian, the talented Francois Vaillancourt, who is no stranger to masterfully bringing to life characters and scenes of Joe Hill’s worlds. Faun contains 12 full colour pieces and 3 pen and ink drawings printed letterpress. Of the 12 full colour pieces, 10 are displayed below - the double page spread and one that reveals a significant spoiler are not being shown.
Printed by Nomad Letterpress and Set in Perpetua
Faun will be set in Eric Gill’s exquisite Perpetua typeface, designed in the late 1920s for use in the Monotype typesetting system. A classic typeface often used in fine press publishing, it has a clean, crisp and legible design, making it versatile and reader-friendly. Designed almost a century ago, Perpetua’s timeline design adds an air of sophistication to any printed matter.
The edition will be printed letterpress by Pat Randle and his team at Nomad Letterpress, who will be casting the metal type needed for printing using their Monotype system. While there is an excellent digitization available, printing with type cast from Monotype matricies allow us to use Perpetua as it was originally designed and cut.
The Monotype “hot metal” process involves heating a metal alloy until it is liquid and injecting it into matrices, each of which creates a single character. This produces individual pieces of metal which are lined up to form lines of type. After printing, all the type will be melted and reused for a future project. Faun is the first planned book from the press that will be printed this way.
About Joe Hill
Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman, Heart-Shaped Box, and Strange Weather. Much of his work has been adapted for film and television. His second novel, Horns, was made into a cult horror-comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe; his third novel, NOS4A2, was adapted for television by AMC, and featured Zachary Quinto; his short story The Black Phone was adapted for the big screen by Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, and starred Ethan Hawke. In 2007, he co-created the long-running comic book Locke & Key, with artistic maestro Gabriel Rodriguez; in 2011 Hill won the Eisner Award (Best Writer) for his work on the series. The six books in the Locke & Key saga formed the basis for a hit TV series on Netflix. A seventh volume, published in 2022, married the world of Locke & Key to the epic Sandman universe.
Hill’s other works include the short fiction collection Full Throttle and several graphic novels: Basketful of Heads, Plunge, Sea Dogs, Dying is Easy, and Wraith (which continues the story of NOS4A2’s Charlie Manx).