Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne
Translated by Frederick Paul Walter
Illustrated by Tom Kidd
“The sea is the be all and end all! It covers seven-tenths of the planet earth. Its breath is clean and healthy. It’s an immense wilderness where a man is never lonely, because he feels life astir on every side. The sea is simply the vehicle for a prodigious, unearthly mode of existence; it’s simply movement and love; it’s living infinity...”
I was first introduced to this classic as a child through the Moby Books Illustrated Classics edition—just as I was with Treasure Island. Now, after more than three years in the making, I take immense pleasure in collaborating once again with an exceptionally talented team to bring Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas to life in this new, unabridged edition.
With Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, Jules Verne opened a gateway to the unknown, charting an extraordinary course through the uncharted depths of imagination and science. A breathtaking blend of adventure, scientific ingenuity, and visionary storytelling, Verne’s classic redefined the adventure genre and ignited imaginations with its daring exploration of underwater frontiers.
First published in 1870 and presented here in an unabridged translation by Frederick Paul Walter, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas is an extraordinary voyage into the uncharted realms beneath our oceans—a spellbinding fusion of high-seas adventure and groundbreaking scientific insight that anticipated the wonders of modern submarine exploration.
Following the enigmatic Captain Nemo aboard the revolutionary Nautilus, the novel sweeps readers into a mesmerizing world where hidden underwater kingdoms, vibrant marine life, and nature’s raw power converge. As Nemo guides his crew through mysterious, sunken landscapes, the boundaries between myth and science gracefully blur, challenging our perceptions of both the natural world and human ambition.
Merging pulse-pounding escapades with profound reflections on freedom, environmental stewardship, and the insatiable drive to discover, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas is more than just a tale of exploration—it is a timeless meditation on the enduring spirit of discovery that continues to inspire adventurers and dreamers around the globe.
A Note on the Translation
For many years, the only available English version of the novel was Lewis Page Mercier’s flawed translation, riddled with errors, omissions, and mistranslations that dulled Verne’s scientific precision and narrative richness.
Our edition features Frederick Paul Walter’s unabridged, public domain translation, which restores the accuracy, depth, and spirit of Verne’s original text, including the correction in the title of plural “Seas”. The journey of the Nautilus was through multiple bodies of water covering the distance indicated, not straight down as the incorrect title would otherwise imply.
Edition Information
Our edition of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne is limited to 676 copies and is published in three states: Collector’s Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Lettered Edition.
Tom Kidd has brought Jules Verne’s world to life in spectacular form with his distinctive style, contributing nine full-colour oil paintings and thirty-three detailed pen-and-ink illustrations, many of them full-page. The pen and ink illustrations are printed letterpress and the colour artwork reproduced via offset printing and tipped in as full bleed sheets.
The letterpress printing is by Pat Randle and Ellen Bills of Nomad Letterpress, who previously printed our editions of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and Joe Hill’s Faun, and all copies are hand bound by Ludlow Bookbinders.
The edition has a trim size of 170mm by 240mm (6.7in by 9.5in) and approximately 450 pages. All copies are sewn with rounded backs, and include a ribbon marker and head and tail bands.
Pre-orders destined for the Europe will be fulfilled by Ludlow Bookbinders and copies for the rest of the world will be fulfilled by us here in Canada, unless the U.S. imposes tariffs. If that were to happen, copies for U.S. collectors will be fulfilled domestically, avoiding tariffs. Please see our Update on Tariffs for more information.
As with every Conversation Tree Press book, you can expect:
- A newly typeset book, thoughtfully designed in harmony with the binding, artwork, and subject matter.
- All colour artwork reproduced in full colour across all three editions.
- All artwork included in every state.
- A limited edition that will never be reprinted.
- A custom, handmade slipcase or other enclosure made of thick, sturdy boards with the insides lined in Suedel for maximum protection, at no additional cost.
Collector’s Edition
Availability:
1. Wednesday, February 26th at 10am ET: Collectors who have Deluxe/Lettered rights from their Solaris pre-order will be able to pre-order a Collector’s Edition along with their matching Deluxe/Lettered copy at this time.
2. Friday February 28th at 12pm ET: All remaining copies of the Collector’s Edition become available to the public.
The Collector’s Edition is limited to 400 unnumbered copies hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders.
It is bound in full cloth printed with an illustration from Tom Kidd, with the title, author and artist foil stamped in ivory on the spine. The endpapers are GF Smith Colorplan.
The pen and ink illustrations are printed letterpress along with the text on Munken Pure Rough Cream 120 gsm (80lb) paper, and the full colour paintings are reproduced via offset printing and tipped in as full bleed sheets.
Each copy is enclosed in a custom slipcase handmade by Ludlow Bookbinders, wrapped in blue book cloth, with the inside lined in soft Suedel for protection.
All copies are signed by Tom Kidd.
US$285. Shipping is expected in Q4 2025.
Deluxe Edition
Availability:
1. Wednesday, February 26th at 10am ET: Email sent to collectors who have Deluxe rights from Solaris with a private link to pre-order a matching copy of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas from #1-150.
2. Friday February 28th at 12pm ET: Unclaimed copies between #1-150, and copies #151-250 available to the public. Copies between #1-150 will be assigned first based on order time and will come with rights to Tigana (see note at the end of this section).
The Deluxe Edition, limited to 250 hand-numbered copies and hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders, features our most intricate leather binding yet.
For the first time, collectors can choose between two leather colours—Midnight Blue or Teal. The rich Midnight Blue evokes the ocean’s mysterious depths, while the vibrant Teal reflects the shimmering waters closer to the surface. Whether you wish to plunge into the unknown or drift upon the waves, the choice is yours. The final count of each colour is determined by collector preference with a total of 250 copies
It is fully bound in semi-aniline goatskin that has been extensively blind stamped on the front and back boards with incredibly-detailed artwork by Allie Oldfield adapted from Tom Kidd’s oil paintings and pen and ink drawings.
The front board features an inset illustration, framed by a porthole stamped in silver and gold. The spine has five raised bands, with the author’s and artist’s names, along with a black leather label bearing the title, all stamped in gold. In total, the binding has been blocked seven times with perfect precision.
The pen and ink illustrations are printed letterpress alongside the text on upgraded Naturalis Vanilla Smooth 135gsm (90lb) paper. This smoother stock was chosen for the same reason it was used to great effect in the Deluxe Edition of Treasure Island—the superior reproduction of fine details when letterpress-printing pen and ink illustrations.
The full colour paintings are reproduced via offset printing and tipped in as full bleed sheets, including the cover artwork used for the Collector’s Edition.
Each copy is housed in a custom slipcase, handmade by Ludlow Bookbinders, featuring top and bottom caps in matching Midnight Blue or Teal leather and sides covered in Corvon Metal-X, evoking the look of finely hammered metal. The interior is lined in soft Suedel for protection.
The endsheets for the blue leather version are Takeo Twist and Takeo Tant Select for the teal. The top edge is gilded.
Our next book along our rights track is Weird Volume 2, with rights tied to our previously published Weird Volume 1. The book immediately after that will be Guy Gavriel Kay’s Tigana. Deluxe copies #1-150 of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas therefore include rights to pre-order matching copies of Tigana when it is published after Weird Volume 2.
All copies are signed by Tom Kidd.
US$765. Shipping is expected in Q4 2025.
Lettered Edition
The Lettered Edition is limited to 26 copies inscribed A to Z. It is hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders in a Bradel binding with salmon skin leather, handmade paper boards, and hand-marbled endpapers.
Because of the handmade nature of the materials used—each piece of fish leather, every sheet of paper, and every swirl of marbling bearing subtle variations in pattern—no two copies will be exactly alike.
Salmon Skin Leather
Janey Chang of Vancouver, Canada, provided the fish skins for this project. With her expertise in fish skin tanning, she has spent years reviving this nearly lost craft, developing her own techniques and sharing her knowledge as an artist and educator. For Janey, tanning is more than just a practical skill—it is a process of transformation, a means of connection, and a commitment to sustainability. Through her work, she bridges cultures and histories, preserving traditional knowledge while fostering a deeper relationship with the land. You can learn more about Janey and her work in this YouTube video.
Each piece was made specifically for this edition using plant tannins and natural dyes only, a process that aligns with Janey’s dedication to environmentally responsible craftsmanship. Because natural dyes interact uniquely with each salmon skin, every piece carries organic variations in colour, texture, and tone, ensuring that no two are exactly alike. While the colours will remain rich and stable for a long time, they may subtly evolve over the years, much like other natural materials, shifting in response to their environment.
Custom Handmade Cave Paper
The boards of the Lettered Edition are covered in a custom-designed handmade paper, created in collaboration with Zoë Goehring of Cave Paper. Each sheet is formed and coloured by hand using natural dyes such as black walnut, indigo, persimmon, and pomegranate rind. These dyes are carefully applied—both individually and in combination—layer by layer to create depth and richness. The resulting colours evoke the feeling of being deep underwater, where shifting light and shadow reveal hidden depths and mysterious forms.
Custom Marbled Endpapers
The custom hand-marbled endpapers by Freya Scott at Paperwilds are inspired by the Maelstrom in the novel’s dramatic conclusion. Swirling patterns in blue, green, and gold evoke the whirlpool’s turbulence, visually tying the book’s design to one of its most intense moments. The fluid motion in the marbling mirrors the restless energy of the sea, reinforcing Verne’s exploration of nature’s immense and unpredictable power.
Unique, Original Artwork in Every Copy
Each copy of the Lettered Edition includes a unique, original piece of artwork by Tom Kidd, forming part of a mesmerizing menagerie of aquatic anomalies. Six of them are shown above.
The pen and ink illustrations are printed letterpress alongside the text on Naturalis Vanilla Smooth 135gsm (90lb) paper. This smoother stock was chosen for the same reason it was used to great effect in the Deluxe Edition of Treasure Island—the superior reproduction of fine details when letterpress-printing pen and ink illustrations.
The full colour paintings are reproduced via offset printing and tipped in as full bleed sheets, including the cover artwork used for the Collector’s Edition.
The book is housed in a solander wrapped in two-tone Coloretta cloth with the trays covered in Windsor cloth. The spine features a Cave Paper label foil-stamped in gold and the inside is lined with Suedel and a strip of the marbled paper used as endpapers for the book.
Each copy is signed by Tom Kidd, the illustrator; Pat Randle and Ellen Bills, the printers; and Phil Parkins, Production Director at Ludlow Bookbinders.
Our next book along our rights track is Weird Volume 2, with rights tied to our previously published Weird Volume 1. The book immediately after that will be Guy Gavriel Kay’s Tigana. All Lettered copies of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas therefore include rights to pre-order matching copies of Tigana when it is published after Weird Volume 2.
US$2,125. Shipping is expected in Q4 2025.
Artwork by Tom Kidd
“When you’re young, you fantasize about working with legends. Living that wish, I’ve since illustrated books by H.G. Wells, Alexandre Dumas, Jack Vance, Peter S. Beagle, and George R. R. Martin. Still, the distant dream on the periphery of my hopes was collaborating with Jules Verne.”
It was a pleasure to see Tom Kidd bring to life the world of an author whose work he has long admired.
There are 9 oil paintings in Tom’s distinct style, reproduced via offset printing and tipped in as full bleed sheets.
There are 33 pen and ink illustrations printed letterpress throughout the text.
Typography
The typesetting of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas is a tribute to classic French typographic heritage. Both typefaces have their roots in the work of renowned French type designers—Firmin Didot and Robert Granjon.
Title and Chapter Headings
The title text and chapter headings are set in Trianon, a typeface designed by Loïc Sander for Production Type. Reinterpreting Didot beyond its modern association with fashion and luxury, Trianon draws inspiration from Firmin Didot—who pioneered the high-contrast, neoclassical style of type in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It emphasizes verticality, rhythmic spacing, and readability, proving that a Didone can be both elegant and versatile.
Body Text
Lyon, a contemporary book and publication typeface, is inspired by 16th-century punchcutter Robert Granjon while embracing modern design techniques. Its digital precision and subtle, Times-like neutrality in text sizes create a balance between historical influence and contemporary functionality.
Letterpress Printing by Nomad Letterpress
Pat Randle and Ellen Bills at Nomad Letterpress in Gloucestershire, England will be printing Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. They have a long history of printing books and periodicals for a number of fine press publishers along with their own publications. They have also printed a number of our own editions, including J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, Joe Hill’s Faun, and our upcoming edition of Snow Crash co-published with Subterranean Press.
Hand Binding by Ludlow Bookbinders
Ludlow Bookbinders, located in Shropshire, England have been keeping the craft of English bookbinding alive for generations. They’ve hand bound a number of Conversation Tree Press editions, and we’re looking forward to collaborating with them on Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas once more.
Jules Verne
Jules Verne (1828–1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright, widely regarded as a pioneer of science fiction. His collaboration with publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the Voyages extraordinaires, a series of bestselling adventure novels that blended meticulous scientific research with bold imagination. Among his most famous works are Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, and Around the World in Eighty Days. Beyond his novels, Verne wrote plays, short stories, poetry, and literary studies, and his work has been adapted across film, television, theater, and more.