Bruce Chatwin, Martin Amis, Julian Barnes: A Bibliography of Their First Editions (Colophon Press Bibliography Series, No. 2, 1992)


Notes on this edition: David Rees – Bruce Chatwin, Martin Amis, Julian Barnes: A Bibliography of Their First Editions. London: Colophon Press, 1992. Pp. 24. ISBN (numbered edition): 1874122024; (lettered edition): 1874122032.

An early bibliography of Julian Barnes’s works from Metroland to Talking It Over, including his novels written under the pseudonym Dan Kavanagh.

Number 2 in the Colophon Press Bibliography Series, published on 14 February 1992. Published in an edition of 250 numbered copies, with an additional 26 signed copies lettered A-Z.

Staring at the Sun (Marlies Louwes, 1997)


Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Staring at the Sun. Groningen: Marlies Louwes, 1997. Pp. [12]. 11.7 x 18.5 cm.

Limited, letterpress edition of the opening section of Julian Barnes’s novel Staring at the Sun. This pamphlet features artwork by Marlies Louwes. The colophon states: ‘Typeset in Bembo and Printed in 40 copies on Zerkall-Bütten.’ Text reprinted with the author’s permission. Yellow paper cover. 

Cross Channel | 50th Birthday Edition (Jonathan Cape, 1996)


Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Cross Channel: Stories. London: Jonathan Cape, 1996. Pp. 211 + [7].

Special limited edition of fifty (50) copies in celebration of Julian Barnes’s fiftieth birthday.

The text block is identical to the first Jonathan Cape edition, except that the title page features Julian Barnes’s signature and limitation numbering in his hand. Also contains a four page signature tipped in to the front, the first sheet glued to a blue marbled endpaper (pictured). Another four page signature tipped in back, the last sheet glued to a blue marbled endpaper.

Text block: 20.0 x 13.6 cm. Binding: 21.3 x 14.4 cm. First edition sheets with gilt edges, bound in dark blue leather with marbled endpapers. Gold embossed on the front: ‘A SPECIAL EDITION / TO CELEBRATE JULIAN BARNES’S / FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY’. 

Also included with this example is a single sheet invitation from the Directors of Jonathan Cape to a special birthday dinner celebrating the author’s birthday.

The photos below are from the author’s personal copy of this limited edition. Included inside the book is a postcard related to Barnes’s short story “Evermore”.

Cross Channel | Uncorrected Proof (Jonathan Cape, 1996)


Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. Cross Channel: Stories. London: Jonathan Cape, 1996. Pp. 211 + [1]. 20.3 x 13.3 cm. ISBN: 0224043013.

Uncorrected Proof in cream card wraps with black and red lettering. Designed to resemble a traditional French Gallimard paperback edition. ‘JONATHAN CAPE UNCORRECTED BOOK PROOF’ in black along bottom of upper panel. Limited to 500 copies with the numbering to the first sheet.

An unknown number of copies of this uncorrected proof were printed without the limitation line. The assumption is that this print run was extremely low and was supplied to in-house employees only, rather than reviewers. A copy of this proof, with a lengthy inscription from Julian Barnes, is in his bibliographer’s private collection.

The Noise of Time | Limited Edition (Easton Press, 2016)


Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. The Noise of Time. Norwalk, CT: Easton Press, 2016. Pp. 200 [201] + [3]. 21 x 14.7 cm.

Leather bound, “Signed Collector’s Edition” published by Easton Press by arrangement with Alfred A. Knopf. Text edges in gilt gold with inserted author biography and a certificate of authenticity. The specific limitation stated as 400 copies.

The Sense of an Ending | Limited Edition (Easton Press, 2015)


Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. The Sense of an Ending.  Norwalk, CT: Easton Press, 2015. Pp. 163 + [7]. 22.4 x 14.7 cm.

Leather bound, “Signed Collector’s Edition” published by Easton Press by arrangement with Alfred A. Knopf. Text edges in gilt gold with inserted author biography and a certificate of authenticity. The specific limitation is not stated in the book, but Barnes believes he signed 2,000 copies.

Paeans for Porter | Numbered Edition (Bridgewater Press, 1999)


Notes on this edition: Paeans for Porter: A Celebration for Peter Porter on His Seventieth Birthday by Twenty of His Friends. Edited by Anthony Thwaite. London: Bridgewater Press, 1999. Pp. 77 + [1]. 22.2 x 14.3 cm.

Julian Barnes contributes a piece titled “Postcard to Peter Porter” (Pp. 16-19) for this collection in honor of the poet Peter Porter. Other contributors include: Martin Amis, Alan Brownjohn, Geoffrey Burgon, Wendy Cope, Allen Curnow, Ian Duhig, D. J. Enright, U. A. Fanthorpe, Barry Humphries, Clive James, David Malouf, Les Murray, Sean O’Brien, C K. Stead, George Szirtes, Ann Thwaite, Anthony Thwaite, William Trevor, and Kit Wright.

The limitation page indicates Bridgewater Press issued three editions of this book, as follows:

“This book is published in an edition of 113 copies on Archival Parchment paper. Seventy-five copies, numbered 1-75, are bound in Ratchford Atlantic cloth. Twenty-six copies signed by the contributors, lettered A-Z, are bound in quarter cloth and marbled paper boards. Twelve copies signed by the contributors, numbered I-XII, are bound in quarter Library Calf.”

Note: The title page and the top of Julian Barnes’s entry, as pictured, have been altered to remove personal inscriptions from the publisher and Barnes to the book’s owner.

Talking It Over (London Limited Editions, 1991)


Notes on this edition: The London Limited Edition of Talking It Over is the second limited edition produced of Julian Barnes’s works. Limited to 200 copies, the text is identical to the first U.K. edition published by Jonathan Cape, except for some preliminary pages, including the limitation signature page.

Descriptive Bibliography: First Limited edition – London: London Limited Editions, 1991. £32.00. 200 copies.

Title Page: As in the first edition hardback published by Jonathan Cape.

Copyright Page: As in the first edition hardback published by Jonathan Cape.

Collation: 21.5 x 13.7 cm. As the first edition hardback published by Jonathan Cape, except with two new sheets tipped in to endpapers. Sheet One (front): ‘JULIAN BARNES | TALKING IT OVER | [asterisk] | LONDON | LIMITED | EDITIONS’. (verso): blank. Sheet Two (front): ‘One of 200 numbered copies of the | First Edition of | Talking It Over | signed by the author and | specially bound. | No. [hand numbered] | [author signature]’. (verso): blank.

General description: Binding 22.3 x 14.3 cm. Marble paper over boards, dark blue cloth quarter binding gold blocked on spine. Issued with glassine dustwrapper. White endpapers.

Arthur & George (London Review Bookshop, 2005; Limited Edition Leather)


Notes on this edition: In 2005, the London Review Bookshop began publishing limited editions in high quality bindings, and they chose Julian Barnes’s novel Arthur & George to inaugurate the series. Overseen by Andrew Stilwell, the London Review Bookshop’s limited editions typically feature two kinds of special bindings (cloth and leather) housed in finely constructed slip cases.

From the limitation page:

A special signed limited First Edition of Arthur & George, of which one hundred and twenty-five have been quarter-bound in cloth and numbered 1 to 125, and twenty-five quarter-bound in leather and numbered i to xxv.

The patterned boards are from a design by Enid Marx for The Curwen Press. The book has been bound and slipcased by The Fine Bindery, Wellingborough, Northants.

The edition pictured above is number xiv of xxv, bound in quarter leather. The book itself measures 24 x 15.7 cm. The slipcase measures 24.9 x 16.9 cm.

The Guardian briefly discussed the new limited edition series on 2 July 2005.

Arthur & George (London Review Bookshop, 2005; Limited Edition Cloth)


Notes on this edition: In 2005, the London Review Bookshop began publishing limited editions in high quality bindings, and they chose Julian Barnes’s novel Arthur & George to inaugurate the series. Overseen by Andrew Stilwell, the London Review Bookshop’s limited editions typically feature two kinds of special bindings (cloth and leather) housed in finely constructed slip cases.

From the limitation page:

A special signed limited First Edition of Arthur & George, of which one hundred and twenty-five have been quarter-bound in cloth and numbered 1 to 125, and twenty-five quarter-bound in leather and numbered i to xxv.

The patterned boards are from a design by Enid Marx for The Curwen Press. The book has been bound and slipcased by The Fine Bindery, Wellingborough, Northants.

The edition pictured above is number 43 of 125, bound in quarter cloth. The book itself measures 24 x 15.7 cm. The slipcase measures 24.9 x 16.9 cm.

The Guardian briefly discussed the new limited edition series on 2 July 2005.