Earth Inferno

A1. EARTH INFERNO

A1a. EARTH | I·N·F·E·R·N·O AUSTIN O. SPARE | (On front cover which serves as title).
Normally, brown paper wraps; 17.75″ x 13.5″; 30 pp. 1905. 265 numbered and signed copies. Foreword by C.H.L. Eleven illustrations and many decorations by Spare.

The book was announced under the title EARTH for publication at the end of February, 1905 in an edition of 265 numbered and signed copies. Two hundred copies were supposed to be bound in thick paper covers at 2/6; fifty to be bound in “strong vellum boards” containing one colour plate at 5/- and fifteen were to be printed on hand-made paper, bound in “vellum covers” including six hand-coloured illustrations at £1-1s.

Most copies seen have printed paper wraps – presumably the 2/6 edition. Some copies have been seen in printed vellum boards (although with no colour plate). These copies, presumably, represent the 5/- edition. Sotheby”s sale of 21 November, 1995 included a copy in “original [unprinted] vellum with a fine contemporary watercolour drawing by Spare” which may well be the £1-1-0 edition.

Copies are also occasionally found in printed green boards.

In 1916 the book was advertised in Form at 10/6.

A1b. REPRINTED 1976 – ASKIN PUBLISHERS.
Brown imitation cloth casing; 12.75″ x 10″; 200 copies at £14.75. The extensive dust-wrapper notes effectively constitute a new introduction. Also issued on microfiche at £2.00.

A1c. REPRINTED 1982 & 1986 – SORCERER’S APPRENTICE, Leeds.
In Collected Works [see A8].

A1d. REPRINTED 1990 & 1993 – BEYOND THE RISING SUN PUBLICATIONS, Glasgow.
Red card wraps; 11.25″ x 8.25″; 200 copies. The 1993 impression has grey wraps with red lettering, etc. but is still dated 1990. Copies also found in pale green wraps with no date.

A1e. REPRINTED c1985 – AXIL PRESS, Seattle.
Parchment effect wraps; 8.5″ x 5.5″.

A1f. REPRINTED 1993 – FIRST IMPRESSIONS, Seattle.
In, From The Inferno to Zos [See A11].

A1g. REPRINTED c1990.
No publisher or date given; 8.25″ x 11.75″; photocopies in buff wraps with plastic spine clip.

A1h. REPRINTED c1990. THE DEATH PRESS.
Green card wraps; 8.5″ x 5.5″ with Synopsis of Inferno diagram on front cover.
Original page numbers and borders deleted, with several pages being reproduced out of sequence.

A1i. ITALIAN EDITION 1999.
Privately printed Livorno, Italy. With a note by the publishers, Roberto Migliussi and Stefano Landi. Cream card wraps 8″ x 11″ ; 200 numbered copies.
A few copies were issued in black papered boards 8″ x 12″.

A1j. GERMAN TRANSLATION 1990
Inferno Erde translated by Michael De Witt published as part of Gesammelte Werke [See A8c] pp 27-54.

A1k. POLISH TRANSLATION
Pieklo na Ziemi translated and with an introduction by Krzysztof Azarewicz has been announced by Lashtal Press.

DVD Earth Inferno
A short film inspired by Spare’s first book was released on DVD by Fulgur Limited. The film was produced in Argentina by Mor Navon and Julian Moguillansky.

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