Fablelistik Editions

Numbered Edition of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Washington Irving

$895.00
  • Estimated Ship: Spring 2025
  • Print run of 275 copies, numbered
  • Limit 1 copy per household
  • Other Editions: Lettered, Collector’s

The Numbered Edition of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is limited to 275 copies. This 9-¼” x 13” masterpiece spans approximately 144 pages and features 12 original, signed artworks by Greg Manchess, giclee printed and carefully tipped in. Pat Randle (Nomad Letterpress) uses hot-metal letterpress printing to bring the text to life on acid-free, mould-made Liber Charter paper. This edition is handbound by Roger Grech (R. Grech Bindery), and boasts a Dubletta cloth case with genuine quarter leather binding, leather head and tail bands, and a letterpress printed onlay by Gavin Dovey (Paper Dragon Books). Signed by all collaborators, this edition is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship.

Rights: Purchase with Matching Purchase Rights

Production Specs

  • Book dimensions: 9 1/4 x 13 
  • Approximately 144 interior pages
  • Includes 12 original artworks by Greg Manchess tipped in, giclee printed
  • A signed original piece of artwork by Greg Manchess, giclee printed
  • Hot metal letterpress printed by Pat Randle at Nomad Letterpress on an acid free mould made paper, Liber Charter
  • Handbound by Roger Grech at R. Grech Bindery 
  • Letterpress printed endpapers by Pat Randle at Nomad Letterpress
  • Dubletta cloth case with genuine quarter leather binding
  • Letterpress printed onlay by Gavin Dovey at Paper Dragon Books
  • Genuine leather head and tail bands in craquele method
  • Signed by all collaborators and contributors: Andrew Burstein, Catalina Hannan, Gavin Dovey, Greg Manchess, Pat Randle, and Roger Grech

Book Summary

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving is an American short story published in 1819 in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayonalong with a companion short story, Rip Van Winkle. The popular Gothic tale is a mainstay in the literary canon as it holds the title of being America's first short story. Its elements of Romanticism shine through in Irving's reference to the town of Sleepy Hollow. Following the tenets of Romanticism, the town is described with a spirituality of nature. Based on folklore, the story revolves around schoolteacher Ichabod Crane who competes against Brom Bones, a local prankster farmer, for the hand of Katrina Van Tassel. One night, after a party, Crane heads home only to be followed by what he thinks is the legend of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman. The horseman throws an object at Crane, which knocks him off his horse. The next day, the townspeople look for Crane but cannot find him; all they find is a smashed pumpkin where Crane's hat lies.

The short story has had numerous film adaptations and become well known in pop culture. From a 1912 silent film to two productions by Disney in 1949, the story's popularity gained momentum. Tim Burton made a film adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in 1999, which was very popular due to its much darker tones. The Hallmark Channel also released a version in 1999, and FOX took the story into a weekly series in 2013.

Author & Collaborators

Washington Irving
Author

Washington Irving

The man who is often named as America’s first author to earn his living from writing was born at the end of the American Revolution and would die a few years before the Civil War (1783-1859). In pursuit of a profession, Irving turned to writing, publishing The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.in seven parts (1819-1820.) Well received in his home country, and, later in England, from his English publisher, the famous John Murray, this collection of literary sketches included what were to become his most famous works, Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Gregory Manchess
Artist

Gregory Manchess

The award-winning painter, Gregory Manchess has worked as a freelance illustrator for forty-seven years on advertising campaigns, magazines, and book covers.

His work has appeared on covers and for feature stories of numerous magazines, such as National Geographic, Time, Atlantic Monthly, and The Smithsonian. Gregory’s excellent figure work has led to commissions for stamps by the US Postal Service, including the Mark Twain Stamp, the 1963 March On Washington Stamp, and the 2023 Christmas stamp series, Snow Globes.

On September 26, 2024, Manchess was inducted in the NY Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.

Roger Grech, R.Grech Bindery
Book Binder

Roger Grech, R.Grech Bindery

Roger has been a Printmaker and Bookbinder for over thirty years. For the majority of his career Roger taught both disciplines at various colleges, including Bradford College, Leeds College of Art and York College. Roger now runs his own bindery based in Shipley, West Yorkshire, where he works on limited editions for Fine Press Printers.

Roger’s interest in Bookbinding began whilst at college where he specialized in Printmaking, specifically Etching and Screen Printing. Working on projects with sequential and narrative content lent itself to the book form.

The binding eventually became the main focus and now Roger’s work is in public and private collections.

Pat Randle, Nomad Letterpress
Letterpress

Pat Randle, Nomad Letterpress

Nomad Letterpress is run by Pat Randle from the Whittington Press, Cheltenham, from where Pat co-publishes Double Dagger and prints Matrix (‘the finest periodical of the book arts of the 20th Century’). Nomad Letterpress runs letterpress workshops throughout the year, and specializes in high quality book work for both clients and under their own imprint.

Nomad believes that printing and designing using the third dimension — be it with wood, metal, lino or hardened plastics — cannot be surpassed for quality and character.

Artwork by Gregory Manchess

Artwork by Gregory Manchess
Artwork by Gregory Manchess
Artwork by Gregory Manchess
Artwork by Gregory Manchess