Full cover shot

The very first picture that we posted to this blog was a nice shot of the binding from an angle. I've had numerous individuals request a nice representative shot of the entire cover. So...here you go! The only changes that we have made is that instead of Albert Pike's name in all caps on the front cover, we have had a custom hot stamping die produced of Pike's signature. We also had a custom die produced to match the original center tool pattern on the spine. When it's all said and done, this book has come as close as humanly possible to the original binding that Pike personally commissioned for the single manuscript copy of 'Esoterika' in 1888.

Signed, sealed, and delivered!

Following the custom marbled endpapers at the front of each leather-bound copy of Pike's 'Esoterika' and 'The Book of the words, there will be a single 'fly-leaf' before the title page. On this 'fly-leaf' we have printed, in 19th century style, a brief 'colophon' describing this leather-bound edition, the materials used, and the limitation. The author/editor, Arturo De Hoyos, has generously offered to personally sign each copy. He is also including the official embossed foil stamps of both the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, 33' as well as that of the Scottish Rite Research Society. Each copy will be subsequently hand numbered, ensuring that your copy of 'Esoterika' and/or 'The Book of the Words' will be a treasured heirloom and investment.

The endpapers are on their way to DC as we speak for signing and stamping, so we should have them back shortly, at which time we'll be ready to kick the binding in to high gear!

Our reproduction Supreme Council 33' Bookplate

As mentioned in our first blog post, we are including in every leather-bound copy of Pikes "Esoterika" and "The Book of the Words" a reproduction of the most beautiful masonic bookplate I have ever come across. I originally found this bookplate inside an 1866 copy of "Spencer's Letters" that had been de-accessioned from the Supreme Council's archives, presumably sometime in the 1950's. The Bookplate had been cancelled with a large 'x' penned in ink from corner to corner, rendering it quite unsightly. We were able to take a high resolution scan of the bookplate, and then meticulously restore the image digitally, leaving us with a wonderful reproduction bookplate that will be included in the front of each book that you have purchased. Each copy will also have a small(1/2" tall) personalized 'EX-LIBRIS' plate(ie...'EX-LEBRIS ADAM SMITH') below it with the owners name in a complimentary 19th century 'engravers' font. A nice edition to an heirloom quality book worth of being passed down for generations!

Our custom marbled endpapers are here!

Finally!!! In the middle of December, our custom marbled papers arrived! They are absolutely beautiful as well as being custom made just for this edition. Just in time for Christmas!

After a few months of back and forth with our old European supplier of marbled papers, we decided to enlist a stateside paper marbler to produce the custom marbled endsheets for 'Esoterika' and 'The Book of the Words.' Pamela Smith of 'Marblesmith Papers' located in Abiquiu, New Mexico, did an absolutely wonderful job of re-producing a nice 'spanish stone' marble to our exacting specifications. This new paper, which was designed and produced especially for this edition, is a wonderful compliment to the deep navy blue goatskin that will case each hand-bound full leather copy of 'Esoterika' and 'The Book of the Words.' We are so pleased with her papers, that we will be using her nearly exclusively for many of our future edition bindings. Thank you Pamela!

Leather, leather, and more leather!

The leather we have been working to procure for months, is now in hand and ready to bind some beautiful books! We initially had a bit of a color mix-up with the tannery over in England, resulting in a VERY bright and VERY electric blue. After thinking it over for a few days, we decided we better return the shipment to England along with another sample of the leather that we were hoping to match. The second go around everything came out great! The tannery was absolutely wonderful to work with and their leathers are some of the best in the world.

From the tannery's brochure:

All our leathers are vegetable tanned, fully organic and are finished to the high standards demanded both by ourselves and by bookbinders the world over.

All three ranges supplied by Bookmarc have been fully evaluated by highly respected binders and also by the Leather Conservation Centre in Northampton, UK.

We are grateful to Bookmark and Harmatan leathers, especially Marc, for being so great to work with. We had an opportunity to visit with Marc this year at the Guild of Bookworkers 'Standards' conference held in San Francisco at the end of October. It's always great to meet our suppliers and to have the opportunity to catch up. while at the same conference, we had the chance to meet up with Pamela Smith of 'Marblesmith Papers' to take a look at the sample custom marbled endpapers she's working on for us. We can't wait to see the finished product!

Prospectus announcing the hand-bound full leather edition of Pike's Esoterika

Restoration Books Bindery & Fine Press is proud to announce the hand-bound full leather edition of Albert Pike's masterpiece on Masonic symbolism, Esoterika, as well as matching copies of Pike's The Book of the Words.

Pike's Esoterika was originally only published in manuscript form, in an edition of two hand-written and bound copies. In 2005 Arturo De Hoyos, Grand Archivist and Grand Historian for the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, published for the first time, a newly typeset reprint of Esoterika. 

 The Book of the Words was originally published in 1878 in an edition of 100 printed and bound copies. In 1999 the SRRS reprinted this wonderful book with a small amount of additional material and a wonderful introduction by Bro. Arturo De Hoyos.

Our hand-bound, full leather edition of Esoterika and The Book of the Words replicate the original binding that Albert Pike commissioned for the single manuscript copy of Esoterika housed at the Supreme Council's Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite archives.  Each copy is bound in full navy blue morocco goatskin with traditional hand-marbled endpapers and a silk ribbon marker. The binding design was painstakingly reproduced from a photograph of the original copy of Esoterika held by the House of the Temple archives. The only variation from the original being the signature of Albert Pike, tooled in gold, on the front cover. All gold tooling, and top edge gilding, is executed by hand.  The Book of the Words will be bound in identical matching blue morocco leather in a matching motif, with the only difference in design being the titling to the spine.

Bro. Arturo De Hoyos has generously offered to sign each copy and include the official foil stamps of the Supreme Council and/or the Scottish Rite Research Society along with the Grand Historian/Archivist Stamps.  Each copy of Esoterika and The Book of the Words will also be accompanied by a beautiful facsimile replica of an official 19th century Supreme Council bookplate which will be tipped in the front of each copy that we bind along with a personalized "Ex-Libris" plate with the owners name placed below the Supreme Council bookplate.

These hand-bound leather editions of Pike’s Esoterika and The Book of the Words are strictly limited to one hundred signed and hand-numbered sets.  These stunning books are sure to become highly collectible heirlooms worthy of being handed down for generations to come.  For more information, please email us at: info@rarebookrestoration.com or call 435-757-4988.

A limited number of copies of Esoterika and the Book of the Words are available for purchase at a cost of $375 per book, or $750 per set, including fully insured shipping and handling.  Utah residents are subject to state sales tax rates.