The Folio Society was started in England in 1947 with the intention of creating "beautiful and authoritative editions of great literary works for readers." They have certainly succeeded and their books are known for their superb quality and expert craftsmanship.

LIFE: An Unauthorized Biography. A Natural History of the First Four Thousand Million Years of Life on Earth

written by Richard Fortey

profusely illustrated throughout

Printed on Lumimatt paper and bound in Germany.

What an ambitious undertaking by this knowledgeable author. As he says in the Foreword:

This book "tells the story of life on earth in a way that I hope makes engaging reading, and nearly all of it is still true. It is, after all, one of the greatest stories that can be told."

I bought this book new and it is in very good condition. I take excellent care of my books in my smoke-free environment.

Notes on condition:

slipcase: orange papered boards: very clean, bump at one edge, no marks; vintage botanical illustration on paper on face

dust jacket: none, as issued

book cover: forest green cloth boards: crisp and clean, no marks or dents; three-color blocked design by Neil Gower on front board and spine; gold stamped lettering on spine

interior pages: clean and crisp, no marks or tears

sewn binding: all pages secure

Please see photos to get a sense of the wonderful condition and beautiful art.

ISBN: n/a - their books are not assigned ISBNs

publisher: The Folio Society

year published: 2008

Note: measurements are of the slipcase with book inside:

weight: 3 lbs 11 oz

height: 10 3/4 in

width: 8 in

page count: 379

I am happy to combine shipping to save my buyers money. Books can easily be combined and pack well together. Media mail is a very affordable rate offered by the USPS. Cost is based solely on weight and does not vary with distance. If buying multiple books, please put them in your cart and then "request total from seller". I will then send you an invoice with an adjusted shipping cost. 

However, I have been told that if you are ordering from a phone, it may not be possible to request such a total. If that is your situation, please go ahead and pay the shipping as billed. Then, when I process your order, I will calculate the difference between shipping paid versus actual cost, and refund you any difference.