24.a.i Deluxe Roman Numeral Edition – Leather – two color full leather binding, traycased, signed by Gene Wolfe: 12(?) (of which 11 were for sale) limitation – $1000 (Red roman numerals). 

24.a.ii Deluxe Roman Numeral Edition – Leather – Full black leather binding, traycased with stamped black lettering on spine, signed by Gene Wolfe: 1(?) of 13 limitation

24.b.i Numbered edition. Full faux leather binding. Pictorial inset on front board, cloth slipcase, signed by Gene Wolfe: 10(?) of 100 limitation - $225

24.b.ii Numbered edition. Cloth binding, faux leather spine with gold foil stamping, cloth slipcase, signed by Gene Wolfe: 90(?) of 100 limitation - $225

The deluxe state has a variant which is denoted above as 24.a.ii. This variant is a full black leather binding compared to the two-color leather binding of 24.a.i which corresponds to the cloth color of the numbered editions. It has a silk ribbon to tie the traycase closed  and a pink silk ribbon marker for the book compared to the blue silk ribbon marker of 24.a.i. The spine title is sunken and black instead of gold print. And the binding is different as well. Maybe this is one of the 2 that weren't for sale? Or just a variant which isn't uncommon for Centipede Press.

CP website synopsis

Possibly the finest science fiction series ever written, Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun has been hailed as one of the field’s most important and enduring works. The tale of Severian and his exile from the Guild of Torturers won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1980. A triumph of imagination and inventiveness. Contains six full color, full page illustrations by Alex Preuss.
       We will publish all six books in this series, including The Claw of the Conciliator, The Sword of the Lictor, The Citadel of the Autarch, The Urth of the New Sun and The Castle of the Otter. Each book will be illustrated by German artist Alex Preuss.

This set is one of the most sought after Centipede Press collections

See the other state of this book:

Standard limited