The Hellbound Heart numbered edition

Description from Suntup Website

The Suntup edition of The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker is presented in three states: Classic, Numbered and Lettered. The editions measure 6” x 9½” and feature fourteen new color illustrations by the author, and an afterword by Phil & Sarah Stokes.

All states include a reproduction of Kirk Reinert’s cover art from the first standalone paperback edition of 1991. In addition, the Numbered and Lettered states feature a fold-out of the Classic edition dust jacket art by Dave McKean. Bonus content includes sketches of the Cenobite by Clive Barker, as well as scans of pages from the handwritten and typewritten manuscript.

The book is designed, cast in metal and printed letterpress by David Wolfe at Wolfe Editions in Portland, Maine on Mohawk Superfine, mouldmade Somerset Book and handmade Saint Armand papers. The typeface is Monotype Plantin. The titling faces are Castellar designed by John Peters and Caledonia designed by W.A. Dwiggins. The press work was accomplished on a Nebiolo cylinder press.

The Numbered edition is limited to 350 copies and is a handmade lapped component case binding featuring a spine covered in black handmade Cave Paper and boards wrapped in rich red handmade paper created for this edition by the bookbinder. The cover papers are made from a 50/50 blend of hemp and cotton fibers that have been internally sized and colored with Quindo red pigment. The resulting sheets are then loft dried for added texture and then hand dyed with persimmon tannin to strengthen the paper and deepen the color.

The spine and covers feature handsewn stitching in two colors with hand-punched circular detailing on the spine. Head & tail bands are handmade with the cover paper and endsheets are Hahnemühle Bugra.

The stitched arcane symbols on the spine and cover boards serve as a tactile and visual representation of the novel’s central themes: the interplay between creation and destruction, and the bridging of worlds. Translating these enigmatic symbols into hand-stitched thread evokes the visceral imagery of the book, mirroring the way the Cenobites merge flesh and artistry in their grotesque transformations.

The book is housed in a custom drop-top box crafted from Baltic birch wood, painted black and laser engraved using a “negative” technique in which the paint is etched away to reveal the natural wood beneath. The result is a striking interplay of dark and light, with the arcane symbols from the book’s spine design mirrored across the lid of the box, creating a unified visual and thematic connection between the binding and its enclosure. The spine of the box is also engraved, featuring the title and author. The lid is precisely fitted to remain secure when shelved, and the interior is lined with red felt to protect the volume within. The box’s minimalist form and engraved design echo the mystery and precision of Lemarchand’s puzzle box, while its craftsmanship reflects the same attention to detail and sense of dark elegance found in the binding itself.

The edition is printed letterpress from metal type on mouldmade Somerset, and is signed by Clive Barker, Phil Stokes and Sarah Stokes. Each copy of this edition is sewn and bound by hand by bookbinder Anne Covell in Southern California.

Also check the other states of the book:

Classic- Lettered