Dédale

A New Literary Series

Franco Maria Ricci Editore is proud to present Dédale, a new publishing series born from a collaboration with L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in Paris, with whom it shares a constant pursuit of beauty and perfection. Conceived and crafted with the utmost care, Dédale traces paths that intertwine Art and Literature, the craftsmanship of the artisan and the skill of the writer, uniqueness and collectability.

The slow pace of reading

This new publishing venture takes its name from Daedalus—an all-round artist, marvellous inventor and patron of artisans, as well as the first mythical architect and creator of the labyrinth. Each volume will be marked by the symbol of the spiral, inspired by a drawing by Francesco Segala (1535-1592), a Venetian artist known for his portrayals of figurative and anthropomorphic mazes. The gastropod in the shape of a labyrinth invites readers to take the time to get lost among the corridors of paper and ink and to enter – slowly – into new worlds.

Born into a Labyrinth

Conceived within the world’s largest maze and paying homage to Borges’ Library of Babel, the Dédale series brings together hidden gems of classic literature, where buried treasures, remarkable collections and the most dazzling tales of jewels and gemstones are revealed – or perhaps concealed? – and brought to life through illustrations by contemporary artists or masterpieces of the past. Jewels in the form of books, and books as expressions of joy.

Three works by major authors, enriched by new and original prefaces, open the series:

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

The Invisible Collection by Stefan Zweig (1881-1942)

Laura. A Journey Into the Crystal by George Sand (1804-1876)

Each year, the series will grow with two new volumes unveiled in spring and autumn.

Treasures to be collected

True to its mission of broad accessibility beyond national borders, the Dédale series is available in three languages: French, English and Italian.

Each book in the series has been designed and produced with the utmost care and comes in two editions: a paperback and a numbered collector’s edition, printed on laid paper, with illustrations on coated paper applied by hand and bound in silk with gold-embossed title and details.

Titles of the series

Dédale

Treasure Island

Robert Louis Stevenson. Texts by Alberto Manguel, Léonard Pouy. Illustrations by David B.

2025 / 256 PAGES. Language: English, French, Italian

The Dédale series opens with Treasure Island – a boy’s adventure transformed by Stevenson into an epic exploration of moral ambiguity and the dual nature of humanity. This volume is illustrated with original drawings by David B.

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Dédale

The Invisible Collection

Stefan Zweig. Texts by Pedro Corrêa do Lago, Guillaume Glorieux. Illustrations by Honoré Daumier (1808-1879).

2025 / 96 PAGES. Language: English, French, Italian

The Invisible Collection by Stefan Zweig continues to captivate readers today with its masterful portrayal of the obsessive nature of collecting. The paintings of collectors by Honoré Daumier serve as the perfect visual counterpart to the text.

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Dédale

Laura. A Journey Into the Crystal

George Sand. Texts by Isabelle Bardiès-Fronty, Charline Coupeau. Illustrations by Wenzel Hablik (1881-1934).

2025 / 176 PAGES. Language: English, French, Italian

Laura. A Journey Into the Crystal by George Sand is a remarkable testament to the evolution of the novel towards the realm of the fantastic. The book is enriched by the visionary works of Wenzel Hablik – part utopian architecture, part mesmerising fantasy – offering a rare and exquisite rediscovery.

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Dédale

Collector’s edition

In addition to the paperback edition, each book in the series is also available in a special collector’s edition. Designed and produced with the utmost care and attention to detail, this edition is released in a limited, numbered run. Printed on high-weight laid paper, it offers not only the pleasure of reading but also tactile delight as you turn the pages, which are further embellished by images reproduced on coated paper and hand-mounted. Presented in a specially crafted rigid case to preserve its refined appearance, the book is bound in silk, with gold-embossed title and details.

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