Outlander Diana Gabaldon
With a new introduction by the author
Illustrations by Charles Young Walls
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is the time-traveling adventure of heroism and passion that has captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world.
The year is 1945. Claire Randall is a former British combat nurse, who has just returned to the Scottish Highlands following the war. Now reunited with her husband and on her second honeymoon, Claire touches a standing stone in one of the ancient circles along the British Isles. Suddenly, she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland that has been ravaged by war. The year is 1743.
Thrust into a dangerous and violent era that threatens her life, Claire’s only chance of survival lies in a gallant young Scots warrior, Jamie Fraser. Claire soon finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives.
Outlander is the debut novel by Diana Gabaldon that would go on to become the first novel in the Outlander series, selling 25 million copies worldwide. Upon its publication in 1991, Publishers Weekly called the novel “triumphant… her use of historical detail and a truly adult love story confirm Gabaldon as a superior writer.” The Arizona Republic hailed Gabaldon as “a born storyteller… the pages practically turn themselves,” and New York Daily News raved, “History comes deliciously alive on the page.” The novel won the RITA Award in 1992 and was listed as one of the top ten best-loved novels in America on PBS’s The Great American Read.
In 2014, Outlander was adapted into a television series for the STARZ network starring Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan. Ten years and seven seasons later, it remains one of the most successful shows in the history of the network’s programming.
About the Editions
Our edition of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is presented in three states: Classic, Numbered and Lettered. The editions measure 6” x 9” and feature ten full color illustrations by award-winning artist Charles Young Walls, as well as a new introduction by the author and an afterword by Sam Heughan. Also included is a bonus essay, “The Shape of Things” by Diana Gabaldon, originally published in the 20th anniversary edition.
The book is set in Miller Text and Zapf Civilité by Michael Babcock in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, with the Numbered & Lettered states printed letterpress by Norman Clayton on a Heidelberg Cylinder in Ojai, California, and the Classic edition printed by offset lithography.
The illustrations in the Numbered & Lettered states are printed giclée on Hahnemühle Bugra and are tipped. The editions are printed on Cougar Natural, Mohawk Via Laid and mouldmade Hahnemühle Ingres.
Depending on the success of Outlander, we may publish the other titles in the series.
A Note on the Typography
Miller Text, designed by Matthew Carter, epitomizes a reliable and attractive text font. The Miller family of typefaces is a seminal reinvigoration of the 19th-century Scotch Roman. A modern serif with roots in classic old-style typefaces, it is known for its readability and elegant appearance. Its traditional feel complements the novel’s historical setting, allowing for a comfortable reading experience over long passages.
Zapf Civilité by legendary type designer and calligrapher Hermann Zapf, is the display type used for chapter titles, part titles and initial caps. It is a stylized script with a calligraphic touch. Its ornate, historical appearance adds a sense of authenticity and period detail, echoing the novel’s themes of time travel and historical adventure.
Together, these typefaces create a harmonious blend of readability and stylistic flair that suits Outlander’s blend of history, romance, and adventure.
Classic Edition
Pre-orderThe Classic edition is limited to 1000 copies with a dust jacket illustrated by Charles Young Walls. It is a quarter cloth binding with embossed Rainbow paper boards and a gold foil blocked front cover. The cloth is custom printed for this edition by fine art print studio, Magnolia Editions in Oakland, California using UV-cured acrylic ink resulting in an exquisitely detailed finish. This is the only edition of the three with the dust jacket, and is housed in a cloth covered slipcase. It is printed by offset lithography on Cougar Natural, and is signed by Diana Gabaldon and Charles Young Walls.
Numbered Edition
Pre-orderThe Numbered edition of 300 copies is a handbound Bradel binding with a goatskin spine and capped fore-edge. The boards are covered in Hahnemühle Bugra and genuine Fraser Hunting Weathered Tartan. The fabric is produced by Lochcarron of Scotland, the world’s leading manufacturer of tartan and is woven using 100% Pure British New Wool.†
The edition is printed letterpress on Mohawk Via Laid and is published in two volumes with a tipped in fold-out of the Classic edition dust jacket art. All illustrations are printed giclée on Hahnemühle Bugra. It is housed in a cloth-covered clamshell enclosure with velour lined trays and a letterpress printed Bugra spine label. It is signed by Diana Gabaldon, Sam Heughan and Charles Young Walls.
Lettered Edition
The Lettered edition is limited to 26 copies and is Bradel bound by hand with tartan covered boards and a goatskin spine with raised bands. The cover fabric is produced by Lochcarron of Scotland, the world’s leading manufacturer of tartan and is woven using 100% Pure British New Wool.† Endsheets are hand marbled for this edition and head & tail bands are hand woven in two colors of silk thread.
The marbled paper design is known as Gloster, named after the historic house in County Offaly in Ireland, which was built in the early 1700s. The paints used in the marbled papers are made by hand from pigments used in the period. Each sheet was individually hand made in the traditional manner in use at the time by renowned marbler Iris Nevins in Johnsonburg, New Jersey, who has been making fine quality traditional style hand-marbled papers since 1978.
The edition is printed letterpress on mouldmade Hahnemühle Ingres and is published in two volumes with a tipped in fold-out of the Classic edition dust jacket art. All illustrations are printed giclée on Hahnemühle Bugra. It is housed in a cloth-covered clamshell enclosure with velour lined trays, and is signed by Diana Gabaldon, Sam Heughan and Charles Young Walls.
† 100% Pure British New Wool refers to wool that is exclusively sourced from British sheep and is “new” in the sense that it comes from the first shearing of a sheep, rather than recycled or reprocessed wool. The term “100% Pure” means that the wool is not blended with other fibers. This wool is generally of a higher quality because it hasn’t been exposed to the wear and tear that recycled or reprocessed wool might have.About the Collaborators
Sam Heughan
Sam Heughan came to fame through the hit TV show Outlander, playing the lead character Jamie Fraser for five successful seasons. Released on STARZ, the show is viewed all around the world. Alongside his career in theatre (Laurence Olivier award nominee), television and film spanning 17 years, Sam is also the author of four books, including his New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling memoir, Waypoints.
Charles Young Walls
Charles Young Walls spent a decade in his early career working as an illustrator, but ultimately decided to focus on his own artistic vision in the field of fine art. He works in traditional media, primarily oils, ink, and charcoal. He is a Signature Member of both Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society and has won major awards with both organizations. Trained at the art schools in New York, Charles lives in Atlanta with his wife, their cats, and an overflow of books.
Matching Numbers & Letters
A Matching Pre-Order email is sent to owners of our previous publication (American Gods) with a designation of 1-300 at 9:00 A.M. PT on the day of announcement. If you did not receive the email, contact us here. If your order is not received before the deadline, your designated number or letter will be assigned to the new owner.
Order Limits
Please be aware of the order limits for our editions. You can read more about this in the Order Limits article on our support site.
Illustrations by Charles Young Walls
Published editions may differ slightly from mockups and prototype designs.
Illustrations © 2023 by Charles Young Walls