This morning, I received the first copy of the new edition of “Transits and Solar Returns.” This is the fourth Italian edition, following the book’s initial publication in 1997.
The previous Italian version, released at the end of June 2026, spanned 673 pages in a 15.24 × 22.86 cm format.
It is worth noting that this book—published in a wide array of languages, including Italian, English, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, German, Russian, Japanese, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and Finnish—exceeds 800 pages in its Russian and Japanese editions.
In recent weeks, I decided to create a more luxurious version—as this is arguably the most significant of my books—featuring a hardcover binding designed for a select circle of collectors and bibliophiles.
Given its price point—exceeding 70 euros—this edition is intended primarily for those who consult the volume frequently and wish to keep it close at hand, perhaps right on their own workspace.
However, I had not anticipated just how beautiful the physical object that arrived this morning would be. Beyond the Smyth-sewn binding—a hallmark of any high-quality book—the print quality is truly remarkable, featuring perfect, deep-black ink set against exceptionally bright white paper. There was, however, a significant problem to solve: for this type of hardcover, KDP/Amazon only accepts volumes with a maximum of 550 pages—and my manuscript simply wouldn’t fit within that limit…
So, with the invaluable help of ChatGPT, Astra, and Work, I created a new version of the book in a taller format, making full use of the page’s vertical space. And, without reducing the font size or the line spacing, we managed to bring the page count down from the original 673 to just under 550.
I might be biased, but I think it looks beautiful!
It also makes a great gift.
