Dickens, Charles

Works. The Nonesuch Dickens. Published under the Editorial Direction of Arthur Waugh, Hugh Walpole, Walter Dexter and Thomas Hatton [23 Volumes + Steel Plate]

Bloomsbury: The Nonesuch Press, 1937, 1938. H.K. Browne [Phiz], et al. Limited Editiom. Hardcover. Octavo. Very Good. Item #44504

Edition limited to 877 sets. The reason for this finite number was because each set came with one of the original engraved steel plates used for producing the illustrations in the first editions of Dickens's novels. The Nonesuch Press purchased the plates, all 877, from Dickens's original publisher Chapman & Hall. This means that not only are collectors receiving a set of beautiful books that were based on Dickens's original typesetting, but are receiving an authentic piece of the history of these books. As each novel was unique unto itself, Francis Meynell designed a Harlequin set, each volume bearing a different colour buckram although uniform in dimensions and with a gilt-stamped black leather spine label and gilt to the rough top edges. The steel plate, this being "The Ghosts Walk" engraved by H.K. Browne ('Phiz') for Messrs. Chapman & Hall is encased in a clamshell box bound uniformly with the set. It includes the typed, signed letter of authenticity on Chapman & Hall letterhead and a matted copy of the print, numbered 698. Spines very lightly faded, occasional scuffing and wear to the cloth's siding, and a few of the volumes with light insect trailing or slight thinning of the cloth along the spines of a few volumes. The interiors of all volumes are very clean, crisp and bright. Overall, a very good copy of one of the most important collections of Dickens's work. Includes the 'Note on the Format," in salmon wrappers, stitched, and blue cloth Nonesuch Dickensiana Prospectus.

Price (CAD): $14,500.00