The Writings of Charles Dickens, 32 Volumes, 1894, Illustrated, 458 of 500

The Writings of Charles Dickens

32 Volumes – Complete Collection

Houghton, Mifflin and Co., The Riverside Press, 1894 

Illustrated Limited Edition, 458 of 500

This is a rare 32 volume leather bound limited edition collection of “The Writings of Charles Dickens, with Critical and Bibliographical Introductions and Notes by Edwin Percy Whipple and Others, Illustrated with Steel Portraits and Engravings from the Original Designs of Browne, Cruikshank, Leech, and Others” published by Houghton, Mifflin and Co., The Riverside Press, Boston in 1894 with a limitation of 500 collections this being number 458.  This is the complete, large paper illustrated edition that contains the extra hand colored frontis plates in each volume. Although records are not available, it is estimated that fewer than 100 of these collections were produced. There were two options available and the cost of ordering with the hand colored illustrations was substantially higher. These hand colored illustrations are on heavy stock and masterfully executed.

Charles Dickens is generally considered the greatest writer of the Victorian era. From Dickinson Best Books, "The nature of Dickens's art is such that none of his fifteen novels stands out as his single masterpiece... The greatness comes from the entire corpus of his work, from the Dickens world that emerges from a reading of all his novels... No other novelist had the powers of imagination, the liveliness of spirit, and the genius of evoking a scene so that even the furniture comes to life."  Many small and inferior editions of Dickens works were issued both in England and the United States through the first part of the twentieth century.   This American edition, issued by Dickens authorized American publisher Houghton Mifflin of Boston, is one of the finest collections of Dicken’s works ever published.

Each book measures approximately 9” x 6” and is a bound three-quarter brown morocco leather, hubbed spines, dual contrasting spine titles, marbeled paper boards with matching marbled endpapers, and gilted top page ends with the fore-edges and bottom edges being uncut. The volumes are illustrated with numerous full page plates throughout by the original Dickens artists Phiz, Browne, Cruikshank, and Leech with additional new plates by American artist F. O. C. Darley. As mentioned earlier, this set is extra illustrated with frontis plates in two states, one black-and-white and one larger hand colored illustration on heavy stock.

The condition of the exterior of the books is Near FINE with the bindings having been skillfully rebacked preserving the publisher's original leather tipped marbled paper boards. All hinges and headcap/tailcaps are sound with no separation of boards.  There is shelfwear noted at edges of boards and with some loss of leather at fore-corners of the boards. All volumes are complete, fresh and unfoxed internally, with many page signatures unopened.  A minor bore-hole is noted at lower fore-edge margin of Vol. 21 (Great Expectations) and with two small holes also Vol. 28 (Plays). The hand marbled endpapers are clean and unmarked. There are no signs of previous ownership. Overall, this is a beautiful collection that is rarely comes available. Currently, there are no other complete sets being offered in the marketplace.

Photographs of some of the books in the collection to highlight the spines and covers (please note corner wear), limitation page, endpapers, and some of the illustrations appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by clicking the thumbnail.