The Complete Nonesuch Dickens

Bloomsbury: Nonesuch Press, 1938. Fine overall.. Uncommonly complete and exquisitely preserved set of the landmark Nonesuch Press publication, one of the most fully realized and beautifully executed Dickens collections ever produced - this with the original packing material and documents and in the rare original dust jackets. "[P]ortable and handy enough even for those who like to read their Dickens in bed; imposing enough for those to whom a shelf of fine books is the most pleasant of pictures": such were Francis Meynell's goals when he designed the Nonesuch Dickens. Meynell had a hand in all the aesthetic decisions that make this set an achievement, from the choice of paper (which "delights the paper fancier") to the typeface ("of conscious 'beauty' it is happily free") to the cloth chosen for the bindings ("a brave array of reds and yellows and blues and browns").
The Nonesuch Dickens includes classic titles such as OLIVER TWIST, NICHOLAS NICKELBY, A TALE OF TWO CITIES, and BLEAK HOUSE, as well as three volumes of Dickens's letters and two volumes of his collected papers. This set also includes the "even more difficult to lay hands on" NONESUCH DICKENSIA, which features an essay on the illustrators of Dickens by Arthur Waugh, and a prospectus for the series (Montagu, 132). The edition was "limited, not artificially but of necessity" by the 877 remaining original Dickens woodblocks and plates that were included with the publication; the present set includes the woodblock numbered 346, for "The Old Man and the Robbers" illustration from THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.
A remarkable aspect of this set is its uniform blue paper dust jackets. While we find no published bibliographical reference to them, we are aware of another unrelated set in identical jackets; so they are almost certainly as issued - and rare thus. We have never seen a copy that retains so many ephemeral assets. 10.25'' x 6.25'' (24 volumes); 10'' x 6.25'' (pamphlet); 4'' x 4.75'' (woodblock); 10'' x 6.5'' (clamshell); 7.5'' x 15.25'' (cardboard box). 24 volumes in original buckram bindings in a variety of colors, with black goatskin spine labels and gilt lettering. One pamphlet in original pink wrappers, side-stitched. 22 volumes with original blue paper dust jackets, one volume in original glassine. Top edges gilt, other edges machine deckle. Illustrated in black-and-white throughout. 130; 6; 748; 548; 364; 872; 852; 482; 766; 874; 594; 880; 798; 844; 418; 866; 836; 928; 826; 898; 854; 892; 817; 858; 874 pages. GREAT EXPECTATIONS with postmarked envelope addressed to "Mr. & Mrs. L. H. George" loosely laid in. Woodblock and matted print housed in original purple buckram box, also wrapped in matching blue paper. Letter of authenticity and letter on "Australian Book Co." letterhead, addressed to Leonard George, laid in. Woodblock box contained in original Nonesuch Press cardboard shipping carton, addressed to "Australian Book Co." and "Leonard H. George," noting that this is set no. 152 with plate no. 346. Carton with edgewear and a few small spots of soil. Dust jackets with sunning to spines, light edgewear; a few with scuffs and additional sunning to fronts and backs. One book lacking jacket. Glassine with some chipping to edges, a few shallow creases. Occasional foxing to fore-edges and leaves. Bindings remarkably sharp and bright.