Published under the editorial direction of Arthur Waugh, Hugh Walpole, Walter Dexter and Thomas Hatton
The Nonesuch Dickens Published under the editorial direction of Arthur Waugh, Hugh Walpole, Walter Dexter and Thomas Hatton
The Nonesuch Press, 1937.
Twenty three volumes, plus the additional steel engraved plate in matching clamshell box. Large 8vo. Number 647 from a limited edition of 877 sets. Designed by Francis Meynell, each volume is in different brightly coloured linen buckram with black leather title labels lettered in gilt. Top edge gilt, others uncut. Original engraved steel plate from David Copperfield, "We arrive unexpectedly at Mr. Peggotty's fireside" by H.K. Browne (Phiz), together with a letter of authenticity signed by Arthur Waugh. Full page steel engraved illustrations throughout by the various original illustrators including H. K. Browne, George Cruikshank and John Leech. A near fine set, with slight toning to some of the spines and the odd scuff to a title lable.
The limitation of 877 copies was predicated by the number of engraved plates held by Dickens's original publishers Chapman & Hall, one of which was included with each set and could only be obtained by subscribers chosen by lottery. In his essay announcing its publication, The Nonesuch Dickens: retrospectus and conspectus, Arthur Waugh, noted Dickensian and managing director of Chapman & Hall, wrote that Dickens considered the illustrations to be almost as important as the text, and that "only those that he passed in his lifetime..[and].. which were executed under his eye" were used to illustrate his books. The original etched steel plates were made available to Nonesuch and the illustrations were hand printed from them and not reproduced by "mechanical processes, which inevitably lose much of the delicate quality of the line and finish preserved in the artist's handwork alone." Waugh asserted that therefore "It will never be possible for a more complete and perfect Dickens to be put on the market".
The text is taken from the "Charles Dickens" Edition, which Dickens himself approved and revised.
Stock ID: 46844
£8,500.00
