Diamond British Poets. Diamond Classics.

Item #84303

(TRAVELLING LIBRARY). Diamond British Poets. Diamond Classics. London: Jones & Co., 1823-1831. 50 miniature (16mo.) volumes in orig. morocco-covered wood folding case with four internal compartments and glass-fronted doors, 46x23x7.5cm. Books bound in silk-covered boards in various colors with black morocco gilt spine labels. Case split at hinge, morocco scuffed and flaking, particularly around glass. Books generally a little scuffed, some with staining to boards or dampstaining to preliminary and title leaves. Mostly sound and clean throughout. Very good overall. Spielmann 229. Jones published a Diamond Poets series and a Diamond Classics series. Most known sets combine the two series and are commonly called the "Jones Diamond Classics." The set was intended to rival William Pickering's Diamond travelling library series. Each volume contains an engraved frontispiece of the author and an engraved title page. There were reportedly 53 volumes issued altogether between 1823 and 1831, so some complete sets were assembled over time, but with this set, it is clear that the case was only ever intended to hold 50 volumes. Authors include Burns, Dryden, Swift, Milton, Cowper, Johnson, Pope, and Byron, among others. Spielmann's set was in a uniform green silk binding though other sets appearing at auction likewise come in a variety of bindings.

Price: $3,500.00