Sets and Collections
Sets and Collections
Another great gift idea is a set or a collection. We offer sets that are beautiful or exceptional editions, as well as collections, some of which we have assembled especially for enthusiasts of a particular subject or author.
by Plato; Jowett, B., translator; Demos, Raphael, introduction
Published in 1937 by Random House, New York
Binding: Hardback
Condition: Very good
Comments: If you want to understand Western—indeed, world—philosophy, you have to get a handle on Plato, and if you want to get a handle on Plato, you have to read his “Dialogues.” This handy two-volume, yet unabridged, edition of what was originally a five-volume translation is a good way to do that. Current students say it that it still stands up, despite being well over a hundred years old. Benjamin Jowett—Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford University, clergyman, theologian, university AND Indian Civil Service administrator and reformer, and great friend of Florence Nightingale—continually revised his original work, and indeed this version of his translation, which originally came out in 1892, just a year before his death, was actually his third edition. By the time our copy was published in 1937, MacMillan had originally published the 1892 version and the Oxford University Press had renewed its own copyright in 1920. (Random House, in fact, says the two-volume edition is published “by special arrangement” with the Oxford publishing house.) What makes this edition different than Jowett’s original, besides the size, is that it includes his own notes in the margins as well as Plato’s words, so that readers get a commentary on Plato while they read Plato himself. They also get an fresh introduction by Ralph [Raphael] Demos, professor of philosophy at Harvard, written especially for the Random House release. The second volume ends with an index to the complete set that runs to 116 pages long.
Both of our two volumes are structurally sound and show little in the way of aging one might expect in books 88 years old. The binding is in excellent condition and perfectly tight and square, with no loose or missing pages. In fact, the pages themselves have no writing or notes or tears and, though they show some general tanning as is normal for their age, are actually quite bright. There is even surprisingly little shelfwear to the dark red buckram covers, with only a little scuffing to the corners and the top and bottom of the spine. The title, translator’s name, and Random House’s colophon are stamped in gilt on a black background over the dark red buckram spine and still show up nicely; however, the color of the fabric on the spine is slightly faded, and that means the stamping of the publisher’s name and volume number at the bottom has also faded. These volumes come from the personal library of a former headmaster of Chauncey Hall School, and the name of the school is stamped at the top and bottom of the text blocks of each volume. His name and a small doodle are written on the front pastedown of each book, and there are the barely perceptible remains of where a bookplate was removed on the front flysheets. See our photos for details.
Seller Inventory #: 0000521
Published in 1974 by Detective Book Club, New York
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Near Fine
Comments: These two volumes, published by the Detective Book Club, each feature two novels: the first contains Len Deighton's Spy Story and Donald E. Westlake's Jimmy the Kid. Deighton is a well-known author of spy novels, and Spy Story was a bestseller. Donald E. Westlake was a prolific writer of crime fiction, known for the cleverness of his writing. (Both Spy Story and Jimmy the Kid were adapted into motion pictures.) The second volume contains George Harmon Coxe's The Inside Man and Brian Garfield's The Threeperson's Hunt. George Harmon Coxe was a crime fiction writer known for the "Flashgun Casey" character, and Brian Garfield was a writer and Pulitzer Prize Finalist. Both volumes have the Detective Book Club seal on the front covers.
Seller Inventory #: 0000330
Published in 2011 by Hyperion, New York
ISBN: 009781400000000
Edition: First
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Fine
Comments: This set, featuring 8 audio CDs, the transcripts, and introductory material, is an incredible piece of history. Jackie Kennedy was famous for keeping her personal life private, and rarely spoke publicly about her time with President John F. Kennedy. However, in 1964, just a few months after her husband's death, Jacqueline Kennedy recorded seven interviews about her marriage and political life as part of an oral history project, which was not released to the public until after her death. With this set you can both listen to the complete interviews, which provide a uniquely intimate perspective on American history, and read them. Introductions and annotations by the well-known presidential Michael Beschloss and a foreword by Caroline Kennedy. Illustrated with black-and-white historical photos of the Kennedys. The conversation topics range from JFK's relationships with his staff to descriptions of international visits to Canada and France to the family's relationships with Catholic clergy. This set is in fine condition, with the book and audio CDs (never removed from their case) packed in the publisher's slipcase. A rare, in-depth look into the life of the Kennedys.
Seller Inventory #: 0000341
Published in 1988 by Time Life Books
Binding: Softcover
Condition: New; slipcase is near fine, with crease in front
Comments: The Time This Fabulous Century series, published in 1988, looked back on the 100 years between 1870 and 1970. This set features 5 of the 10 volumes, each covering a different decade from 1920 to 1970. Each volume is filled with black–and-white and, later, color photographs from the Time-Life archives, depicting life in that century. The books cover popular culture, business, sports, politics, and historical insights. For example, the 1920-30 volume features a section on prohibition; the 1930-40 book includes profiles of famous criminals of the decade; 1940-1950's edition offers many wartime photos; the 1950-1960 book illustrates the hula-hoop craze; and the 1960-1970 volume is filled with photos of the civil rights movement. These topics and many others are brought to life by full-page photos and illustrations. The five volumes are housed in an attractive slipcase with gilt lettering and design on its front and spine. Rare in new condition, this is a wonderful find and a piece of American history.
Seller Inventory #: 0000355
Published in 1999 by Schiffer Publishing Ltd
Binding: Softcover
Condition: New
Comments: Rich in history and valor, the multicolored woven art known as tartan has survived hundreds of years to become the very fabric of the Scottish nation. In these three alphabetically arranged volumes, you will find over 1200 samples of vividly striped tartans covering the names Abbotsford to Yukon. Includes brief historical background, definitions of related terms, and thread counts for the tartan weaver. An invaluable resource for families, clubs, historians, and designers.
Seller Inventory #: 0000403
by Linda and Michael Lambert
This book will teach you how to keep good records of your collection, and it is a handy and attractive resource. Each item has two pages, including a detailed description, price, contact details for the piece/bottle/book/antique/etc. as well as notes on provenance and room for a photo or image, and an index in the back. A record suitable for insurance purposes. So for those of us who refuse to trust everything to hyperspace, here is our compact and expert solution. Leave it to the Brits.
Published in 2008 by A&C Black Publishers, London
Binding: Hardcover spiral bound
Condition: New
Comments: New, pristine.
by Hal Leonard Corporation
New, still shrink-wrapped boxed set. Three CD's and 500 pages of listener's guides - a comprehensive treatment of each of the three composers. Includes Naxos and Gallo labels. A delightful gift for students, classical music fans, or just those of us who want to understand more about the great "3 B's" of classical music.
Condition: New
by Charles Dickens
A very nice set of three of Charles Dickens’ greatest novels—Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations—published by the Book of the Month Club in graceful hardback editions. These volumes include reproductions of the original illustrations on the dust jackets and within the copy, and the typefaces are even reproduced from the editions checked by Dickens himself. These are new, unmarked books with tight bindings. A great gift, with free elegant and personalized wrapping on request. (E-mail bookstogivebookstolove@gmail.com.)
All our books are shipped wrapped in bubble wrap and in sturdy white boxes.
Published in 1997 by Book of the Month Club
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: New
Dust Jacket included. Condition of Dust Jacket: new
Seller Inventory #: 0000154
Illustrations/Photography by: Mary Shephard
A nice set of the first four “Mary Poppins” books P.L. Travers wrote, between 1934 and 1952. These were re-published by the Book of the Month Club in 2000 as reproductions of the original editions, complete with the illustrations by Mary Shepherd, who did the pen-and-ink illustrations for all eight of the original books. (And when we say these are “reproductions,” that means the first book includes the “Bad Tuesday” chapter as it was originally published. In that chapter, Mary Poppins produces a magical compass that takes the children to the four corners of the earth, where they meet people from representative cultures. But for Travers, “representative” meant stereotypes that produced controversy even when the book was published in 1934! She rewrote the chapter twice over the years to respond to criticism, and Shepherd changed her pictures, but be aware that this edition contains the original versions of both words and illustrations.) If you’ve only seen the famous Walt Disney movie, then you’re aware that Mary Poppins arrives in the beginning leaves in the end. She repeats the pattern for Mary Poppins Comes Back and Mary Poppins Opens the Door, but by the time Travers wrote Mary Poppins in the Park, she had decided, as she put in the preface, "[Mary Poppins] cannot forever arrive and depart,” and instead wrote this book, and the rest of the eight, as if the stories told were adventures that took place during the first three books that simply went unrecorded earlier. Though, as it says in the front matter of all the books, “This edition was specially created in 2000 by arrangement with Book-of-the-Month-Club…” with arrangement with each book’s respective publisher, the original publication information is also included. Each book is also a nice size to fit into little hands…or, for that matter, comfortable into the single hand of an adult fan! A set like this is great for a collector, but because they are reproductions, they are also reasonably priced for the common reader.
Published in 2000 by Book of the Month Club, New York
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: New
Dust Jacket included. Condition of Dust Jacket: New
Comments: These editions do not have ISBN numbers. Mary Poppins was originally published in 1934, Mary Poppins Comes Back in 1935, and Mary Poppins Opens the Door in 1943, all three by Reynal & Hitchcock. Mary Poppins in the Park was published in 1952 by Harcourt, Brace & World.
Seller Inventory #: 0000191
This comprehensive anthology of American literature from the 17th through 20th centuries features selections from poetry, novels, plays, essays, memoirs, and personal letters and offers an extensive overview of American literature. The selections are organized into helpful groupings and accompanied by contextual material by James E. Miller. Miller writes, "Americans may be justly proud of their literature, and moreover will come to know themselves and discover their identity through encountering and experiencing that literature extensively and deeply. This anthology was designed to provide such an encounter, such an experience." The anthology is a 2-volume slipcased set, "Beginnings to the Civil War" and "Civil War to the Present."
Published in 1991 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, Orlando
ISBN: 015535700X
Binding: Softcover
Condition: Books: Near Fine Slipcase: Very Good plus; corners bumped, no tears, structurally sound
Seller Inventory #: 0000273
Published in 1971 and 1975 by American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc., New York
ISBN: 0070011389and
Binding: Hardback, in a slipcase
Condition: As new
Comments: Two volumes of popular American history, published by the magazine that defines that field--American Heritage Magazine. The first, "American Testament," serves as an excellent reference book, simply being a series of fifty important documents in American history, printed in chronological order, starting with Ferdinand and Isabella's letter commissioning Christopher Columbus in 1492 and ending with Martin Lither King's "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963, with the amendments to the Constitution, starting with the Bill of Rights, thrown in for good measure. The second book, "The American Heritage History of the Congress of the United States," is just what it says in the title, a full history of the institution , in all its glory and messiness, with tons of illustrations. It starts with the day the very first Congress was convened in 1789 through the post-Watergate investigations of the 1970s, conducted just before this volume's publication in 1975. "American Testament" was originally published in 1971, and both volumes in this set appear to be new, but it is difficult to tell when the deluxe slipcase edition, with the two together, was released, though it is obvious that the slipcase was specifically designed with these two differently-sized volumes in mind. The gilt lettering on the spine of "History of the Congress..." has faded somewhat, but otherwise, the books themselves are in pristine condition, with the American Heritage eagle logo embossed on the cover of each. The slipcase has a full-cover image of the famous American eagle national coat-of-arms on one side. It shows a bit of shelf wear but is otherwise in good shape. See our photos.
Seller Inventory #: 0000483