A collection of several hundred selections from The Modern Library of the World's Best Books, a long-running series of classic literary works which underwent numerous design changes (and continues to do so). An interesting entry-level area for book collectors due to the wide availability and affordable prices of many volumes, but also rewarding for mid- to high-level collectors due to the minutiae involved in identifying the numerous printings of each title. The authoritative bibliography by Henry Toledano provides great guidance, but scholarship on this series continues to evolve.
New York: The Modern Library, 1950. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1966-7 printing. Toledano 269.1, binding/jacket style 11l, blank jacket reverse, beige Rockwell Kent endpapers. Edges lightly foxed, small tears along jacket corners, jacket lightly toned, jacket price clipped.
xii, 291, [8] pp. Introduction by Clifton Fadiman. Washington Square is a short.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1944. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1944-1968 printing, in the earliest of three jacket design styles. Former library copy, usual marks. Includes original jacket, with 360 titles listed on reverse.
xliv, 730, [8] pp. 8vo. A collection of writings by the third President of the United States.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1949. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1967-68 printing of Toledano 266.1, binding/jacket style 13n, $2.95 jacket price, blank jacket verso and endpapers. Jacket spine a bit faded, jacket lightly rubbed. Binding tight, text clean and unmarked.
l, 476, [2] pp. "Many contemporaries criticized him for smashing the.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1943. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1963 printing of Toledano 128.1, binding/jacket style 10i (possibly a supplied jacket, as this jacket design dates to 1954-59), $1.95 jacket price, unnumbered list on jacket reverse, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Jacket toned, jacket edges lightly rubbed with minor loss from.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1950. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1954-59 printing, Toledano 068.3, binding/jacket style 8i with 385 titles on verso, $1.65 jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Two minor smudges on rear board, jacket lightly rubbed and toned.
x, 548 pp. 8vo. Includes a foreword by the author. Originally.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1962. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1960-63 printing of Toledano 333.1, binding/jacket style 8j*, $1.95 jacket price, 415 titles on reverse, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Jacket spine slightly faded.
xix, [3], 420, [6] pp. Introduction by Alfred Kazin. "'Of all Lawrence's work, Sons and Lovers tells us.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1962. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1977-80 printing of Toledano 333.1, binding/jacket style 15p, $6.95 jacket price, blank jacket reverse and endpapers. Rear jacket panel a bit scuffed, tiny light spot on fore edge.
xix, [2], 420 pp. Introduction by Alfred Kazin. "'Of all Lawrence's work, Sons.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1933. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1933 first thus, Toledano 042.2 (includes introduction), binding style 7, orange Rockwell Kent endpapers. Lacks jacket. Spine and edges toned, edges rubbed, front hinge just beginning to weaken, bookplate and light ink stamp on front endpapers.
x, 448 pp. Introduction.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1944. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1944-53 printing, Toledano 033.3 (no introduction), binding/jacket style 8h, 360 titles on verso, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Jacket rubbed, jacket price clipped.
vi, 360 pp. 8vo. Grey cloth, gilt titles, Translated from the French by Haakon M. Chevalier. From the jacket.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1965. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1965 first thus, Toledano 360.1, binding/jacket style 11l with blank verso, $2.45 jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Near fine in good jacket. Jacket edges rubbed.
378 pp. Translated from the German by Denver Lindley. Recounts the enchanted career of.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1966. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1966 first thus, Toledano 365.1, binding/jacket style 11l, blank verso, $2.45 jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Jacket edges lightly rubbed, jacket lightly toned.
vi, 510, [10] pp. Translated by H.T. Lowe-Porter. "A modern reworking of the Faust legend, in.....
New York: The Modern Library, 2008. 4th Printing. Hard Cover.
2008 4th printing, no Toledano number, $40.00 jacket price, brown decorative endpapers with an updated rendering of Modern Library's iconic torchbearer. Spine lightly toned.
xvi, 892 pp. A new rendering of the Watson legend. Killing Mister Watson, Lost Man's River.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1919. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1954-9 printing, Toledano 027.2, binding/jacket style 8i, 405 titles on verso, $1.95 jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. The second of two very similar Newman jacket designs. 1/2 inch closed jacket tear.
341 pp., 6-page terminal publisher ad. Loosely based on.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1954. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1954-59 printing, Toledano 176.1, binding/jacket style 8i with 380 titles on verso, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Jacket lightly rubbed with tiny chip from front edge, jacket price clipped.
760 pp. Originally published in 1915, Of Human Bondage is a potent expression.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1954. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1954-9 printing. Toledano 176.1, binding/jacket style 8i, $1.95 jacket price, 403 titles on reverse, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Jacket edges rubbed, 2 inch open tear along spine edge of rear jacket panel, jacket a bit toned.
760 pp. Originally published in.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1942. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1942-63 printing of Toledano 176.1, binding 8, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Lacks jacket. Top page ridge lightly soiled, front hinge starting, ink gift note on half-title page verso.
760 pp. One of the most widely read novels of the 20th century.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1928. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1928 first thus, Toledano 138.1, binding/jacket style 4c, with unnumbered title list on verso but referencing 140 titles on the rear panel, 95 cent jacket price, yellow Bernhard endpapers. Jacket edges rubbed and beginning to split along flap creases with.....
New York: Modern Library, 1940. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1940 first thus, Toledano 074.2, binding/jacket style 8g with 274 titles on verso, 95 cent jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Top corner of half-title page missing (1 x 2 inch chip), jacket edges rubbed with two 1/2 inch chips, small.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1953. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1954-59 printing, Toledano 042.3, binding/jacket style 8i with 385 titles on verso, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Puncture on rear jacket panel through board causing indent to last 30 pages, cup ring stain on rear jacket panel and board, owner bookplate on.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1997. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1997 first thus, no Toledano number, $22.00 jacket price, brown decorative endpapers with an updated rendering of Modern Library's iconic torchbearer. Board edges a bit faded.
viii, 713 pp. When the beautiful, imperious and moneyed Grace Caldwell Tate wants something.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1937. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1937 first thus (stated on copyright page), Toledano 146.2, binding style 7, orange Rockwell Kent endpapers. Lacks jacket. Spine faded.
xix, 260 pp., no terminal publisher ad. Three classic plays by the 1936 Nobel Prize winning dramatic realist playwright, together.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1937. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1943-44 printing, Toledano 146.2, binding/jacket style 8g with 278 titles on verso, 95 cent jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Pages and jacket toned.
xix, 260 pp., no terminal publisher ad. Three classic plays by the 1936 Nobel Prize winning dramatic.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1950. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1955-59 printing, Toledano 158.2, binding/jacket style 8i with 377 titles on verso, no jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Very good in good jacket. Jacket rubbed and lightly toned with minor loss from corners.
xxv, 446 pp. Edited with introductions by.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1994. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1994 first thus, no Toledano number, brown decorative endpapers with an updated rendering of Modern Library's iconic torchbearer. Board edges slightly faded, jacket price clipped.
viii, 457 pp. A collection of stories and poems by the noted American humorist. Dorothy.....
New York: The Modern Library. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1940-44 printing, Toledano 181.1, binding/jacket style 8g with 278 titles on verso, 95 cent jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Ink name crossed out on front endpaper.
xlviii, 577 pp. The Jowett translation. Selected and edited by Irwin Edman. CONTENTS: Preface; Editor's.....