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, 1966. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1966 printing, Toledano 035.3, binding/jacket style 11l with blank verso, no jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Jacket lightly rubbed and toned.
416 pp. Set in 1482, Victor Hugo's powerful novel of ‘imagination, caprice and fantasy' is a meditation on love.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1992. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1992 first thus, no Toledano number (formerly released as Giant 003.1), $21.00 jacket price, brown decorative endpapers with an updated rendering of Modern Library's iconic torchbearer. Board edges a bit faded.
xiv, 1260 pp. Translated by Charles E. Wilbour. "In.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1950. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1950-63 printing, Toledano 006.3, binding style 8, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Lacks jacket. Spine toned, bookplate on front endpaper.
xxiv. 383 pp. Includes: Introduction by Eric Bentley; A Doll's House; Ghosts; An Enemy of the People; The Master Builder. Henrik Johan.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1948. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1948 first thus, Toledano G011.3, binding style G5, brown endpapers with centered decoration featuring logo, spines and opened pages of books, and four figures reading. Lacks jacket. Boards lightly soiled, spine toned, rear hinge just beginning to weaken, rear free.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1944. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1944-51 printing, Toledano 234.1 (no index), binding style 8, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Lacks jacket. Stain on fore edge margin of last half of pages.
xliv, 730, [8] pp. 8vo. A collection of writings by the third President of the United.....
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, 1952. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1954-59 printing, Toledano 283.1, binding/jacket style 8i with 403 titles on verso, $1.95 jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Ink underlining throughout text, jacket edges rubbed.
xxii, 328 pp. Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir. Introduction by Philip Rahv. Gathers fifteen.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1956. Salter, George. Reissue. Hard Cover.
1961-1968 printing (Toledano 318.1). Includes original jacket in the first of two different design styles, with unnumbered list of titles printed on reverse. Top edge lightly foxed, jacket a bit rubbed.
340, [4] pp. Translated from the German by.....
New York: The Modern Library, 1932. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1945-63 printing, Toledano G004.1, binding style G5, blank endpapers. Lacks jacket. Minor ink marginalia, ink name on front endpaper, front hinge just beginning to weaken.
viii, 914 pp. With explanatory notes of Shelley's poems by Mrs. Shelley. The Modern Library version.....
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, 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, 1957. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1957 first thus, Toledano 133.2, binding/jacket style 8i with 379 titles on verso, $1.65 jacket price, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. Top edge slightly discolored, minor loss from jacket spine head and foot.
xi, 424 pp. Edited by Roger Sherman Loomis.....
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, 1940. First Thus. Hard Cover.
1940 first thus in married jacket, Toledano 182.2, binding/jacket style 8i with 377 titles on verso, orange Rockwell Kent endpapers. Cover spine faded, ink name on front endpaper, jacket price clipped. The jacket style included here was in use from.....
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, 1957. Reprint. Hard Cover.
1954-59 printing, Toledano 014.1, binding/jacket style 8i with 388 titles on verso, grey Rockwell Kent endpapers. A few light smudges on boards, front hinge just beginning to weaken, jacket price clipped.
xi, 489 pp. Selected and with an introduction by John.....
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. 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.....