A striking book cover is worth a thousand words—and that’s especially the case when it comes to worthwhile editions of classics. Publishers frequently consider how to appeal to new audiences with enticing new designs and that means fans of these books have many options to choose from when considering which collections belong in their home or are worthy of gifting to someone.
While special editions are having a real heyday, this list focuses on collections instead of special editions of individual titles. I own books from several of these collections and there are a few others I love, as well as one that is completely aspirational. (I believe the price tag will make it clear which one that is.) But there are so many more I could have featured. There’s just something about beautiful books! Plus it’s always a delight to see how a beloved classic can be repackaged to help readers see it anew.
While some of these are sold as box sets, there’s a case to be made for building your collection one or two at a time. Personally, this approach gives me a mission when I’m entering a new sale or store: the first thing I do is look for books to add to my collection, and then I look at everything else. Whenever I’m lucky enough to find a title to add to my collection, I have the pleasure of remembering the hunt for it, and my bookshelf now holds the record of many cities and their bookstores I’ve gotten to visit.
Whichever way you choose to approach adding new editions to your home, I hope you’ll enjoy persuing these beautiful editions today and share your favorites in the comments.
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10 editions worth collecting and gifting
Penguin Clothbound Classics
Designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith, Penguin Clothbound Classics feature custom patterns inspired by the book stamped on linen cases. There are now more than 75 classics in this beautiful collection. I’m partial to the seven book set of Jane Austen’s Complete Works.
Penguin Green Ideas
I recently gave Will the Penguin Green Ideas collection, which is positioned as the new canon of environmental writing. It’s not widely available in the U.S.: the only reason we knew the series existed is he stumbled upon a book from the series, Jared Diamond’s The Last Tree on Easter Island, at Shakespeare & Company in Paris. This twenty-book collection features luminaries like Wendell Berry, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and more sharing their thoughts on our relationship with the natural world, climate change, and how to get involved in the movement.
Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets
I’ve been collecting Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets for going on twenty years now. The 100+ volume collection includes anthologies and individual poets. I first fell in love with these tiny editions when I saw them at Faulkner House Books in New Orleans. I tend to pick these up when I travel: when I’m on the road, I’m constantly searching new and used bookstores for their distinctive spines. They’re not widely carried so my collection grows slowly.
Macmillan Collector’s Library
Now boasting over 300 titles, Macmillan Collector’s Library editions are known for their distinctive green and gold foil designs. The petite volumes—just six inches tall—make quite an impact on bookshelves. My collection began with a Jane Austen set (shocking!) and is growing from there.
The Folio Society Jane Austen: The Complete Novels
The Folio Society makes impossibly gorgeous special editions of beloved books. I own several volumes that I received as very nice gifts and the quality and design are superb. In honor of this year marking 250 years since Jane Austen was born, they put together this limited edition set of her complete novels. At $1200, it might be an aspirational option but it’s no doubt a beautiful one.
Puffin in Bloom
Puffin in Bloom features floral designs courtesy of Anna Bond who is the co-founder, CEO, and chief creative officer at Rifle Paper Co. It’s no wonder I love them! I snapped up the original four titles when they were first released in 2015 and they have added such happy cheer to my bookshelf ever since. I was beyond delighted when I stumbled upon the then-new three-book Jane Austen collection at Parnassus Books. The latest installment The Wizard of Oz just came out this week.
Cranford Classics
Cranford Classics is a limited-access collection from Books-A-Million and they’re soooo pretty. The hardcovers boast a floral design, affordable price, and a nice-sized font (because don’t forget these books are beautiful, sure, but they’re also for reading.) This relatively small collection includes titles from Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Edith Wharton, and a handful more.
Juniper Books
Juniper Books specializes in dust jacket designs so that series or books by the same author get a one of a kind look from the cover to the spine. You can purchase the dust jackets by themselves or with the books. Many thanks to the MMD blog readers and MMD Book Clubbers who put Juniper on my radar!
Chiltern Publishing
Chiltern Publishing Classics have distinguishing floral and graphic designs, along with gilt edges and a ribbon bookmark. They started out with Jane Austen’s novels and expanded from there.
Canterbury Classics Word Cloud
A word cloud features the most frequently used words in a text and that makes it the perfect design fodder. Canterbury Classics Word Cloud editions feature bright colors and foil stamping on the cover. The cheerful saturated colors and flexible paperback covers make this collection feel especially friendly and accessible.
Do you have any special book collections? Please tell us all about it in the comments.
P.S. Are you a collector?
P.P.S. Build your kids’ libraries with these wonderful, beautiful books, Beautiful editions of Anne of Green Gables, and Add joy to your reading life with these favorite bookish accessories.
21 comments
Thank you for drawing attention to artfully
beautiful editions. ♥ Puffin In Bloom is my favorite ♥
I have seen so many beautiful special editions of books lately. I love the Mina Lima editions childrens classics, including Harry Potter books 1-3, which I gifted last Christmas. Book 4 in the HP series just came out, but I think there is a new illustrator taking over. I also love the Andrews McMeel Publishing editions of classics illustrated by Marjolein Bastin. So far I have collected Sense and Sensibility, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights. These have gorgeous color illustrations and include extra elements like maps, family trees, and “handwritten letters”. Will you also be doing a post on special editions of individual titles (please please)? Happy Reading!
I still have the hardcovers of all the Harry Potter Books, with their paper jackets.
I was going to mention the Mina Lima collections too! 💙
My best friend asked me to read a passage from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet at her wedding last week, and I gave her a Penguin Clothbound edition of the book as a gift.
Not part of a collection, but Barnes & Noble just came out with an exclusive leatherbound, silver-stamped with silver sprayed edges edition of one of my favorite books of the last ten years The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab.
And after years of fruitless searching for a hardcover copy of Louise Penny’s first book, Still Life, they came out with a gorgeous special edition.
I was gifted a Jane Austen collection of the Word Cloud editions a few years ago. They are just gorgeous! I’m drooling over several other of these collections, too!
Love to see how visual art is married with the written word!
I spent years collecting the Penguin Drop Caps series. Now that I’ve completed it I need to start a new collection!
I only recently became familiar with Persephone Publishing. They are a very interesting publishing company bringing back out of print gems from the mid-20th Century, mostly by women writers. The print editions are really gorgeous.
My daughter and I have a joint Persephone collection. She first found their bookstore when we traveled to London, although the store has since moved to Bath. A few bookstores in the U.S. are carrying them, one is Beacon Hill Books in Boston. Make a reservation at their cafe if you visit! We also search for them in used book stores and library book sales. A quest is so much fun!
I don’t remember how I found Persephone Publishing, but I have invested in a small collection of their silver-gray bound books over the last several years, usually a special birthday gift for myself. The books have beautiful end papers, and I pay the extra few dollars to have the book giftwrapped so that when I receive it, I have the enjoyment of unwrapping my special gift (and I keep the silver and red wrapping paper and the silver satin ribbon, too). They have a wonderful range of books and I enjoy learning about the women authors.
I am such a sucker for a beloved title in a beautiful edition! Two I love that I don’t see here are the Wordsworth Collector’s Edition and Harper Muse Classics Painted Edition. I also love the Mina Lima editions (esp HP) others mentioned. Thanks for the fun wrap up!
YES!!! The Mina Lima books are such a delight, I have them on my son’s shelf!!
I love this topic. I have the Penguin Drop Cap A-Z collection (https://www.abebooks.com/books/features/penguin-drop-cap-series.shtml), about 10 Penguin cloth books, one pocket poet book, and some of Barnes and Noble Children’s Series.
I’d love to find a collection with more books from the last half of the 20th century and non-fiction books. The Puffin Bloom books are calling me.
Are any of these (and if not, can you recommend any) annotated editions? I’m trying to read some more classics, and I’ve found a good annotation helps me understand the context more. It really added to my experience reading Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Harvard University Press has beautiful annotated editions of Jane Austen’s novels. I bought the P&P one a few years back and I love it. They have a sale on all editions right now due to the 250th Anniversary celebration so if you’re interested, might be a good time to purchase. Here’s the website: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/jane-austen-books?page=1
I have really loved beautiful editions of books recently.
MinaLima books (there is a Harry Potter collection, as well as some classic stories/fairy tales) are incredible. I only have the first Harry Potter book so far, but I definitely plan to collect them all!
Marjolein Bastin has a collection of 8 illustrated classic books that are amazing, with letters between characters included.
I have been collecting Illustrated Junior Library books since I was a child, starting with a collection from when my mother was a child. They are beautiful and I love them, but are no longer in print.
I also feel like books from BOTM, Owl Crate or Illumincrate are collectable (Owl Crate books are especially well made).
Yes to MinaLima and Marjolein Bastin! I would love to see the Junior Illustrated books. I have not heard of these… One thing I love about BOTM books is that they are all the height and width, differing only in thickness from the page count. They look so neat and crisp lined up on my bookshelves!
I love this post so much! I collect series, like Jane Austen’s books, the Brontes’ books, Dickens, Steinbeck, Agatha Christie, Harry Potter, Winnie-the-Pooh, Beatrix Potter (antique). Then I collect favorite editions of favorite books in a series, like P&P, or Jane Eyre, or Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz! I love Puffin in Bloom editions, Majolein Bastin editions, Penguin Cloth Bound editions, Everyman Pocket editions, Persephone gray bound and the illustrated editions and most special editions of all of Austen’s works!!! The list goes on and on! One of my most treasured collections are the 6 books done by Anthropologie and designed by Mr. Boddington’s in London!!! They were hard to find as they sold out from the stores almost immediately!
Hi Dorothy,
I had just responded to Brian’s post above but if you’re into collecting, you might want to take a look at the Harvard University Press special annotated and illustrated editions of Jane Austen’s novels. I have the P&P one (hoping to collect the rest soon) and it’s gorgeous! The museum-quality pictures and the annotations add a historical feel to the books that make reading these such a special experience! Here’s the link in case you’re interested: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/jane-austen-books?page=1
The Harper Muse classics, painted editions are my next obsession. I also have the Puffin Hardcover classics set and they are all rainbow and just such a delight
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