Classic Fiction

Collecting » Classics

Beautiful Sets of Classic Books

On this page: In Print | Vintage and OOP

Please also see the Children’s Literature section.

In print (contemporary editions)

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Heritage Classics

Wordsworth Collection

Quarter bound in linen cloth, with elegant cover designs based on botanical prints by arts & crafts movement masters William Morris and William Kilburn. First released 2024.

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Arcturus Epic Classics

Striking page edges

Classic stories also featuring gold-embossed covers, and artwork by acclaimed golden age illustrators.. First released 2024.

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Signature Gilded Editions

Embossed covers and gilt page edges

A list of all the books in the pocket sized Signature Gilded Editions series by Union Square & Co. First released 2023.

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Jane Austen Collection

Harper Muse Die-cuts

Six Austen novels with delicate laser-cut paper dust jackets, complementing the Seasons Editions. First released 2023.

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Quarterbound Classics

Vintage Quarter Clothbound Editions

Bright cloth spines with contemporary illustrative covers and silk ribbon bookmarks. First released 2023.

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Arcturus Illustrated Classics

Classics with contemporary illustrations

A series of dust jacketed classics with specially commissioned illustrations. First released 2023.

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Little Clothbounds

Diverse novellas

Penguin's clothbound classic short stories with foiled covers. First released 2022.

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Painted Editions

Wraparound Cover Art

Harper Muse hardbacks with painted cover art and full page pull quotes. First released 2022.

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Deluxe Illustrated Classics

Union Square editions

Each of these volumes has a different design aesthetic, but all are uniformly gorgeous. First released 2021.

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Heller's Letters

Removable Letters

Authentic period style letters, expanding on missives mentioned in the original text. First released 2021.

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Marjolein Bastin

Removable Ephemera

Classics with delightful removable period ephemera including maps, sheet music, postcards and family trees. First released 2021.

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Arcturus Gilded Classics

Shiny covers and gilded page edges

A list of all the books in the Arcturus Gilded Classics series (published by Sirius in the US). Includes fiction and non-fiction. First published 2021.

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Wordsworth Exclusives

Pretty paperbacks

Cheap and cheerful paperbacks, with beautifully atmospheric gold-foiled cover illustrations. First published 2021.

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Penguin Vitae

"Penguins of one's life"

Diverse authors, foiled hardback covers and pretty endpapers. First released 2020.

Classic Fiction

Beehive Illuminated

Contemporary artwork

Oversized slipcased editions matching great graphic artists with classic works from centuries past. First released 2019.

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Seasons Editions

Laser-cut limited editions

Seasonally thematic collections of classic fiction with laser-cut dust jackets and other features. First released 2019.

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Chiltern Classics

Small textured volumes

Beautiful pocket sized editions of the classics with decorative textured covers inspired by classic Victorian design. First released 2018.

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Canterbury / Bath Treasuries

Classic Treasuries

Bright clothbound classics called Canterbury in the US and Bath in the UK. First released 2017.

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Wordsworth Collector's Editions

Classic Treasuries

Affordable British hardbacks, including a special 'luxe' editions set as well. First released 2018.

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MinaLima's Classics

Interactive children's classics

A collector's guide and complete illustrated bibliography of the interactive children's classics by the renowned illustrators of the Harry Potter universe. First released 2015.

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Penguin Leatherbound

Brightly foiled classics

Shiny patterns by Coralie Bickford-Smith catch the light on these faux leather bound classic novels. First released 2015.

Classic Fiction

Penguin Pocket Philosophy Set

Fine linen two-toned bindings

A collection of philosophical titles selected selected because they have “changed the history of thought”. First released 2014.

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Puffin in Bloom

Pretty illustrated covers by Anna Bond

A list of all the books in the series, including the the hardbacks, gift sets, mini-books, and more. First released 2014.

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Barnes & Noble Pocket Classics

Quick leatherbound shorts

Quick reads covering a range of poetry, history and philosophy titles. First released 2013.

Classic Fiction

Penguin Ink

Tattoo Art

Paperback classics with wraparound cover art by prominent contemporary tattoo artists. First released 2010.

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Canterbury Leatherbound Classics

Affordable leatherbounds

Leather classics with decorative cover art. First released 2010.

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Penguin Clothbounds

Printed designs and linen bindings

Beautiful repeating patterns by Coralie Bickford-Smith feature on this classic Penguin series. First released 2008.

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Calla Facsimiles

Beautiful facsimiles with golden age illustrations

Surprisingly affordable facsimiles of deluxe classics from the golden age of illustration. First released 2008.

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Virago Designer Classics

Modern fiction by women writers

Complete illustrated list of the pretty Virago Modern Classics Designer Collection. First released 2008.

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White's Fine Editions

Clothbound Tradition

Beautiful wraparound cloth covers by different illustrators and elegant typography and design. First released 2008.

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Barnes & Noble Collectibles

Brightly decorative leatherbound classics

A complete list of all the books and all your questions answered. First markets as 'collectibles' in 2005.

Classic Fiction

Penguin Deluxe Classics

Quality Penguin Paperbacks

World classics, with wraparound cover art on French flaps and deckled page edges. First released 1997.

Classic Fiction

Penguin's Foiled Fitzgeralds

Elegant metallic covers & matching bookmarks

This pretty collection of F Scott Fitzgerald’s works was the first of Penguin’s foiled cover designs. First released 1992.

Vintage / Out-of-print

Classic Fiction

Peter Owen's Cased Classics

Eye-catching International Classics

Gift editions of international classics, featuring artwork from contemporary British artists printed paper-over-board beneath elegant die-cut jackets. First released 2017.

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Macmillan Popular Classics

Watercolour Artwork

Watercolour cover designs put out by Pan Macmillan India. First released 2016.

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Rockport's Reimagined Classics

Contemporary illustrations

A library of stunning collector’s editions of unabridged classic novels illustrated by contemporary artists from around the world. First released 2014.

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Mr Boddington's Classics

Classic Penguin novels

Vintage collection of classic authors with pretty covers. First released 2013.

Classic Fiction

Sterling Signature Shakespeare

Stunning die-cut illustrations

Selected Shakespeare plays with stunning die-cut illustrations. First released 2012.

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B&N Signature Editions

Beautifully lettered covers

Barnes & Noble bonded leather hardcover classics (later replaced with flexibound covers). First released 2011.

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Margaret Atwood

70th Birthday Editions

Seven special edition hardbacks to celebrate the 70th birthday of Margaret Atwood in a limitation of 1500 copies. First released 2009.

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White's Fine Editions

Clothbound Tradition

Beautiful wraparound cloth covers by different illustrators and elegant typography and design. First released 2008.

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B&N Original Classics

Leatherbound Classics

The OG Barnes & Noble Collectible classics, in dark leather with gilded cover designs. First released 1992.

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FS Special Bindings

Folio Society's Rarest Titles

Five experimental limited leatherbound editions, with limitations between 25 to 75 copies only. First released 1960.

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Queen's Treasures

Dainty Vintage Collection

Small illustrated volumes featuring a variety of children's titles. First released 1908.

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Cranford Series

Vintage Green & Gold

Dark green cloth bindings with rich gilt designs on the covers and spines. First released 1875.

In progress...

Classic Fiction
Splinter Classics
Classic Fiction
Penguin Drop Caps
Beautiful Books