illustrated bibliography

RBA
Timeless Classics / Cranford Collection

Collecting » Classics » Modern Cranford Collection

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Introduction

The RBA’s Modern Cranford Collection series (also known as the Timeless Classics series in the UK), has garnered many fans for its aesthetic appeal, but it also carries historical significance rooted in Victorian literature.

The collection draws inspiration from the original Cranford series, which was published by Macmillan and Co. between 1876 and 1907. This earlier series is renowned for its decorative gilt designs and high-quality bindings, and for vintage book collectors it is a cherished part of literary history. The RBA collection revives this legacy by reinterpreting classic Victorian works with a modern touch

A significant part of the appeal of this collection is its homage to the illustrations of Hugh Thomson, a prominent artist known for his detailed and whimsical drawings that accompanied many classic texts during the Victorian era. His cover designs are characterized by naturalistic motifs and intricate, delicate embellishments, which have been reimagined in the RBA’s modern editions by adding bright colour and gold embossing.

Victorian Cranford vs Modern Cranford Designs

Original Cranford Collection covers vs Modern Cranford Collection redesigns show the inspirational original covers. For more about the original vintage series, see the Victorian Cranford Series collector’s guide.

Review

The Modern Cranford Collection was launched in Italy, Spain, and France in early 2000. The collection’s initial success in these countries paved the way for its eventual release for English-speaking audiences in 2022, where it has found a dedicated following among collectors. Overall, it’s a carefully curated set of classic literature that strikes a balance between elegance and affordability. Featuring iconic Victorian-era novels, this collection would appeal to readers who appreciate literary heritage presented in a charming, accessible format.

Despite the incredibly pretty covers, it is worth noting that the books aren’t terribly robust – they are glue-bound, with covers made of textured paper. The binding is a bit flimsy and my copies all came with very crushed edges even before I took them out of the plastic wrapping. The books aren’t illustrated, although they do have a pretty period (or period-style) frontispiece and delightful first page image that matches the cover design.

The first run of 45 titles uses only 6 designs, which are repeated across titles – sometimes with a different colourway, but other times in an almost identical binding except for the title. Several “limited editions” were released in late 2024, which included new cover designs for several previously released titles, particularly the Jane Austen set.

Where can I buy them?

The books are mostly distributed through a subscription model, which is called Timeless Classics in the UK and Cranford Collection in the US. Hardback Novels ships individual volumes to a number of destinations. If you don’t want to commit to the whole set, there are plenty of individual volumes on eBay and even Amazon. (If you’re looking for Amazon sets in Australia, try here and here, or in the UK here and here.) A set of new releases in 2024 are available in various stores including Books-A-Million (US), and I’ve seen a few of these in store at Dymocks (AU) as well.