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Edinburgh: Adam & Charles Black, 1875. 25 volume set, 11 1/2 inches tall (and 6 feet long). In a magnificent especially commissioned half red morocco with gilt raised bands and superb gilt tooling to the panels. Bound for Michael Arthur Bass, 1st Baron Burton of Rangemore Hall, his huge Country House, befitting the head of the then largest brewery in the world, Bass & Company. Especially bound sets of this edition are very scarce, which are usually found in a rather drab maroon or black half morocco or a dull green cloth. They are also very scarce in this excellent condition, exhibiting only slight rubbing and no splits or loss. Sometimes found with a separate Atlas, in this set the maps are found where relevant throughout the set.

London: Printed at the Shakspeare Press for John Major and Robert Jennings, 1828. 5 volume set, 10 inches tall. A splendid tall set in full hard grain morocco by Clarke & Bedford, one of the greatest names of the period. With gilt raised bands and very fine extra gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt fillets, and superb gilt tooling with corner devices frame the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. With the bookplates of William Strahan and Alfred de Rothschild. This celebrated edition has the plates in 2 states, with the proofs laid down on india paper. Slight foxing but overall a fine set of this great edition.

Cambridge: The University Press 1920-1927. 15 volume set, 9 inches tall. A splendid half morocco binding by Bumpus with gilt raised bands, elegant gilt tooling to the panels and all edges gilt. It is unusual to find this great work of literary reference in a fine binding. Some superficial rubbing otherwise in excellent condition.

London: John Scott, 1806. 5 volume set, 9 inches tall. A wonderful full straight grain morocco with the ticket of C. Hering, one of the greatest English binders of the period. With gilt raised bands end dense and very finely tooling to the panels and gilt fillets, rolls and corner tools to the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. With over 145 superbly engraved portraits. From the library of Evelyn de Rothschild.

London: Charles Knight, 1833. 27 volume set bound in 14, 11 1/2 inches tall. First edition. A very handsome set in an early Victorian half calf with gilt raised bands, smart twin labels, gilt and blind pallets and blind centre tools. Foxing, mostly confined to the first few leaves. A little blue has run from the marbling to the very edges of some leaves. Embellished throughout with engraved vignettes and some full page illustrations. Highly influential in its day, Herman Melville famously used the Penny Cyclopædia when writing Moby-Dick. Very few sets have survived in this state.

Paris: Perlet, 1803. 23 volume set, 8 1/4 inches tall. A most attractive and unusual full calf from the period of publication. The very elegant spines have gilt bands, twin labels and ornate and delicate centre tooling, typical of the period. A fine gilt roll frames the boards which blend tree calf with speckled lozenges in a superb fashion. Minor rubbing. With the armorial bookplates of Lord Kinnaird. A lovely set of Petitot's greatest work.

London: George Bell, 1896. Full morocco, 7 1/2 inches tall. A pristine full crushed morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe in his own distinctive design and from his library. With raised bands, a single gilt star to the spine and a gilt key motif on the upper board. The binding, which dates from 1969 has the following pencil inscription in Walter Crane's own hand on the paste down endpaper: "Board of education South Kensington. National Book Prize awarded to William Russell Flint of Edinburgh Royal Institution School of Art for success in subject 9a at the National arts Competition 1900". A unique and lovely copy of this profusely illustrated and informative work.

London: William Tegg, 1878. 2 volume set, 9 inches tall. A classic Victorian full calf with gilt raised bands, twin labels and handsome gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt corner tools, twin fillets and a blind fillet frame the boards. Gilt dentelles. A thoroughly entertaining work 'Guide to the Year: Relating the Popular Amusements, Sports, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs, and Events, incident to the 365 Days in Past and Present Times; Being a Series of 5000 Anecdotes and Facts....'

London: Rivingtons, 1874. Full calf, 11 inches tall. A tall 'Divinity' or 'Oxford' calf binding in pristine condition with raised bands, well defined inked tooling to the panels and boards, gilt centre tools and a bold red label. Red edges. Double column. An exceptional example of this scarce and comprehensive work.

London: Fortnum & Mason, c.1932. Quarter Morocco, 5.5-6.5 inches tall. 6 volume set. A handsome and rather charming set with all edges gilt. The Atlas volume contains 80 full colour maps.

London: Wingrave et al., 1805. 2 volume set, 8 1/2 inches tall. A magnificent full calf from the beginning of the 19th century with gilt bands, elaborate gilt centre tools, label and speckled edges. With the bookplate of M. General Sir Charles Stewart of Wynyard Park. From the library of Charles William Vane (formerly Stewart), third Marquess of Londonderry. Vane served with distinction throughout the Peninsula War. His dashing and dandified portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence is at the National Portrait Gallery. He amassed magnificent libraries in his various Country Houses.

Avignon: Girard, 1761. Full calf, 7 1/2 inches tall. Full 18th century mottled calf with gilt raised bands, label and fine floral gilt tooling to the panels. Pink edges. Although the binding is still perfectly solid there is rubbing, creasing, loss to the bottom panel and a defunct worm hole on the upper board. With the rather splendid bookplate of The Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire and the neat ink signatures of 2 previous owners on the title page.

London & Edinburgh: Chambers, c.1894. 2 volume set, 10 1/4 inches tall. Impressive late Victorian full calf by Relph with gilt raised bands, twin labels and ornate gilt tooling to the panels. Gilt and blind rolls frame the prize 'Elizabeth Regina' block. A neat ink previous owners name is written on the first blank. An entertaining work in which '...Anecdotes, Biography, and History, Curiosities of Literature and oddities of human Life and Character' are listed on each day of the calendar.

Gotha: Chez Justus Perthes,1822. Full morocco, 4 1/2 inches tall. A delightful little almanach in full straight grain morocco with gilt bands, three different starburst centre tools and all edges gilt. Original orange paper wrappers bound in. Decorated with a frontispiece and 10 plates, some folding. A fascinating volume in an unusually handsome binding. In French.

New York: Hawthorn Books, 1962. Full morocco, 10 inches tall. Full morocco by Zaehnsdorf. A heavy work of reference luxuriously bound with gilt raised bands, simple gilt panels, wide dentelles and all edges gilt. Armorial bookplates. Illustrated throughout. Pristine condition.

Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1962. Full morocco, 11 inches tall. Full morocco by Zaehnsdorf. A very heavy work of reference luxuriously bound with gilt raised bands, simple gilt panels, wide dentelles and all edges gilt. Armorial bookplates. Pristine condition.

Lyon: B. Cormon et Blanc, Reymann, An VIII, 1800. 2 vols., 8vo (8.25 x 5.25 inches). Superb contemporary full tree calf, twin red and green labels, very pretty tooling to spine and framing boards, marbled edges and endpapers. Slightly rubbed. Signed by the author in black ink to verso of half-title. An excellent binding.

Leide (Leiden): Wetstein, 1762. Full calf, 6 1/2 inches tall. A very good looking copy of this important reference work in 18th century full speckled calf with gilt raised bands, label and a lovely centre tool of a bird in foliage. Pink speckled edges. Bookplate. In pristine condition.

Paris: Charles Hingray, c.1840. Vellum, 4.5 inches tall. A delightful little volume in full vellum with red calf label, gilt pallets and pink edges. A charming work containing useful everyday phrases such as "I'd have killed myself, had I not been restrained by the remembrance of her", "Give me my drawers, stockings and pantaloons" and "Then I shall have spared that wretch but for my own ruin".