Franklin Library vs Easton Press Dickens
CharlasFranklin Library Collectors
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1Gilded_Tomes1
Does anyone own the complete works of EP or FL Charles Dickens and have any thoughts they could share? Which version is superior in terms of paper, print quality, illustrations, etc? The set featured on this group's page is gorgeous btw. Thanks so much - Margaret
2treereader
If I remember correctly, EP produced three versions of this set over the years. I've held two of them in my hands and kept one: both are conservative looking, with one being more traditional (dark red leather with black spine labels) and the other a bit cheaper (light brown/tan leather). The FL Oxford Library edition looks a bit like EP's dark red version but aesthetically surpasses both of versions on the exterior, and I've heard that the FL surpasses both on the interior in terms of illustrations, as well. All of them have good paper and durability. I don't know for certain how the illustrations compare, though. If you can find any of these sets in decent condition at a price you're willing to pay, and you like reading Dickens, any of them would be a good bet.
Do be careful not to accidentally pick up the 6-7 volume partial Dickens set that EP released in the last few years if you're really after the full 20-21 volume set.
Do be careful not to accidentally pick up the 6-7 volume partial Dickens set that EP released in the last few years if you're really after the full 20-21 volume set.
3Gilded_Tomes1
>2 treereader: Thank you treereader. I just don't understand why EP doesn't re-release the red one with the black labels. The Franklin Library version looks wonderful but their cost is too high to justify buying used books. If I'm going to spend thousands, they have to be sealed, or a first edition of some sort. A cousin of mine has a first edition signed copy of Little Dorrit that she bought at auction many years ago. It's quite amazing! I would just be happy having the 21 volume set.
4treereader
>3 Gilded_Tomes1:
Unfortunately, Franklin Library went out of business years ago - likely before I started building my library in the first place.
As for Easton Press, assuming that there are no legal restrictions (e.g., copyright, ownership, distribution limitations, etc...) upon them to do so, their incentive to release any new copies would/should be a direct function of their perception of the profitability of doing so. If they perform a market analysis and determine that re-releasing one of the Dickens sets will produce them an income, I'm sure they'd entertain the idea. There's still an opportunity cost issue of redoing Dickens versus releasing other, potentially more profitable books, though. After all, they only have so many employees and so much money able to drive their printing partners.
As always, the best approach is patience. I was able to snag the black label set not once but twice for somewhere between $1000-1500 within the last 8-10 years. The first set was in OK condition and the second set was in great (and sealed) condition, so I sold off the first one. I know I've seen it in that price range a number of times in more recent history, as well.
Unfortunately, Franklin Library went out of business years ago - likely before I started building my library in the first place.
As for Easton Press, assuming that there are no legal restrictions (e.g., copyright, ownership, distribution limitations, etc...) upon them to do so, their incentive to release any new copies would/should be a direct function of their perception of the profitability of doing so. If they perform a market analysis and determine that re-releasing one of the Dickens sets will produce them an income, I'm sure they'd entertain the idea. There's still an opportunity cost issue of redoing Dickens versus releasing other, potentially more profitable books, though. After all, they only have so many employees and so much money able to drive their printing partners.
As always, the best approach is patience. I was able to snag the black label set not once but twice for somewhere between $1000-1500 within the last 8-10 years. The first set was in OK condition and the second set was in great (and sealed) condition, so I sold off the first one. I know I've seen it in that price range a number of times in more recent history, as well.
5Gilded_Tomes1
>4 treereader: Thank you for this info treereader. It seems to me that the black label red version is the Rolls Royce of Dickens books out there. I've been looking at ebay but one seller wants like 4200 for the whole set. This same seller seems to have a monopoly on sealed DLE's too, as his ads always flood the listings for new EP books there.
Just a thought, do you also own the DLE facsimile editions of Dickens' books from EP, (the green ones), and the 2-vol. editions of Great Expectations and Tale of Two Cities?
Just a thought, do you also own the DLE facsimile editions of Dickens' books from EP, (the green ones), and the 2-vol. editions of Great Expectations and Tale of Two Cities?
6treereader
>5 Gilded_Tomes1:
You're welcome. From EP, and for the time being, probably yes, the black label red version represents EP's best Dickens set. I've long surmised that EP has been secretly releasing all of its 100 Greatest titles and certain various sets as DLEs, one by one and in plain sight, and that after a few decades, whole sets of DLEs for authors like Dickens will be feasible.
And although it's very unlikely, EP could always issue a new Dickens set. If they did, I would imagine it would be very much in line with how they treated Hemingway and one or two others in recent history - as a smaller 5-8 volume set containing only the most popular titles, and likely reusing the last full set's cover design. I suppose that would be better than nothing. It would be really interesting, though, to see them bring back a full set with a new/interesting cover design and maybe some new illustrations throughout.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of the Dickens DLEs, so I can't provide any first-hand comparisons. But I do know, as does everyone else, who you are referring to regarding the ridiculously priced sets. If money is no object and you simply have to have something, sure send them some business. Otherwise, patience will certainly score you a decent-condition set for a LOT less some day. Consider buying individual titles at whatever pace you might read them to bide your time while waiting for a full set to appear - then sell off the individual titles once you have a whole set.
You're welcome. From EP, and for the time being, probably yes, the black label red version represents EP's best Dickens set. I've long surmised that EP has been secretly releasing all of its 100 Greatest titles and certain various sets as DLEs, one by one and in plain sight, and that after a few decades, whole sets of DLEs for authors like Dickens will be feasible.
And although it's very unlikely, EP could always issue a new Dickens set. If they did, I would imagine it would be very much in line with how they treated Hemingway and one or two others in recent history - as a smaller 5-8 volume set containing only the most popular titles, and likely reusing the last full set's cover design. I suppose that would be better than nothing. It would be really interesting, though, to see them bring back a full set with a new/interesting cover design and maybe some new illustrations throughout.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of the Dickens DLEs, so I can't provide any first-hand comparisons. But I do know, as does everyone else, who you are referring to regarding the ridiculously priced sets. If money is no object and you simply have to have something, sure send them some business. Otherwise, patience will certainly score you a decent-condition set for a LOT less some day. Consider buying individual titles at whatever pace you might read them to bide your time while waiting for a full set to appear - then sell off the individual titles once you have a whole set.
7Gilded_Tomes1
>6 treereader: Thank you so much: I guess I just have to reconcile that I missed the release of these sets and that the days of complete Dickens sets being sold in premium format are dead. I guess I will just keep watching the secondary market for something decent!
8Fymido_Lenito
>7 Gilded_Tomes1: I am a bit late to this thread. I own the FL complete Oxford Dickens set. I have also seen and carefully examined the quality of some EP Dickens volumes in a local bookstore. I don't remember which specific EP series the volumes came from, but I clearly preferred the look and the production of the FL series.
I also compared my Everyman's Library Dickens volumes (which, like the FL, are replicas from the original Oxford releases) with their FL counterparts. The clarity of the printing is clearly better in the FL series (particularly the illustrations).
I also compared my Everyman's Library Dickens volumes (which, like the FL, are replicas from the original Oxford releases) with their FL counterparts. The clarity of the printing is clearly better in the FL series (particularly the illustrations).
