# What book or series do you feel is worthy of an expensive leather bound set? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [August 4, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056 "2023-08-04T17:27:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/1 "2023-08-04T17:27:27Z")
So what set of books would you spend hundreds (or thousands) for? For me it has always been the Horatio Hornblower series. The other day I spotted a hard-to-find set of 11 leather-bound volumes of C.S. Forester’s works from Easton Press in unread condition for sale for several hundred dollars (quite reasonable–usually this set goes well north of $1000). As an avid "Hornblower fan I have been looking for this set for many years now and was absolutely tickled to find them. They arrived today and I am super pleased with the quality and condition. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/2 "2023-08-04T18:58:47Z")
Occasionally, one of the early prints of Ulysses goes on sale at auction, and I have a vague feeling of temptation even though I know it’s going to sell for something like $15,000-$20,000, or even way more than that for one of the first editions. Last month a version with art by Henri Matisse, signed by both of them, sold for around $18,000. > **[Bonhams : MATISSE AND JOYCE SIGNED EDITION OF ULYSSES. JOYCE, JAMES....](https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28392/lot/145/matisse-and-joyce-signed-edition-of-ulysses-joyce-james-1882-1941-ulysses-with-an-introduction-by-stuart-gilbert-and-illustrations-by-henry-matisse-new-york-limited-edition-club-1935/)** > > JOYCE, JAMES. 1882-1941. Ulysses ... with an Introduction by Stuart Gilbert and Illustrations by Henry Matisse. New York: Limited Edition Club, 1935. Large 4to. 6 etched plates by Matisse, 20 reproductions of Matisse's sketches printed on blue and... That’s not leather bound, but in your post you seem to open it up to other options. I definitely find that worthwhile, I just don’t have the scratch for it at the moment ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/3 "2023-08-04T19:10:11Z")
Wow, I hadn’t even considered early prints or other crazy expensive books like that. By all means, let’s hear about those too! Both dreams and dreams realized! ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/4 "2023-08-04T19:10:18Z")
A leather bound set of Cecil’s books would be worth spending some money on. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/5 "2023-08-04T19:12:38Z")
I saw some of Lord Dunsany bound in leather sets when I worked at a library in the 1970s. That would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/6 "2023-08-04T21:15:41Z")
I have a partial leather-bound set of O Henry stories that is over 100 years old. I started out with four volumes out of seven, and then I found one more (due to aging differences, it is easy to pick out which one was the most recent acquisition, but at least they were originally the same). I have faint hope, but I would really like to be able to complete the set. But I’m old enough I probably wouldn’t want to spend even a small fortune for them. I also have a complete set of Oscar Wilde, but it was originally a fairly inexpensive set, cloth bound, and some of the volumes are not in good shape. A complete leather-bound series would be a very nice to have, but as above it would have to be not too extravagant. I once considered buying a leather-bound Tolkien set, back when it was just the LotR and Hobbit books. I decided not to, I forget why. When I was in high school, a friend of mine offered to re-bind my paperback LotR books into one book, so I let her have them. Weeks later she came and apologized that she had not been able to do it, and had ruined them in the process. I know enough now to wonder what the hell she was thinking in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/7 "2023-08-04T21:17:45Z")
The Necronomicon. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/8 "2023-08-04T23:33:23Z")
I have a set of the O/Hery stories, hardbound, but not in fine leather. If I found it I’d buy it.he is one of my favorite authors. I like all of the stories, but perhaps my favorite is “A Retrieved Reform” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/9 "2023-08-05T00:00:20Z")
The complete works of H.P. Lovecraft. Of course, for authenticity’s sake, it ought to be bound in a _very particular_ kind of leather… ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/10 "2023-08-05T00:41:36Z")
“The Vegan Manifesto” ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/11 "2023-08-05T06:28:18Z")
I dunno, it seems like you should wait 75 years or so. I’d cheerfully shell out for a nice edition of PG Wodehouse’s works, or early W. Somerset Maugham. I’m not ready for a really luxurious edition of **The Stand** or **It.** ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/12 "2023-08-05T12:31:55Z")
This one’s easy. > **[The Complete Calvin and Hobbes: Bill Watterson, Bill Watterson: 0050837310001:...](https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Calvin-Hobbes-Bill-Watterson/dp/1449433251)** > > The Complete Calvin and Hobbes \[Bill Watterson, Bill Watterson\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Complete Calvin and Hobbes ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/13 "2023-08-05T14:27:01Z")
I’ve a copy of the Red Book of Westmarch all done up fancy in red leather. [![](https://i.postimg.cc/cJNNrrT4/red-book-of-westmarch.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/cJNNrrT4/red-book-of-westmarch.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/14 "2023-08-05T14:42:00Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > For me it has always been the Horatio Hornblower series. I recently bought the first Hornblower book and found him rather boring. Far too full of angst for me. I much prefer Aubrey and Maturin. In fact, I think Hornblower’s problems arise from his lack of a confidant. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/15 "2023-08-05T14:58:59Z")
I am the proud owner of Robert Heinlein’s Complete Works–The Virginia Edition. All 46 Volumes. > **[Amazon.com: Robert A. Heinlein's the Virginia Edition (The Complete 46 Volume...](https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Heinleins-Virginia-Complete-Collectors/dp/189735035X)** > > Amazon.com: Robert A. Heinlein's the Virginia Edition (The Complete 46 Volume Collectors Set) Archival Paper, Leather Bound. $1400+ dollars. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/16 "2023-08-05T19:06:39Z")
I would love a nice, leatherbound set of Hornblower books. I’d also love a nice leatherbound set of the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O’Brian. > [@bob\_2](#): > > I recently bought the first Hornblower book and found him rather boring. Far too full of angst for me. I much prefer Aubrey and Maturin. In fact, I think Hornblower’s problems arise from his lack of a confidant. Hornblower’s sort of the prototype/archetype of the self-doubting action hero. I get the impression that when C.S. Forester first wrote him, he was more or less revolutionary, in that he wasn’t so confident and self-assured when he really had every reason to be. Between that and other personality traits, Hornblower’s a much more relatable hero than many. And in later books, Bush more or less becomes his confidant. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/17 "2023-08-06T17:20:56Z")
I didn’t think of that one, and I actually have the hardbound version; I read it too often for the paperbacks to last, no matter how good. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/18 "2023-08-06T17:42:41Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > I recently bought the first Hornblower book and found him rather boring. Far too full of angst for me. I much prefer Aubrey and Maturin. In fact, I think Hornblower’s problems arise from his lack of a confidant. I’m currently working my way back through the first Aubrey/Maturin book and am finding the style doesn’t fit me as well as Hornblower. I never made it through the second book–I regularly complain here about it being a Jane Austin bait-and-switch–but that isn’t because of a fault of the books; rather, it is that I find the deep pensive sections a little heavy for a swashbuckler IMHO. It doesn’t help that I normally only read via audiobooks on my daily run. Reading material that requires deep thought just doesn’t work that well three or four miles into a run. It’s like trying to run while listening to Brahms vs. rock with a solid beat. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/19 "2023-08-06T18:28:42Z")
I want, to start with, the complete Sunday newspaper comics of George Herriman and Winsor Mccay. They have to be crazy oversized so details show. I have the three volume hardcover Krazy Kat, and they’re very cumbersome. Maybe print them by decade. Other artists can follow. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056/20 "2023-08-06T18:41:40Z")
My fantasy set is the complete works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Each of the Barsoom novels would have Gino d’Achille’s cover painting as a frontispiece, and Frank Frazetta’s drawings illustrating the interior. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-or-series-do-you-feel-is-worthy-of-an-expensive-leather-bound-set/988056.md?page=2)