The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night

London: H S Nichols, 1897. Edition de Luxe reprint - Coffin Set. Hardcover. Fine/Original box fair. Letchford, A. Penzer p 20. This is the "coffin set" or boxed 1897 edition printed by Nichols. Of all the reprints, the second best (after the true first) is the Nichols edition of 1897. The most elaborate of these is Style C described in the prospectus as follows: In three quarter levant, Selected Syrian large grained Angora goat skins. Sumac tanned of the characteristoics Damascus red. Full gold black and five double bands, Grolier corners, gold tops, tooled sides, silk head bands, triple cord stitching, hollow backs, rein forced joints, gold veined end papers. The twelve volumes enclosed in a leather casket 23" x 12.5" x 8.5 ", to place on an ordinary bookshelf or stand on a table. The casket in olive green morocco, lined soft cloth with a spring lock and key of oriental design (this set does Not have the key). It contains the 71 Letchford plates printed on special paper. Volumes over 400 pages each. The set was issued at L15,15s each. There were 500 such sets. All 12 of the books in this set are Fine, appearing as if never read or opened. The case, however, has seen better days. The leather is dried and cracking, and chipped, and the inside shows its age. Repeat, the key is missing. A very scarce and stunning set.