A magnificent and authoritative edition of John Ruskin’s collected works, limited to 2,062 copies, of which 2,000 were issued for sale. Edited by E. T. Cook and Alexander Wedderburn, this Library Edition stands as the definitive and most comprehensive presentation of Ruskin’s writings on art, architecture, nature, economics, and moral philosophy. The apogee of Ruskin’s immediate influence was marked by the decision to publish this monumental Library Edition of his complete works in thirty-nine volumes, appearing between 1903 and 1912. Although biographically reticent and presenting a somewhat liberal interpretation of Ruskin, it became the foundation for all subsequent Ruskin scholarship, an enduring testament to his impact on Victorian thought and aesthetics. Several volumes in this 39-book set show individual points of note. Volume 7 has tape residue on the spine, Volume 10’s frontispiece is detached, Volume 12 has worn hinges, Volume 21 has a strained gutter, Volume 22 shows cover wear, Volume 27 has a small tear on an endpaper that does not affect content, Volume 33 and 39 show cover wear, Volume 34 exhibits more significant cover wear than the other volumes, and Volume 37 also shows serious cover wear. Volume 36 has a folded and creased endpaper. Generally, the set retains a strong sense of provenance, with a Royal Library bookplate and sticker on the pastedown, a sticker on the front free endpaper, and RCA library blindstamps to the title pages. Foxing is present throughout, and library annotations and checking marks appear at the back endpapers. Many volumes include frontispieces and numerous plates, with untrimmed pages and occasional uncut leaves, giving a variety of sizes within the set. Covers show color deterioration in places. The set comprises: Vol. 1. Early Prose Writings 1834–1843 Vol. 2. Poems Vols. 3–7. Modern Painters Vol. 8. The Seven Lamps of Architecture Vols. 9–11. The Stones of Venice (complete) Vol. 12. Lectures on Architecture and Painting (Edinburgh 1853) with Other Papers 1844–1854 Vol. 13. Turner: The Harbours of England, Catalogues and Notes Vol. 14. Academy Notes, Notes on Prout and Hunt, and Other Art Criticisms 1855–1888 Vol. 15. The Elements of Drawing, The Elements of Perspective, and The Laws of Fesole Vol. 16. ‘A Joy for Ever’ and The Two Paths, with Letters on The Oxford Museum and Other Addresses 1856–1860 Vol. 17. Unto This Last, Munera Pulveris, Time and Tide, and Other Writings on Political Economy 1860–1873 Vol. 18. Sesame and Lilies, The Ethics of the Dust, The Crown of Wild Olive, with Letters on Public Affairs 1859–1866 Vol. 19. The Cestus of Aglaia and The Queen of the Air, with Other Papers and Lectures on Art and Literature 1860–1870 Vol. 20. Lectures on Art and Aratra Pentelici, with Notes on Greek Art and Mythology Vol. 21. The Ruskin Art Collection, Oxford—Catalogues, Notes and Instructions Vol. 22. Lectures on Landscape, Michael Angelo & Tintoret, The Eagle’s Nest, Ariadne Florentina Vol. 23. Val D’Arno, The Schools of Florence, Mornings in Florence, The Shepherd’s Tower Vol. 24. Giotto and His Works in Padua, The Cavalli Monuments Verona, Guide to the Academy Venice, St. Mark’s Rest Vol. 25. Love’s Meinie and Proserpina Vol. 26. Deucalion and Other Studies in Rocks and Stone Vols. 27–29. Fors Clavigera: Letters to the Workmen and Labourers of Great Britain Vol. 30. The Guild and Museum of St. George: Reports, Catalogues, and Other Papers Vol. 31. Bibliotheca Pastorum: The Economist of Xenophon, Rock Honeycomb, The Elements of Prosody, and A Knight’s Faith Vol. 32. Studies of Peasant Life: The Story of Ida, Roadside Songs of Tuscany, Christ’s Folk in the Apennine, Ulric the Farm Servant Vol. 33. The Bible of Amiens, Valle Crucis, The Art of England, The Pleasures of England Vol. 34. The Storm-Cloud of the Nineteenth Century, On the Old Road, Arrows of the Chace, Ruskiniana Vol. 35. Praeterita and Dilecta Vols. 36–37. The Letters of John Ruskin (Vols. I–II, 1827–1889) Vol. 38. Bibliography, Catalogue of Ruskin’s Drawings, Addenda et Corrigenda Vol. 39. General Index An extraordinary and complete set of one of the most ambitious literary and scholarly publishing projects of the early twentieth century. These thirty-nine volumes together weigh substantially and will be shipped in two to three boxes.