1856, from a letter by Julie to Morris:
“Dear Morris,
If you can find a copy of ‘My Peninsular Medal’ illustrated and illuminated, bound in double gilt extra, had you not better add it to our collection. It is a rare and choice work you know, and no really fine library is complete without it. Joking aside, we must either pause in our book buying or enlarge our borders for decidedly the place is getting too straight for us. The Edition of Dickens, however, we must have. If indeed it shall be all that it promises, fair sized volumes, good large print, and complete in all the stories. I insist on large print because I mean the delightful tales of this real man shall be my companions when I wear double spectacles from extreme old age, when I walk with a staff and then heavily. Where we will bestow the precious books is a matter to be decided after we really get them. We will resolve ourselves into a committee of two and fix their destination.”
There are several complete sets of Dickens hanging about, so they did get an edition. Whether it was The Edition? Who knows.
I love this. I was just fretting about having too many books and not enough room. Glad to know it runs in the family. And if I had a Dickens complete in large print, you bet I’d keep it too!
Lisa,
It definitely runs in the family! I think the only time I have not kept some books was when I was moving back from the UK and had to consider the shipping fees…