Guide to the Illustrated Editions

This is a list of all the illustrated editions and their known variations. Click a checkmark to see the related image. Click a title to go to the section of the author's page showing all formats of that title (illustrated, paperbacks, hardbacks).

Three of the illustrators (Warren Chappell, E. McKnight Kauffer, William Sharp) also designed Modern Library dust jackets. Click their names to see some samples.

Some of the images produced by clicking the checkmarks are poor; they're the best we have. If you can send me a better, full-sized image, please let me know.

To see a visual catalog all on one page, plus a general introduction to this topic providing a frame of reference for what this page is about, see Modern Library Illustrated Editions. To see a list of books not in the illustrated series but which nonetheless had two or more illustrations, see Illustrated Unillustrateds.
Author
Title
 Illustrator
Acetate 1
Acetate 2
Box 1
Box 2
Sample Art
Notes
Bronte, C. Jane Eyre Edward A. Wilson
v
v
 
Bronte, E. Wuthering Heights Fritz Eichenberg
v
 
Carroll, L. Alice in Wonderland John Tenniel
v
v
The Alice with the full illustrated cover is scarce, while the Alice with the label is downright rare. Only one example has been reported.
Cervantes, M. Don Quixote Salvador Dali
v

This title always commands high prices even without its acetate. Leftover book blocks of the illustrated edition were bound in standard #8 bindings; very few of these have been reported.
Confucius Wisdom of Confucius Lin Yutang
v
v
v
Click here for detailed information
Dante Divine Comedy George Grosz
v
v
 
Dickens, C. Pickwick Papers Donald McKay
v
v
v

First printing has "Modern Library" on the spine. Later printings have "Illustrated Modern Library."

Around 500 copies of the earliest printing were signed by the illustrator as a promotion.
Dostoyevsky, F. Crime and Punishment Philip Reisman
v
v
v
color | bw
 Illustrations of one boxed edition and the acetate edition are in color; the other boxed edition's illustrations are in black & white.
Author
Title
 Illustrator
Acetate 1
Acetate 2
Box 1
Box 2
Sample Art
Notes
Dostoyevsky, F. Brothers Karamazov William Sharp
v
v
v
1st | later

The first printing came in a box with somewhat different illustrations than in the acetate-covered later ones.

First printing has "Modern Library" on the spine. Later printings have "Illustrated Modern Library."

Around 500 copies of the earliest printing were signed by the illustrator as a promotion.
Emerson. R.W. Essays John Steuart Curry
v
v
 
Fielding, H. Tom Jones Warren Chappell
v
v

First printing has "Modern Library" on the spine. Later printings have "Illustrated Modern Library."

Around 500 copies of the earliest printing were signed by the illustrator as a promotion.
Franklin, B. Autobiography Thomas Hart Benton
v   v
v
There were two binding colors produced (green and black, shown in the acetate images); only the green binding has been seen in both acetate and slipcase configurations. Leftover book blocks of the illustrated edition were bound in standard #8 bindings.
Hudson, W.H. Green Mansions E. McKnight Kauffer
v   v
v
There were two binding colors produced (green and yellow, shown in the acetate images); these bindings have been seen in both acetate and slipcase configurations.
Longfellow, H.W. Poems Allen Lewis
v
v
 
Misc. Holy Bible Fritz Kredel
v
Very few of this rarest of Modern Library illustrateds are known to exist. (Your editor has never seen a copy.)
Misc. Famous Ghost Stories Hugo Steiner-Prag and William Sharp
v
The illustrated edition had just one printing. Leftover book blocks of the illustrated edition were bound in standard #8 bindings.
Shakespeare, W. Tragedies Warren Chappell
v
The illustrated edition had just one printing.
Shakespeare, W. Comedies Fritz Kredel
v
The illustrated edition had just one printing.
Thoreau, H.D. Walden Charles Locke
v
The illustrated edition had just one printing.
Whitman, W. Leaves of Grass Boardman Robinson
v
v