Judge a Book By Its Cover: Top 3 Most Stunning Cover Collections

By Ava Krysko

Nonfiction or fiction, fantasy or romance, 100 pages or 1,000, I have never found a book that I wouldn’t try. However, sometimes, I’m prone to picking one book over another due to its cover. Yes, that’s right. The phrase, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” doesn’t apply in my opinion. The fact is that some books are prettier than others (not very kindhearted of me, I know). In my defense, have you ever gone into a bookstore and noticed a book and bought it solely because of its gorgeous cover? If not, then here’s your chance, because I’m going to share the top three most stunning classic book collections. Hopefully, this post will get you to try out some of these books, even if it’s only because you fell in love with the cover. 

1. Harper Muse Painted Classics

First on this list is the Harper Muse Painted Classics collection. These book covers are my absolute favorites. With beautifully hand-painted illustrations and vibrant, vivid colors, these books will surely entice even the most hesitant of buyers. So far, I have collected four of them, and I plan to someday have them all. With options ranging from Winnie the Pooh and Other Delightful Stories by A.A Milne to The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, the Harper Muse classics have something to satisfy everyone. 

2. Penguin Clothbound Classics

Next up is a collection that is covered in linen, as opposed to the plastic material that usually encapsulates books. The Penguin Clothbound collection reminds me of books that would be found a very long time ago (besides the bright colors that accent them). I believe that these ones are more common to see in bookstores as opposed to the Harper Muse collection, so it’s possible that you’ve already come into contact with them. Spanning over 70 classics, the Penguin Clothbound Classics offer variety. With titles such as The Ring of the Nibelung or Cranford, this collection contains unique classic reads that you may not have even heard of before. 

3. Juniper Books Classic Collection

Although nearly any book from Juniper Books is breathtaking, there is something special about its classic collection. The books are sold in sets arranged by author. The spine of each book lines up with the one next to it, creating a picture when they are all placed on a shelf together. Some of the images represent plot points in the books, while others are simply the author’s name, yet all are illustrated beautifully. Even though this collection isn’t as wide-ranging as the other collections, it sports all of the common classic authors such as Charles Dickens and Jane Austen and represents their books perfectly. 

The moral of the story is that whenever you enter a bookstore, be on the lookout for pretty books. Not only are their contents absolutely wonderful, but they’ll also be gorgeous to look at while sitting on your shelf. Happy reading (or, should I say, buying?)!