For one brief shining moment back in the early 1980's The Oxford University Press and the Franklin Mint teamed up to produce some of the world's most beautiful books as part of their World’s Great Books Series. This is one of those books - Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac with the wonderful Albert Lynch illustrations.  8vo. 376 pages - An outstanding copy in fine condition with full top-grade leather binding with decoration stamped in blind on the front cover, enough gold to make a ring using genuine 22k gilt to all page edges and decoration to the front, spine and back covers, unique marbled endpapers, satin bookmarks sewn in, hubbed spine with raised bands, durable Smyth-sewn binding and premium acid-neutral paper that won't yellow over time. Printed from 1981 to 1985, the Oxford/Franklin volumes are absolutely stunning in their production qualities. Oxford University Press, in fact, specially chose the publishing division of The Franklin Mint to design and produce its World’s Great Books series because of Franklin’s unsurpassed skill in achieving a premium-quality product. Image how great this volume will look on YOUR bookshelf.