The second Nonesuch commission for the engraver Stephen Gooden (after the Anacreon of 1923), and one of the most significant productions of the Nonesuch Press. Sensitively illustrated by the often under rated Stephen Gooden, one of the leading British line-engravers of the 20th century, most renowned perhaps for this work and the Fables of Jean de La Fontaine; he was also a prolific bookplate designer and even had banknote designs taken up by the Bank of England in the 1930s & '50s.

Limited editions, the Apocrypha number 1024 of 1250, the others one of 1,000 unnumbered copies; 5 vols; copper engraved pictorial titles, head and tailpieces by Stephen Gooden, tissue guards, faint spotting to endpapers, otherwise fine; publisher's decorated boards, faint spotting to upper cover (vol. III only), slight bumping to corners and spine extremities, toned, otherwise very good.