The Greatest Books of the World's Greatest Writers series was published only as leatherette (or imitation leather) volumes. These leatherette books were bound with coated cloth to create the imitation leather that simulated a real leather look. The Franklin Library was a division of The Franklin Mint that produced fine collector edition books over three decades ending in the year 2000. For this reason all Franklin Library editions are now considered "out of print" and are no longer available for sale from the Franklin Mint.