Well, I guess I am the first to write a review of this item after actually having a copy. I give it 5 stars as it is a really great set. Taschen has put out another fine limited edition, the books are hardcover and really well made as is the slipcase. The set is packaged in an outer box (with same illustrations as on the slipcase) that protects it in shipping, mine arrived without a scratch or blemish) You get a print signed by Mr.Crumb, the same size as the sketchbooks and in its own folder (see picture). The print is signed but not numbered, Volume 7 has a limitation page in the front with the number of the set. There are 6 volumes with about 220 pages in each making the set cost about $0.75 per page. So what makes this set worth so much? Only the fact that some people will want it. Who will want it? Probably NOT the Crumb fanatics (Crumbophiles? Crumbheads?) because as the description states this is not EVERYTHING that is in his sketchbooks for this time period but rather works Mr. Crumb has chosen and the fanatics will always be suspecting that he has withheld something that might reveal a secret he does not want us to know (like the Dylan fanatics who want everything Dylan has committed to paper or recording). I do not have the time to psychoanalyze Mr. Crumb from his drawings, I have my own life to take care of. I do however really enjoy his art and am very glad he has released the work from 1981 onwards first, many of us have books that contain much of his earlier work. The early volumes will be released next year. I can assure you I will order a copy, as these present volumes are just wonderful. As I said, they are very well made and contain a tremendous amount of work from sketches of landscapes to "cartoon" drawings. Some people will buy this in the hopes of selling it later at a profit, mine will only be sold when my "estate" (such as it is) is dumped on the market after my death (not for awhile yet I hope). Is it worth the price? (I pre-ordered it and got a couple of hundred dollars off the list price, even with taxes and shipping). To me and 331 other people it obviously is (I got copy 332 (see photo). Remember that this is an edition limited to 1000 copies, I am sure that down the road cheaper version will probably be published, possibly even paperbacks and they will have the SAME illustrations and the prices will most likely be more appealing. Should you buy this set? If you are a real Crumb fan and have the loot, why not indulge yourself. You only live once.