Lot 524: A Collection of Victorian and Edwardian Decorative Cloth-Bound Books. Various Publishers, circa 1880-1920.
A collection of antique and vintage hardcover volumes, primarily dating from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. The volumes are bound in various decorative publisher’s cloths, including shades of green, blue, red, and tan, featuring ornate gilt lettering, blind-stamped decorations, and colour-printed pictorial designs characteristic of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Notable titles include The Boy’s Book of Pioneers by Eric Wood (Cassell), The Young Reporter by W. Drysdale (Pilgrim Press), and Tennyson illustrated by Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale (G. Bell & Sons). Other works include The Last of the Mohicans by J. Fenimore Cooper (Collins), A Hard Bit of Road by Raymond Jacberns (Wells Gardner, Darton & Co. Ltd.), and The Prince of the House of David (Excelsior Series). The collection features works by prominent publishers of the period such as T. Nelson & Sons, Scott Publishing, and Cassell. Most volumes are in octavo or duodecimo format.
Condition report:
The collection shows signs of age and handling consistent with its period. Visible wear includes fraying to cloth at spine ends and corners, rubbing to gilt and pictorial decorations, and some sun-fading to spines. One brown volume in the foreground exhibits significant surface loss and deterioration to the binding. There is evidence of shelf lean and occasional staining to the covers. Internal conditions such as foxing or page integrity have not been inspected.
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