This beautiful antique edition of Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers by Robert Louis Stevenson was published by Chatto and Windus in 1912. It features a tree calf leather binding, with gilt tooling and five raised bands to the spine. All edges are gilt. There is a blind stamped school coat of arms to the front board.
Tree calf leather is one of my favourite types of binding and this particular edition is in very good condition for it's age. The leather is treated with acid to change it's colour and produce a beautiful tree like effect to the boards. Sadly tree calf leather began to decline in popularity before the First World War and by the 1920's, it was almost non existent.
The book is in very good condition, but there is some loss to the surface of the leather in the bottom corners of the boards. The boards are slightly bowed and the corners are rubbed. The leather shows some minor scuffs.
Inside, the endpapers are beautifully marbled and there is a presentation plate glued to the front pastedown. The pages show light age toning and sporadic foxing but are in very good, antique condition.
Dimensions approximately 18.5cm x 13cm x 2.8cm.
The book will arrive hand wrapped in patterned wallpaper and string.
I use a range of eco friendly, 100% recyclable jiffy bags and boxes, and whenever possible I use brown paper tape. The green bubble wrap is oxo-degradable and the clear bubble wrap is 100% recyclable. I also reuse boxes when I feel it's appropriate (if the boxes are sturdy enough).