This stunning antique edition of The Heart of Midlothian by Sir Walter Scott was published by Adam and Charles Black in 1893. So the book is from the end of the Victorian era. The book is bound in navy cloth with beautiful gilt decoration of thistles to the front board and spine. Top edge is gilt. The art nouveau gilt thistle design was designed by famous American book designer AA Turbayne, and features his signature (the initials rather than the scarab beetle) on the front board.
It's in very good condition with the most noticeable flaw being the crushing and splitting to the cloth at the spine ends. The spine is lightly sunned with dulling to the gilt. There is light wear to the corners and board edges, and the boards show minor marking.
Inside, there is a name plate glued to the front pastedown and the pages show light age toning and occasional minor marking. There is some foxing to the tissue guard for the frontispiece and occasional cracks to the gutter - despite this, the pages are tightly bound.
There are striking black and white illustration illustration plates by William Hole which make this an extra special read. Dimensions approximately 21.2cm x 14.5cm x 3.3cm.
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).