This plain book is a wonderful example of the phrase "don't just a book by it's cover"! It's outwardly quite plain but inside are the most beautiful hand coloured plates which are just stunning! The Orchard and Fruit Garden Including the Forcing Pit by Charles McIntosh is a first edition and was published in 1839 by William S. Orr And Company. The book is bound in original publisher's cloth with gilt lettering and detail to the spine.
The book is in good condition considering it's over 185 years old. There is wear and crushing to the corners, with minor splitting to the cloth which has let the board peep out from underneath. There is a dent to the edge of the back board and the boards show some marking and soiling. The spine is sunned and marked, and crushing to the spine ends has caused splitting in the cloth. There is rubbing to the spine edges and a couple of small holes have formed in the cloth covering the external front hinge.
Inside, there is a bookseller's wax label in the top corner of the front pastedown and this has left an impression in the front free endpaper. The pages show age toning and scattered foxing. There are occasional marks and creasing to the paper in places. The gutter shows some superficial cracks but the pages are securely bound.
The book is filled with hand coloured plates which are just stunning to look at - the colours are so vivid and bold.
Dimensions approximately 18.8cm x 13cm 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).