This beautiful edition of Samuel Coleridge Poetical Works was published by Macmillan and Co in 1907. So the book is from the Edwardian era.
The book is bound in full tree calf leather with beautiful gold gilt decoration to the boards and spine. The text block edges are gold gilt.
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 good condition for it's age but there is wear and rubbing to the corners and board edges. The boards show some scuffs and light scratches, with minor marks to the leather. There is loss to the surface of the leather along the spine edges and at the spine ends. The spine is noticeably scuffed and chipped, with cracking to the leather.
Inside, the endpapers are marbled and there is a written inscription on the first blank page. The pages have some light age toning and occasional marking but are otherwise clean and bright.
Dimensions approximately 19cm x 13cm x 4.3cm.
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 bubbled wrap is biodegradable and the clear bubble wrap is 100% recyclable. I also reuse boxes when I feel it's appropriate (if the boxes are sturdy enough).