This lovely late Victorian edition of Faust by Goethe is an English translation of the original German play. It features a full Morocco leather binding with five raised bands to the spine and gilt decoration to the spine and boards. The text block edges are gilt but what makes this book EXTRA special is the hidden fore-edge painting that can be revealed by manipulating the text block edge.
A fore-edge painting is a scene painted on the edges of book pages. This particular fore-edge painting is known as a hidden fore-edge painting. The book's leaves must be fanned, exposing the pages' edges for the picture to become visible. This particular painting shows the ruins of a grand building, being overrun with foliage. There are stunning Grecian style columns.
The book is in good condition with the most important condition point to be aware of being the water damage to the bottom of the boards and spine (most noticeable to the bottom of the front board). This has caused discolouration and slight bowing to the board edge. The corners are worn and crushed, with some minor loss to the surface of the leather. There is minor chipping to the leather in places, and some marking to the boards. The spine is darkened, with some very slight loss to the surface of the leather in places.
Inside, the endpapers are beautifully marbled but there is the slightest cracking to the hinges. The pages are remarkably clean and bright with only minor marking in places. There is foxing and tanning to the tissue guard for the frontispiece. The water damage can be faintly seen to the bottom of the preliminary pages and the last few pages.
The book is filled with black and white illustrations by Frederick J Boston which bring this classic to life.
Dimensions approximately 18.2cm x 13cm x 3.2cm.
The book will arrive hand wrapped in patterned wallpaper and ribbon.
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 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).