This stunning edition of Once On A Time by AA Milne is bound in the original publisher's cloth binding, with gilt decoration to front and spine. It was published by Hodder and Stoughton and even though it's undated, I've managed to date the binding to circa 1925. It was originally written by Milne in 1915 at a time (in his own words) "when life was not very amusing". World War I was going on much longer than was originally expected and the death toll of young soldiers was heartbreakingly high.
It's in good condition but there is some soiling and marking to the blue cloth; the text block edges also show light marking. The corners are worn and the spine is sunned and dulled. Crushing to the spine ends has caused minor splitting in the cloth.
Inside, the endpapers are decorated with a Charles Robinson illustration. The pages show heavy foxing with occasional staining. There is a crack to the gutter at the half title page and occasionally to the gutter in places throughout the book. The book features one colour plate in the form of the frontispiece, as well as numerous black and white illustrations within the text.
Dimensions approximately 19.3cm x 13.7cm 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).