This beautiful full leather edition of The Book of Gems features Modern Poets and Artists of Great Britain. It was published by Henry Bohn in 1853. So the book is from the early Victorian era.
The book is bound in full Moroccan leather with blind stamped gold gilt decoration to the boards and spine. The page edges are also gold gilt and there are five raised bands to the spine. It's a lovely example of a fine binding.
It's in good condition for it's age but there is wear and crushing to the corners and rubbing to the board edges. This has caused some loss to the surface of the leather. The boards show light marking and soiling, and there is a scuff to the back board. The spine is sunned, with some chipping and loss to the surface of the leather.
Inside, the pages show foxing and age toning throughout. There is staining to the top corner of the last quarter of the book.
There are a handful of flowers and small branches tucked inside that have been pressed over time - I tried to count but there are at least 6. This adds to the charm of this antiquarian edition. There are also beautiful black and white illustrations throughout.
Dimensions approximately 22cm x 14.5cm x 4cm.
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).