This beautiful antiquarian edition of Shirley by Currer Bell was published by Smith, Elder and Co is 1861. The book is bound in half calf leather with marbled paper boards. There are five raised bands to the spine, with gilt tooling and a leather title label. The text block edges are marbled.
The book has been priced lower than you'd usually see due to some pencilled writings and drawings on the preliminary blank pages.
The book is in good condition but the corners are worn and crushed, with some loss to the leather. There is also wear to the board edges which has caused peeling and chipping to the marbled paper. The boards are rubbed and worn, with loss to the surface of the paper and two larger chips in the paper. The leather shows scuffing and discolouration and the spine is sunned. There is wear to the spine ends and a chip to the leather title label. The bottom of the back hinge is just starting to split
Inside, the preliminary pages have some pencilled writing and a drawing. There are also some penned letters and numbers. The title page has pencilled initials. The pages show light age toning and sporadic foxing, with occasional marks/small stains. Page 23 is creased where the top corner has been folded inwards. There is cracking to the back hinge which has been repaired with glue.
Dimensions approximately 17.4cm x 11.3cm x 3cm.
The book will arrive hand wrapped in biodegradable bubble wrap, 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).