This stunning edition of The Ingoldsby Legends Myths and Marvels by Thomas Ingoldsby was published by Richard Bentley and Sons in 1889. It's bound in original red cloth with blind stamped decoration in gilt and black to the front board and gilt to the spine - I particularly love the gilt witch on the spine!
***Please note that quite a lot of the pages are uncut along the fore-edge and top edge - which means no one has read this book cover to cover in over 135 years of life!***
It's in very good condition with the main flaw being the fading to the spine and around the edges of the boards. There is a small water mark near the top of the front board and light wear to the corners. The spine ends are crushed.
Inside, there is some soiling to the front endpapers and chipping to the top corner of the FFEP. The front hinge shows slight signs of cracking. The pages are clean and bright with occasional finger marks. There is cracking to the gutter in places but the pages remain tight to the binding. There is a penned inscription on the half title page. Some of the pages have been separated by an inexpert hand - this has left the page edges jagged.
There are beautiful black and white illustrations inside which add to the charm of this antique volume. The illustrators include Cruikshank, Leech and Tenniel. Dimensions approximately 19.3cm x 13.7cm x 3.5cm.
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).