This stunning antique edition of Country Stories by Mary Russell Mitford was published in 1896 by Seeley and Co. It features illustrations by George Morrow. It's bound in green cloth with elaborate gilt decoration to the front and spine. All edges gilt. It's very reminiscent of the Cranford series by Macmillan.
Life wasn’t particularly easy for Mary. Her father was a gambler who lost most of the family fortune. For a short while, fate favoured the family when Mary chose the winning ticket (2224) for the Irish lottery. She was just 10 years old at the time and had chosen the numbers because they added up to her age. The prize money of £20,000 (roughly 2 million in today’s money) restored the family fortunes and allowed them to once again live in a manner more suited to their situation.
This respite was short lived however as Dr Mitford once again gambled away most of the fortune. In 1820, the family were forced to move from their fashionable Manor House to a labourer’s cottage in a small village. They survived off the remnants of the family fortune, and Mary’s growing literary career.
She may not be as well known in the modern day as she was during her life time, but she’s one of my favourite authors - reading her books is like stepping back in time, and you can’t help but become immersed in her world.
It's in excellent condition with light bumping to the corners and spine ends. There is very slight rubbing to the boards.
Inside, there is very slight cracking to the front hinge but the pages remain tightly bound. There is a bookseller's sticker to the front pastedown and a written inscription on the verso of the FFEP. The pages are clean and bright with scattered foxing.
Dimensions approximately 19cm x 13cm x 2cm.
All books purchased will be 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).