This lovely edition of The Reader's Handbook was published by Chatto and Windus in 1896. The Reader's Handbook provides context to names, phrases, allusions, plots and stories often found in popular poems and prose. It was written by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, a British lexicographer and author of other reference books.
It's a stunning school prize binding, bound in full tree calf leather, with marbling to the text block edges. There is a striking school insignia blind stamped into the front board in gilt and the spine features five raised bands and gilt tooling. It's the chunkiest tree calf leather book I've ever seen!
Tree calf leather is one of my favourite bindings in antique books. The leather is treated with acid to change it's colour and produce a beautiful tree like effect to the boards. Sadly tree calf leather began to decline in popularity before the First World War and by the 1920's, it was almost non existent. So it's nice to see a book from the late 20's in this binding.
It's in very good condition with only light wear to the corners and board edges. The top edge of the text block is a little dulled and the boards show faint scuffing and scratching. The spine shows cracking to the surface of the leather and there is some minor red staining to one edge of the text block.
Inside, the endpapers are marbled to compliment the boards and there is a presentation plate glued to the front pastedown. The pages are clean and bright with minimal age toning.
Dimensions approximately 18.2cm x 13cm x 7.33cm
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).