This beautiful book is volume one in what would have originally been a set of three volumes. It's very worn and being sold as decorative only. Our National Cathedrals Their History and Architecture was published by Ward Lock and Co in 1887. It's a big book measuring 24.7cm x 20cm.
The book is bound in red cloth over bevelled boards with stunning decoration to the front board and spine. It's a striking cloth binding. As mentioned above, it's very worn but the cloth is still bright. There is splitting to the cloth at the spine ends, and also splitting to the top and bottom of the joints. This has caused some loss to the cloth. There is sunning to the spine and creasing to the cloth over the front board. The corners are worn and crushed with denting to the top corner of the front board. There is light marking to the back board.
There are a few detached plates inside as well as loose pages. There is a stamped name to both the front pastedown and the front free endpaper. The pages show light age toning and a bit of foxing, with occasional margin notes and underlinings. There are cracks to the gutter throughout.
Inside, a plate appears to have been removed from the front free endpaper and someone has written the number 403 in brackets to the verso of the frontispiece. The top of the title page has separated from the binding. The pages show light age toning and scattered foxing, with occasional stain marks to the pages. There are cracks to the gutter in places.
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).