This beautiful edition of The Fields and The Woodlands Depicted by Painter and Poet was published by Ward Lock and Taylor. The book itself is undated but I've seen another of these editions with a presentation plate dated 1880. So the book is Victorian. The binding is very Victorian in style.
The book is bound in burgundy cloth over bevelled boards with elaborate blind stamped decoration in black and gilt to the front. There is also a pasted on colour illustration to the front. All edges gilt.
It's in good condition but there is significant wear to the corners and bottom of the board edges - this has caused some splitting and fraying to the cloth. There is dulling and rubbing to the decoration. The front illustration is marked and scratched. The back shows some light marking and the spine is darkened. Crushing to the spine ends has caused minor splitting in the cloth.
Inside, the pages show handling marks and foxing throughout. The pages remain tight to the binding. The book features 24 stunning colour plates. One of these had pencilled writing on the verso. Dimensions approximately 27.8cm x 21.7cm x 2.3cm.
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).