Prize binding. 1820 Essays, Poems, and Plays by Oliver Goldsmith. Fine binding.

$199.99

A handsome and unique prize binding, from the Nottingham region, tooled in 1826, decorates this 1820 (but 1821) edition of Oliver Goldsmith's Essays, Poems and Plays. Rich tooling, with inscriptions on the front and rear board, and silk moire endpapers make this a very handsome binding indeed!

It seems likely that the prize is from the Southwell Minster school, but I have also found a few odd records about a private school operating in Southwell at the same time, which make it unclear (for me) which school it comes from.

Physical Attributes -

Measures 13 x 7 x 2.5 cm. Straight-grain Morocco leather. Boards with outer double fillet borders, with an inner gilt rolled border, and another inner blind border. Prize tooled vertically. Spine has five compartments separated by fillets, compartments with central florets and corner florets, one compartment with "Goldsmith's Essays &". All edges gilt. Silk moire endpapers. Pages - (2), frontis, title page plate, 408 numbered pages, (2).

Condition -

See pictures. Some shelf wear to binging and edge wear. Joints worn, with a .5 cm crack at bottom of front joint. Spine lightly sunned. A little dust to silk endpapers. Some bookseller writing on blank unpaginated endpapers. Text block has an occasional foxing spot. Last five leaves have a waterstain. A very handsome and unique binding.

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