Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Collins Free-Type Press, circa 1920 - leather bound, gold gilt decorated , illustrated authentic and rare.
My story...
I am a rather special little find - a rare, leather bound edition of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte published by Collins Free-type press with illustrations by A. H. Buckland.
This book is not dated but it's style - binding and title page - is reminiscent of Collin's Press editions of around the 1920.
Practicalities:
-I am slightly larger than pocket size measuring H 15.5cm W 10cm approx.
-I weigh in at 229g.
Condition Summary:
I am in very good plus condition generally with only minor signs of age and use. There are no inscriptions in me. For specific, minor condition points see below.
Why buy me?
I ooze vintage charm! My volume is bound in a full, dark brandy, pebble-grained, soft leather, which feels soft, and good to hold.
Next, see how my spine is ornately tooled and decorated with titles, my author's name and publisher's name in gold gilt. The art nouveau inspired, gilt ornamentation on my spine is sparkly and bright as when new.
My text block/page edges are also crowned with gilt which still gleams.
Open me up now to endpapers printed in a deep contrasting purple. They have weathered the waves of time very well.
Next, turn my pages and prepare to be astounded. Firstly, at their exemplary condition (give or take a few folded page corners), for you will find my reading pages mostly bright, clean and tightly bound - very few age marks were found in me. My font is also quite a pleasing size, not tiny like in some vintage pocket books.
Secondly, be astounded by my beauty.
I am, of course, speaking of my classic, black and white frontispiece illustration and ornately designed title page, which depicts a gentleman reading in an archway decorated with foliage and cherubs. When my seller saw the frontispiece and main title page of this book she could not get over how clean and bright the pages are!
There are also three further black and white illustrations inside of me portraying evocative scenes from my novel.
I end as I began with my rich, purple endpapers, again in a highly respectable condition.
Oh, but we must not forgot my slightly bedraggled, ribbon bookmark, still holding on in there after all these years.
All this in a binding that is robust and flexible - a winning combination!
As I am around 100 years old I will have some signs of age and use:
Hardcover: spine ends mildly worn on their ends; the books corners are gently rolled and gently worn on their tips; there is a slight rubbed section on the rear hinge near the decoration; the main leather covers have gentle areas of superficial rubbing but are mostly shiny and vibrant; there is a more noticeable rub on the front, top corner; the spine leather is more faded.
Endpapers: There authentic is some ever so slight creasing on the bottom edge of the front paste down and some very gentle fading on the bottom edge of the rear paste down, otherwise the purple papers are in an extraordinary condition for their age.
Page edges: Top, gold gilt edge mildly faded with tiny rubs and scratches towards the spine end; the natural edges are age toned with and a few light foxing patches and faint, small marks.
Reading pages: excellent vintage condition generally: mildly age toned; there is a section of creased page corners towards the rear where they had been folded for many years (see photo 5). There are some very faint marks on the top of the opening page of the story. If you find any other marks they will be similarly slight and rare.
Illustrations: the illustrations are age toned around their white frames to varying degrees (see photos).
Binding: really strong - the gutters between the endpapers are intact at each end.
A note from my seller:
This really is a delightful and gorgeous highly collectible antique edition - rare to find especially in this condition.
I will be sent Royal Mail special delivery in the UK and Royal Mail International, tracked worldwide. Please message me for worldwide postage costs if not displayed.
I will be packed in recycled, biodegrable packaging where possible.