Item #1451 Paul and Virginia (American Gift Book, Early Dust Jacket, Holiday Edition). Jacques-Henri Bernardin de saint Pierre.
Paul and Virginia (American Gift Book, Early Dust Jacket, Holiday Edition)
Paul and Virginia (American Gift Book, Early Dust Jacket, Holiday Edition)

Paul and Virginia (American Gift Book, Early Dust Jacket, Holiday Edition)

Philadelphia: Henry Altemus, 1891. Maurice Leloir. First Altemus Edition. Hardcover. Cream cloth over boards, title and decorations stamped in silver, gilt and green onto upper board and spine, publisher's device stamped in blind onto lower board, all edges gilt, square 8vo (9-1/8 inches tall), pp. 296, decorative green and gilt cloth endpapers, illustrated throughout with 119 engravings. The plain DJ is maroon in color with no text or images printed on it. This would make sense as this edition came in a box priced at $3.00, according to contemporary ads dated December 1891. Of further interest with the DJ is that the paper backing for the linen appears to be the same calendered paper used in the text block (a little more toned, perhaps due to it's greater exposure), also there is age appropriate *lack* of fading to the cloth of the board turn-ins where the DJ flaps have covered and protected the cloth for so long. Volume has light soil and toning, fraying to spine ends, shelf wear and a tiny crack in cloth at bottom edge of lower board with p.o.gift inscription dated Christmas, 1891 and name in pencil to 3rd. fep. DJ with minimal chipping, soil and closed tears, some spots of cloth lifting from paper backing with fade to spine and a few tape repairs verso. A scarce find in the original paper-backed linen dust jacket. Very Good / Very Good. Item #1451

The story of two young lovers living on the island of Mauritius who are corrupted by the false, artificial sentimentality that prevailed at the time among the upper classes of France. Written on the eve of the French Revolution, the novel is hailed as Bernardin's finest work and was originally published in French in 1788. This is the first Altemus edition. Ref. henryaltemuscom; Quale, p. 65; Wikipedia.

Price: $235.00 CAD  other currencies