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Description
An extraordinary, investment-grade collector’s find. This is a beautifully preserved 1890s two-volume hardcover edition of R.D. Blackmore’s classic historical romance …
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An extraordinary, investment-grade collector’s find. This is a beautifully preserved 1890s two-volume hardcover edition of R.D. Blackmore’s classic historical romance novel, Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor, published by Porter & Coates (Philadelphia).
What makes this specific set an absolute anomaly for antiquarian book collectors is the presence of the original paper dust wrappers (jackets). During the late 19th century, dust jackets were intended as disposable packaging and were almost universally discarded by buyers. Because these plain black paper wrappers remained on the books for over 130 years, they absorbed all shelf wear, leaving the treasures underneath flawlessly preserved.
Beneath the wrappers sits a breathtaking, full-coverage Victorian gold gilt filigree design stamped into deep black cloth. The gold leaf on both the front boards and the spines remains mirror-bright, untarnished, and incredibly crisp.
The authenticity of this pairing is beautifully evidenced internally. Opening the volumes reveals an elegant, crisp "shadowing" or ghosting line on the fixed endpapers. This natural toning was caused by the chemical interaction of the paper dust jacket flaps resting against the book's pages for more than a century, giving the set pristine antiquarian provenance.
*As a captivating piece of historical context, Vol. I contains an original 1900 newspaper clipping tucked inside the front cover. The clipping features a moving memorial poem written for Blackmore upon his passing by his lifelong friend and celebrated poet, Arthur Joseph Munby.
The inner page also features faint, authentic vintage pencil inventory marks ("new / nice / 2 vols") from an early bookseller.
Perfect as an exquisite decorative accent for a sophisticated library shelf, mantle, or curation, as well as a cornerstone piece for a serious bibliophile.
Author: Richard Doddridge (R.D.) Blackmore
Publisher: Porter & Coates, Philadelphia
Circa: 1882–1892 (Publisher operated under this name until 1892)
Includes: Volume I and Volume II (Complete Set)
Condition Details: The internal cloth bindings and gold gilt decorative elements are in beautiful antique condition with remarkably bright gold leaf. The original paper dust jackets are heavily worn, chipped, and fragile at the edges—having successfully performed their historical duty of protecting the hardcovers. The interior endpapers show clean "jacket shadow" ghosting lines from the paper flaps. Internally, the text blocks are clean, bright, and square, though there is minor, expected age-related cracking to the paper hinges down the inner gutters, exposing the underlying white binding mesh (super) while leaving the pages firmly attached.
Contains a vintage newspaper clipping ephemera and faint pencil markings inside Vol I.
Dimensions
Width: 5.75 inHeight: 8.5 inDepth: 3.0 in (Combined total thickness of both 1.5" volumes placed side-by-side on a shelf)
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- Dimensions
- 5.75ʺW × 2.5ʺD × 8.5ʺH
- Styles
- Illustration
- Victorian
- Period
- Late 19th Century
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Gold Leaf
- Paper
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Black
- Condition Notes
- Condition Details: The internal cloth bindings and gold gilt decorative elements are in beautiful antique condition with remarkably bright gold … moreCondition Details: The internal cloth bindings and gold gilt decorative elements are in beautiful antique condition with remarkably bright gold leaf. The original paper dust jackets are heavily worn, chipped, and fragile at the edges—having successfully performed their historical duty of protecting the hardcovers. The interior endpapers show clean "jacket shadow" ghosting lines from the paper flaps. Internally, the text blocks are clean, bright, and square, though there is minor, expected age-related cracking to the paper hinges down the inner gutters, exposing the underlying white binding mesh (super) while leaving the pages firmly attached. Contains a vintage newspaper clipping ephemera and faint pencil markings inside Vol I. less
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