Killarney Legends, Thomas Crofton Croker — 2nd Edition
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Publication: London, William Tegg and Co., 1879
Formatting: 8vo, pp. [xvi], 287.
Condition Report: Very Good. The original green publisher’s cloth binding remains highly attractive, with the gilt tooling of the stags and lettering on the front board still bright and unoxidised, complemented by crisp black-stamped landscape scenery. There is some minor shelf-wear, primarily presenting as light bumping and rubbing to the spine ends and corners, alongside a few faint scuffs to the rear board. Internally, the binding remains reassuringly tight and square. The text block is predominantly clean, displaying some expected age-toning and scattered foxing that is mostly confined to the preliminary leaves, plates, and page edges. Crucially, the folding map of the lakes is present and intact without notable tearing. Overall, a handsome and robust survivor.
Catalogue Note: This "New Edition" (stated Second Edition thus) represents a posthumous, revised iteration of Thomas Crofton Croker's classic work, originally published in 1829 as Legends of the Lakes.
Revised by the antiquary Thomas Wright, it features a new introduction and a dedication by Croker's son, T. F. Dillon Croker, positioning the book as both a repository of folklore and a practical guidebook for Victorian tourists exploring County Kerry.
The volume is distinguished by its charming visual elements, retaining the fine engravings of earlier editions. It features a beautifully engraved frontispiece of O'Sullivan's Cascade, an engraved secondary title page bearing a vignette of Muckross Abbey, two further engraved plates (including a striking view of the Gap of Dunloe), and a detailed folding map of the Killarney region.
Bound in a highly evocative decorative cloth designed to appeal to the nineteenth-century souvenir market, copies in this well-preserved state, complete with all plates and an untorn map, are increasingly scarce.
Immerse yourself in the enchanting folklore and dramatic landscapes of County Kerry with Thomas Crofton Croker's Killarney Legends. Seamlessly blending travelogue with myth, Croker leads the reader on a captivating tour through the Gap of Dunloe, Muckross Abbey, and the serene lakes, interweaving his topographical observations with the rich oral traditions and superstitions of the Irish peasantry. From tales of mischievous fairies and elusive phookas to historical local anecdotes, this delightful volume remains a timeless classic of Irish folklore and a fascinating window into nineteenth-century Celtic romanticism.
Book Condition: Very Good
Book Authors: Thomas Crofton Croker
Book Publisher: William Tegg and Co.
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Antiquarian
Genre: Antiquarian 19th Century
Book edition: Second Edition
Signed: No
Book Pages: 287
Book Publication Year: 1879
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: N/A
Book Series: N/A
Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| New | A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage. |
| As New | The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years. |
| Fine | The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked. |
| Near Fine | The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition. |
| Very Good | The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present. |
| Good | A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy. |
| Fair | A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity. |
| Poor | A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance. |
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