Pleasant Stories in Prose and Verse, Jane Boden — 1st Edition Thus

£210.00

Pleasant Stories in Prose and Verse, Jane Boden — 1st Edition Thus

Name: Pleasant Stories in Prose and Verse, Jane Boden — 1st Edition Thus
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4095-SD-FR-G-2
Price: 210.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Virtue and Company, Limited, [c. 1878]

Formatting: Small 4to, pp. [iv], 256.

Condition Report: Good. Presented in its original publisher’s purple cloth, elaborately stamped in black and gilt with an inset circular chromolithograph to the upper board. The binding remains vibrant but exhibits moderate, age-appropriate shelf-wear, most notably a distinct one-inch split and minor fraying to the cloth at the lower front joint near the tail of the spine. The board corners are bumped and mildly rubbed, and there is light scuffing to the extremities. The binding remains relatively sound, though the text block is slightly shaken. Internally, the grey endpapers bear a neat 1878 gift inscription; leaves are generally bright and clean, with occasional instances of mild foxing, light toning to the margins, and minor typical handling marks. The text block's red-tinted edges show slight fading. Overall, a solid, presentable copy of a scarce title.

Catalogue Note: This charming and scarcely seen Victorian children's anthology, compiled by Jane Boden, is a quintessential example of late nineteenth-century illustrated juvenile literature. Issued by Virtue and Company, the volume boasts "about two hundred illustrations on wood," providing a rich visual accompaniment to the prose and verse contained within. The striking publisher's binding, featuring a vibrant chromolithograph portrait of a young girl in a holly-adorned hat, reflects the era's strong market for highly decorative, gift-ready presentation bindings.

The book bears a pleasing piece of contemporary provenance, featuring a lovely copperplate ink gift inscription to the front free endpaper that reads: "Thomas Henry Clarke. / Christmas Day. / 1878." This inscription not only adds a touch of charm but firmly dates the volume's circulation to the late 1870s. Unrecorded in major institutional databases under this exact title and author configuration, it represents a highly uncommon survival of Victorian nursery ephemera.

A delightful window into the Victorian nursery, Pleasant Stories in Prose and Verse is a captivating anthology designed to entertain and instruct the youth of the 1870s. Brimming with approximately two hundred intricate wood engravings, the collection offers a rich tapestry of charming tales, didactic rhymes, and idealized glimpses of nineteenth-century childhood. Bound in a beautifully ornate publisher's cloth with a striking chromolithograph center, it remains a wonderful, authentic addition to any collection of historical children's literature.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Jane Boden

Book Publisher: Virtue and Company

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Anthologies & Short Stories

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 248

Book Publication Year: 1877

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: Various

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

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.