Tales for Girls, Mary Elliott — 2nd Series

£30.00

Tales for Girls, Mary Elliott — 2nd Series

Name: Tales for Girls, Mary Elliott — 2nd Series
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5001
Price: 30.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Darton and Co., c. 1847

Formatting: 16mo, pp. 72 [pages numbered 69-140].

Condition Report: Good. The publisher's original blind-stamped cloth binding remains structurally sound, though it exhibits noticeable exterior wear commensurate with its age and its intended juvenile readership. The cloth is heavily faded and marked, with rubbing to the extremities and slight fraying with small losses to the spine ends. The hinges remain holding, ensuring the text block is intact. Internally, the pages present with typical, moderate foxing, spotting, and age-toning throughout, occasionally heavier at the margins. The hand-coloured frontispiece and title vignette remain bright despite the surrounding foxing, and the leaves are free from major tears. The early ink inscription to the front free endpaper is neat and legible, adding character without detracting from the text. Overall, it is a survivor in respectable condition for a fragile mid-nineteenth-century children's book.

Catalogue Note: This copy represents the "Second Series" of Mary Elliott's popular Tales for Girls, issued separately with pages numbered 69 through 140. During this period, it was common practice for publishers like Darton and Co. to break larger collections into smaller, more affordable volumes for the juvenile market.

The volume is charmingly illustrated with a hand-coloured engraved frontispiece and a hand-coloured vignette to the first text page ("Idle Ann; or, The Dunce Reclaimed"), both of which retain their vivid hues. Mary Elliott (née Belson) was a highly prolific and influential author of moral tales, active in the early nineteenth century, whose works were frequently reprinted well into the Victorian era.

Of particular note is the contemporary mid-nineteenth-century provenance. A charming ink inscription to the front free endpaper reads: "To dear little Annie from her affec.te sister Marcia Knowles Oct! 12th 1847." This adds a localised historical touch, placing the book squarely in the hands of its target audience shortly after publication. Complete, surviving copies of these fragile standalone series instalments are increasingly scarce on the open market.

Dive into the moral and instructive world of the nineteenth century with Mary Elliott’s Tales for Girls. This engaging mid-Victorian collection of short stories, beginning with the delightful and cautioning tale of "Idle Ann; or, The Dunce Reclaimed," was designed not just to entertain, but to instil virtue, industry, and kindness in its young readers. With its beautifully hand-coloured engravings and charming contemporary inscription, it offers a fascinating, tangible glimpse into the reading habits and educational values of childhood over a century and a half ago.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Mary Elliott

Book Publisher: Darton and Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Children's

Genre: Anthologies & Short Stories

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 72

Book Publication Year: 1847

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Second Series

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.