The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay, George Otto Trevelyan — 1st Edition

£210.50

The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay, George Otto Trevelyan — 1st Edition

Name: The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay, George Otto Trevelyan — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4380
Price: 210.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Longmans, Green, and Co., 1876

Formatting: 8vo, 2 Volumes, pp. [xi], 475; [viii], 485.

Condition Report: Very Good. The two-volume set remains structurally sound, firmly bound with tight, secure hinges. The full calf leather boards exhibit expected cosmetic shelf-wear for their age, including shallow surface scuffing, minor darkening, and a few light scratches, but present no deep abrasions, corner bumping, or structural splitting. The gilt tooling to the outer borders and the spine, featuring raised bands and dual contrasting Morocco labels, remains notably bright, well-defined, and unoxidised. Internally, the volumes are in excellent condition. The elaborate marbled endpapers and inner gilt dentelles are vibrant and well-preserved. The text blocks are bright, largely free from foxing, and remain entirely unmarked save for the previous owner's distinguished signature.

Catalogue Note: A handsome first edition set of George Otto Trevelyan’s celebrated biography of his uncle, Lord Macaulay. Volume I features a fine engraved frontispiece portrait of Macaulay by C. Cook, taken from a photograph by Claudet, complete with a facsimile signature in the margin.

The set boasts a premium full-calf binding executed by MacLehose of Glasgow (James MacLehose), the esteemed bookseller and publisher to the University of Glasgow, recognized for their high-quality craftsmanship in the 19th and early 20th centuries. While first editions of this work are relatively obtainable on the open market, they are scarcely found in such a bright, robust fine binding.

Of particular note is the rich historical provenance of this specific copy. The upper margins of both volumes bear the sweeping ink signature of "Walter Macfarlane / The Saracen Foundry." Walter Macfarlane (1817–1885) was one of Scotland's most significant industrialists, founding the Saracen Foundry in Glasgow. His firm became world-renowned for its architectural and decorative cast ironwork, exporting elaborate fountains, bandstands, and structural iron across the British Empire. This regional connection between the Glasgow bindery and a prominent Glasgow industrial titan makes this set a highly unique artifact of Scottish industrial-era heritage.

First published in 1876, The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay is widely regarded as one of the finest literary biographies of the Victorian era. Written by his nephew, the historian and politician George Otto Trevelyan, the work provides an intimate and comprehensive portrait of Thomas Babington Macaulay—the quintessential Whig historian, poet, and statesman. By skillfully weaving Macaulay’s own prolific correspondence and private journals with a perceptive narrative, Trevelyan grants readers an unparalleled window into the intellectual and political life of 19th-century Britain. It stands as both a masterclass in biographical writing and a vital historical record.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: George Otto Trevelyan

Book Publisher: Longmans, Green, and Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 979

Book Publication Year: 1876

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Full Calf Leather)

Illustrator: C. Cook (Engraver)

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.