The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition

The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition

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The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
  • The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition
The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition

The Poetical Works of John Dryden, John Dryden — Early Illustrated Edition

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Publication: London, George Routledge and Sons, c. 1870

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [xxiv], 524.

Condition Report: Very Good. Bound in the publisher's remarkably bright terracotta cloth, heavily stamped in black and gilt with an ornate Victorian aesthetic. The binding remains tight and square, with the gilt tooling entirely unoxidised and retaining a brilliant lustre. Minimal shelf-wear is present, restricted to slight rubbing and a fraction of fraying at the extreme head of the spine, alongside a touch of softening to the corners. The all-edges-gilt page block remains bright and reflective. Internally, the pages are generally clean and supple, though some expected, light age-related foxing is present to the preliminaries and title page. The hinges are sound, and the original brown-coated endpapers remain undisturbed.

Catalogue Note: This striking early edition, issued by George Routledge and Sons at their Broadway, Ludgate premises (and bearing their 416 Broome Street, New York imprint, dating it to roughly 1870), stands as a prime example of high Victorian publisher's cloth. The upper board features a central gilt monogram 'GR&S' surrounded by intricate foliate and geometric borders. The volume includes various illustrations interspersed throughout the text, accompanying Dryden's legendary verse.

A pleasing piece of provenance is found on the front pastedown, which bears the original, diminutive bookseller’s ticket of H. & C. Treacher of Brighton. A neat, mid-twentieth-century ink inscription ('Allan Smart, Edinburgh, Nov. 1952') graces the front flyleaf, opposite a reader's neat pencilled notes highlighting Dryden's great satires ('MacFlecknoe', 'Absalom & Achitophel', and 'The Medal'). While Routledge's trade editions of Dryden are not uncommonly found, encountering a copy with such an exceptionally vibrant, unrubbed binding is increasingly scarce on the open market.

A handsome Victorian presentation of the works of John Dryden, England's first Poet Laureate. This comprehensive collection encapsulates the breadth of Dryden's genius, featuring his masterly satires, elegant epistles, and transformative translations, all presented in a beautifully ornamented binding characteristic of the era's finest trade productions.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Dryden

Book Publisher: George Routledge and Sons

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 548

Book Publication Year: 1870

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Cloth)

Illustrator: N/A

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.

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