{"product_id":"the-true-story-book-edited-by-andrew-lang-1st-edition","title":"The True Story Book, Edited by Andrew Lang — 1st Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Longmans, Green, and Co., 1893\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 8vo, pp. xv, 337.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Very Good. The publisher's original dark blue cloth binding remains remarkably firm, sound, and square, exhibiting only minor signs of handling. The extremities show light rubbing, with gentle bumping to the spine head and tail, yet the cloth retains its deep, rich colour without the fading typically associated with nineteenth-century blue bindings. The pictorial gilt stamping across the upper board and spine is exceptionally bright, unoxidised, and sharply defined, retaining much of its original lustre. The text block is robust and the hinges are entirely secure. Externally, the all-edges gilt remains vibrant. Internally, the pages are generally clean, though there is scattered, moderate foxing to the preliminary leaves, most notably affecting the frontispiece, tissue guard, title page, and their adjacent margins, as is common with this paper stock. A neat, contemporary previous ownership gift inscription (\"To Harold from Auntie Abraham Xmas 1896\") is penned in black ink to the front flyleaf. Overall, an attractive, highly presentable, and sturdy example of this beautifully bound Victorian volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e First edition, first printing. Edited by the prolific Scottish scholar and folklorist Andrew Lang, this volume deviates from his celebrated 'Fairy Book' series by presenting a curated collection of factual historical adventures tailored for a younger audience. The text contains twenty-four stories of true escapades and daring, including contributions such as H. Rider Haggard's gripping account of 'The Tale of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBound in the publisher's stunningly decorative blue cloth, the book's design seamlessly mirrors the aesthetic of Lang's beloved folklore series. The work is richly accompanied by numerous vignettes and full-page illustrations provided by a roster of prominent Victorian artists, including H. J. Ford, L. Bogle, Lucien Davis, C. H. M. Kerr, and Lancelot Speed. While heavily circulated copies, later impressions, or rebound examples are relatively common, finding a first edition trade copy in the original cloth with such brilliantly preserved gilt tooling is increasingly uncommon on the collector's open market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe True Story Book\u003c\/i\u003e invites readers to leave the realm of fairy tales behind and plunge into the thrilling realities of human history. Edited by Andrew Lang, this captivating anthology gathers two dozen true tales of daring escapes, swashbuckling pirates, and historical heroism from across the globe. From the perilous adventures of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the cunning escapes of Casanova to the legendary battlefield of Rorke's Drift, Lang proves that the pages of history are just as spellbinding as any myth. Lavishly illustrated by leading artists of the period, this collection is an exhilarating journey through time, perfect for those who find the truth to be an adventure in itself.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54630219809107,"sku":"5210","price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260816_195622.jpg?v=1787136583","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-true-story-book-edited-by-andrew-lang-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}