Tragedies, Hannah More — 1818 Edition
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Publication: London, T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1818.
Formatting: 8vo, pp. 464.
Condition Report: Very Good. The volume is bound in an elegant, contemporary half green leather over marbled boards, which remains tight and structurally sound. The spine features five raised bands with gilt-decorated compartments displaying lyre and harp motifs, alongside a contrasting maroon leather title label; the gilt tooling remains notably bright and unoxidised. The boards exhibit moderate rubbing and shelf-wear to the extremities, particularly at the corners and along the edges, with some typical scuffing to the marbled paper covers. The hinges are strong and secure. Internally, the text block is firm, and the edges are beautifully marbled to match the boards. The pages show expected light age-toning but are otherwise clean and free from significant blemishes, presenting a handsome and well-preserved copy.
Catalogue Note: This collected edition gathers Hannah More's celebrated dramatic works, including seminal plays such as Percy and The Fatal Falsehood, into a single volume. The text is unillustrated, relying entirely on the crisp typographic elegance of A. Strahan's printing. The volume is free from any notable modern provenance or significant historical bookplates.
The book is presented in a highly attractive, contemporary half-calf binding. While More's works enjoyed wide circulation during her lifetime, finding her plays preserved in such aesthetically pleasing, period-correct bindings with intact and bright gilt tooling is increasingly desirable for collectors of Romantic-era literature and female playwrights.
Hannah More (1745–1833) was a formidable English playwright, poet, and moralist whose literary output significantly shaped the cultural and religious landscape of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Associated with the esteemed Bluestocking circle, More initially gained fame for her stage plays, which were championed by theatrical titans like David Garrick. This volume of her Tragedies highlights her ability to weave complex moral questions into gripping theatrical narratives. Focusing on themes of unchecked passion, remorse, and female virtue, More's tragedies were widely acclaimed for bridging Enlightenment dramatic traditions with emerging Evangelical sensibilities, making her one of the most influential female writers of her generation.
Book Condition: Very Good
Book Authors: Hannah More
Book Publisher: T. Cadell and W. Davies
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Antiquarian
Genre: Classic Fiction
Book edition:
Signed: No
Book Pages: 464
Book Publication Year: 1818
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Hardcover (Half Leather)
Illustrator: N/A
Book Series: N/A
Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| 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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