New Beginnings
Lot 91:
Description
This lot features a small-format gift edition of Recessional and Vampire by Rudyard Kipling. The volume is bound in limp brown suede leather, a style frequently referred to as ooze leather, which was a popular choice for decorative gift books in the early 20th century. The front cover is embellished with a gilt-stamped Art Nouveau design featuring stylized floral motifs, likely violets, and a central decorative shield containing the title and author’s name. The back cover is plain suede. The book is accompanied by its original plain brown cardboard slipcase. The overall aesthetic and manufacturing characteristics suggest a publication date circa 1900-1915, typical of American publishers such as Barse and Hopkins or Thomas Y. Crowell
Dimensions: 7.5 X 4.5 X 0.5 inch.
Condition report:
The suede binding shows light rubbing and minor wear to the edges and corners, consistent with age and the delicate nature of the material. The gilt-stamped decoration on the front cover remains bright and legible. The original cardboard slipcase exhibits more pronounced shelf wear, including surface scuffing, edge rubbing, and minor surface staining. The interior of the book was not inspected, but the binding remains firm and intact.
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