A History of England From the Conclusion of the Great War in 1815 by Spencer Walpole. In Two Volumes. London: Longmans, Green, and Co, 1878.
FIRST EDITION of Spencer Walpole's (1839-1907) seminal work, his History of England. This example is particularly stunning, finely bound in half calf over marbled boards in notably excellent condition, showing very attractively indeed on the shelf.
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A most efficient public servant and in private life well-conversed, Spencer Walpole became a successfully published historian. His family connections gave him a natural affinity for the study of public affairs, and their mingling of Whig and Tory policies of past and present contributed to a deliberately reasoned, judicious and balanced view of English political figures – he inclined, however, to the Whig or moderate Liberal side, including in his writing.
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Size: 147 x 222 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[xvii, i, pp.[1]-647]; [xvii, i, pp.[1]-705]
Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Very attractive on the shelf. Spines uniformly sunned with some very light rubbing else near fine with the gilt bright and the tooled labels attractive. Joints fine with all boards securely attached. No shelf lean. Some shelf wear. Quite remarkably the boards are fine, with the rear board of the first volume sunned at the top and thus near fine. Page edges near fine with top edges faded. Bookplate of Godfrey Craven to front pastedown of both volumes. Both volumes collated as complete including the half titles. A few spots of foxing to the endpapers else internally very clean and bright.
An excellent set.
[OCLC 1014563641].
