1862 Robin Hood - Ballads and Songs - Scarce Antique Pocket Sized Book

Here is an interesting pocket-sized antique copy of Robin Hood: Ballads and Songs Relating to That Celebrated Outlaw; With Anecdotes of His Life. From Ritson and Others. Published in 1862 by Bell and Daldy, London. Scarce. Spotting, some heavy in places being the only real condition point to note. More details below.

Published during the Victorian fascination with medieval folklore. Ritson published the first truly comprehensive collection of old Robin Hood tales. Before Ritson, these songs were scattered on fragile, single-sheet "broadsides" sold by street peddlers. This 1862 volume compiles these traditional, rhythmic poems—such as Robin Hood and the Potter or Robin Hood and Allin a Dale—preserving the gritty, witty, and often violent tone of the original folklore.

Many of the earliest ballads included in this book don't feature Maid Marian at all. Robin's primary devotion is actually to the Virgin Mary. Modern stories always place Robin Hood during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart. However, the older ballads in this collection generally hint that he lived during the reigns of Edward I, II, or III.

Inside the pages are tightly bound with a name to the half-title page dated 1868, but no other inscriptions or markings of previous ownership. Unillustrated, but has some decorative headers and footers. Spotting to the outside edges and throughout the text - heavy in some places, and light in others. The top closed edge is gilt.

Green cloth over boards have gilt decorative titles to the spine. With a little rubbing to the cloth on the corners and spine ends/joints. Otherwise clean and smart.

Your antique copy of The Robin Hood Ballads will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged. I am always happy to add a gift card with a message to the parcel.

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PLEASE NOTE DIMENSIONS of this pocket-sized book: H 14 cm x W 10 cm, 336 pages, 0.25 kg.

* If you would prefer for your parcel not to be decoratively wrapped but sent simply in the full protective packaging, please add a note to the order.

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