1908 Old Christmas Book by Washington Irving: Illustrated Antique Vellum - WORN

Here is a beautifully illustrated, antique vellum-bound edition of Old Christmas by Washington Irving. Published in 1908 by Hodder & Stoughton, London. A beautifully produced book, with multiple charming illustrations by Cecil Aldin. To note - this copy has a good deal of WEAR to the vellum. Still remaining a delightful antique festive book and priced to reflect the condition - which is detailed below.

Old Christmas by Washington Irving is actually a collection of short stories about Christmas. They chronicle the American writer's nostalgic recollections of Christmas traditions in 19th Regency century England. The text first appeared in 1819 in Irving's Sketchbook.

Inside the pages are tightly bound and all of the plates are present. These comprise a mixture of tipped-in colour and black and white illustrations, mounted on dark green card. With sporadic spotting through the text and the occasional brown blemish. Has a couple of nicks to the fore-edge of the rear paste-down. The top closed edge is gilt. The book has developed a lean over time.

Bound in full vellum with gilt and pale green mistletoe and holly decoration to the front and spine. The vellum has tanned in places and darkened around the edges, with the odd brown spot. The main CONDITION POINT to note are some dark marks on the back board (see photos). Has a couple of splits in the edge where the book would have originally been closed by ribbon ties. As so often with vellum ribbon bindings, the closures are no longer present.

Despite some soiling to the vellum this remains a delight antique Christmas book. Your antique copy of Old Christmas will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged. I am always happy to add a gift message to the parcel if desired.

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H 21.5 cm x W 18 cm, 176 pages, 0.82 kg. I dispatch worldwide daily from the UK. (There are just a very few countries which I am unable to ship to).

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

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