[Fine Binding | W.H. Smith | Fore Edge Painting] The Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier

Whittier, John Greenleaf (edited by W. Garrett Horder). The Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier. Complete Edition, with Notes, Index of First Lines and Chronological List. London: Henry Frowde, 1898. Portrait frontispiece of Whittier facing title.

Bound in full dark red crushed morocco by W.H. Smith (unsigned, but a known binding design from the firm under Douglas Cockerell), the covers framed in double gilt rules with repeated small floral tools at intervals. Five raised bands to spine with title in gilt to second compartment, the remaining compartments tooled with matching floral ornaments. Gilt-rolled dentelles, pink-and-cream marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Measures approx. 5.25" x 7.5".

Fore-edge painting of a two-masted, gaff-rigged schooner under full sail, shown broadside with red masthead pennants, telltales, and a prominent United States flag. Two smaller craft recede toward a blue-gray horizon with small red-flagged buoy in the foreground.

Past moisture exposure: uneven discoloration/mottling and tide-marks to both boards; extremities lightly rubbed but the gilt borders and spine tools remain bright, joints/hinges sound, and the fore-edge painting is crisp. At the front, the moisture damage appears to have washed away part of the marbling of the endpapers (pastedown and ffep); rear marbled endpapers intact. Toning/browning at the turn-ins and edges of the last several pages of the text block. Contents otherwise generally clean.