BRACEBRIDGE HALL

New York and London: The Knickerbocker Press for G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1896. 2 volumes. The Surrey Edition. With 28 illustrations, including four by Arthur Rackham. The text set within elaborate borders designed by Margaret Armstrong, printed in green, and with black and white head- and tail-pieces and multi-line illustrated capitals from designs by Howard Chandler Christy. 8vo, publisher’s original navy-blue cloth, lettered and with very elaborate all-over art nouveau decorations in gilt on the spines and upper covers, t.e.g. vi,, 326; vi, 327 pp. A very fine, well preserved, handsome, clean and sturdy set with virtually no evidence of wear or age. FIRST OF THE EDITION. VERY BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED AND BOUND IN DELUXE CLOTH GILT. BRACEBRIDGE HALL is one of Irving’s most enduring works, depicting in his best style, the medley of ideas thrust upon him during his time spent living in England. Irving himself says that he had spent so much time in all stages of his existence reading and thinking about England, how the differences between the old country and the new, the country of his birth, were bubbling all about him. BRACEBRIDGE HALL is his ode to England, to tracing the footsteps of history and breathing the poetry of a sanctified land.
The book production which envelopes these two volumes is especially attractive and its presentation especially desirable and noteworthy.