Written In English
6.75" H x 5.5" W x 1.25" D
Highly Illustrated
This 1894 Macmillan edition of Tom Brown’s School Days is a beautifully preserved example of Victorian fiction and an exceptional decorative book for collectors who love character, history, and fine bindings. Presented in a full calf prize binding from the School of King Henry VIII in Coventry, it features a rich brown leather cover with raised bands, intricate gilt tooling, and a crisp black leather title label. The front board displays the school’s gilt armorial crest of three arrows and a knight’s arm, linking this copy directly to a real English school tradition. Inside, the original marbled endpapers and marbled page edges add striking color and movement, and the matching prize plate records that the book was awarded to a student named Bliss Burbidge. This edition is illustrated by Arthur Hughes and Sydney Prior Hall, bringing to life the most memorable scenes of the classic story. Written by Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown’s School Days follows the adventures of a young boy at Rugby School and explores friendship, courage, and moral growth in a way that shaped Victorian ideas about education. This copy is both a collectible literary classic and a beautifully made display piece that fits effortlessly into English country house inspired decor, libraries, and vintage book stacks.
Condition:
This Victorian leather prize binding is in very good condition for its age. The calf leather remains smooth with light rubbing to the spine and board edges. The gilt crest and gilt tooling are bright and clear. The marbled endpapers and page edges are vibrant and original. The hinges are strong and the text block is secure. There is some scattered foxing on the prize plate and preliminary pages, along with a small ink mark on the front cover near the armorial crest. The illustrated plates and text pages are clean and easy to read. Overall this is a handsome and well preserved 1894 leather bound book.
