Antique Edwin Arnold Light of Asia 1895 Leather Prize Binding
Antique Edwin Arnold Light of Asia 1895 Leather Prize Binding
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Navy morocco with a richly gilt raised-band spine, a red label, and both boards carrying the large gilt arms of The Grammar School, Bolton-le-Moors, crest dated 1524 and 1641, motto Mutare Vel Timere Sperno. This is Sir Edwin Arnold's verse life of the Buddha, the 1895 New Edition from Kegan Paul, with an etched author portrait frontispiece carrying his facsimile signature and woodcut illustrations through the text. The book that introduced Buddhism to a generation of English readers, here in a school prize binding rather than the usual trade cloth. Marbled endpapers and red marbled edges throughout.
The binding is solid and the boards are firmly attached. The spine shows wear at the head and tail and along the raised bands, with some loss to the dark surface coating and the green tone showing through, all consistent with age. Gilt tooling on the spine and the armorial devices on both boards remains bright and crisp. Light surface scratching and handling marks to the boards. Corners show minor rubbing. A pencil inscription on the front free endpaper is too faint to read with confidence. Internally clean and tight, with the etched portrait frontispiece present. Marbled edges and endpapers are intact. A handsome prize binding overall.
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