Chambers's Miscellany of Instructive & Entertaining Tracts, Vols I-IV bound in 2 volumes, c. 1869
A charming set of Chambers Miscellany containing a wealth of informative essays and features to interest Victorian readers. Still an entertaining read today.
Chambers's Miscellany of Instructive & Entertaining Tracts, New and Revised Edition. Vols I-IV bound in 2 volumes.
Features 32 Tracts in total on a diverse range of subjects including George Stephenson; Maurice and Genevieve; Picciola, or the Prison Flower; Abyssinia and Theodore; Cases of Circumstantial Evidence; Last Earl of Derwentwater; Home Plants, Water animals and the Aquarium; Anecdotes of Dogs, The Heroine of Siberia; Poems of Domestic Affections; Lrd Dundonald; Journal of a Poor Vicar; Blanche Raymond; Larochejaqueline; Anecdotes of the Horse; Peter Williamson; Curiosities of Vegetation; Children of the Wilds; Select Poems on Love for Flowers; Nelson; The Goldmakers' Village; The Indian Mutiny; Silvio Pellico; William Tell; The Herring and the Whale; Scottish Traditionary Stories; American Poetry; Wallace and Bruce; The Village Mayor; Anecdotes of Ants; Shipwreck of The Medusa; History of Poland; Arctic Explorations; Flora Macdonald; 'It's Only a Drop'; and Select Poems from Cowper.
Published by W. and R. Chambers, London and Edinburgh. Presumed first editions. Undated, but it appears from Worldcat that these were published from 1869.
A good set of books with burgundy leather spines and corners, with gilt decoration. Raised bands and black morocco label to spine. With marbled text block edges. Cracked endpapers, but soundly bound. Covers scuffed and bumped, with the first volume rather ragged at head of spine. Sunned boards. Previous owner's thistle roundel ink stamp and ink signature to first free endpaper. Illustrated.
The text is bright and clean throughout with occasional flaws or marks, but a very readable set.
Text in English.
No overall numbering system, but with features numbered individually.
Dimensions: Each volume approximately 175mm x 127mm x 27mm.
Weight approximately 920g (the set - unpacked).