Mythical Monsters.
London: W. H. Allen & Co., 1886. First Edition. Hardcover. Large Octavo. iv + 408pp. Original dark brown patterned cloth (often mistaken for leather) impressed with a reptile skin design, intended to give the appearance of "dragon skin". Gilt dragon desing to front board, gilt titling to spine, colour frontispiece with tissue guard, title page vignette, b&w illustrations, beveled edges, top edge gilt, appendixes. The scarce first edition of this classic study of mythical creatures. Spine ends and corners bruised & chafed with some minor loss at corners and lower spine, small finger-nail sized chip from upper spine neatly repaired. Page edges darkened, inner hinges reinforced at front and rear with binder's tape but holding solidly, contemporary armorial bookplate of Percy William Pegge of Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire, and small bookseller's description of the book clipped from a catalogue and affixed to front pastedown. Two modern generic bookplates on front free endpaper, first & last few pages have some foxing, tissue guard loosening at top and bottom, bookshop description glued to rear pastedown, text pages evenly browned - but unmarked. Despite evidence of previous ownership - a tight copy with clean text -overall VG condition. Scarce. Item #63790
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