the French Revolution

Thomas Carlyle

Published by Macmillan, 1921

Hard Cover. Condition: Near Fine. No dust jacket. This is the 1925 (vol I) and 1921 (vol II) printing of Carlyle s monumental The French Revolution, in Macmillan's attractive Library of English Classics. Spine and boards are bound in dark blue Morocco leather, both volumes are stamped on the back of the inner flyleaf BOUND BY SANGORSKI AND SUTCLIFFE LONDON ENGLAND . An elegant first owner's signature on the back of the front end papers is dated 1932, when Sutcliffe--one of the original partners--was still managing the firm. Subsequent to his stroke in 1936, the company went through several owners and phases. The name has been revived in recent years, and many volumes bearing the Sangorski and Sutcliffe cachet are now available though pale reflections of the skill evident in the bindings of nearly a century ago. The bindings on both volumes are tight, with minimal shelf wear to the top and bottom of the spines. There is minor wear to the front joints of both volumes, and all corners are lightly bumped or worn. (see seller's photos) Text blocks are free of marks and folds. Deckle pages are bright, with some sunning of the outer text block edge and the slight suggestion of sunning on individual pages. (see seller s photo) While this is a desirable Macmillan edition of Carlyle's The French Revolution, the Sangorski and Sutcliffe binding displays every feature that earned them the title the Rolls Royce of Bookbinding. The blue Morocco boards and spine are all lined in gilt, top, bottom and sides. The front and rear boards bear French fillet borders with corner rondelles. The interior of the boards front and back are decorated with ornate dentelles, and end papers are richly marbled. Each volume has top edge gilt. Both volumes have their original ribbon page marker. Each spine has five raised bands with six compartments of maroon or green leather elaborately tooled and stamped in gilt. The maroon panels bear the title, author and volume number, while the green panels bear three symbols of the French Revolution the fleur-de-lis, the Phrygian cap, and a winged, flaming torch with a banner reading liberty at its base.(see seller's photos) The French Revolution has been called a landmark in literary history. This alone should make obtaining Macmillan s lovely edition of this work desirable. Coupled with the superlative examples of Sangorski and Sutcliffe artistry on two volumes from the classic period of British bookbinding, this offering should prove irresistible. 478 page (vol I), 465 pages (vol II). Seller Inventory # 58

Bibliographic Details

Title: the French Revolution
Publisher: Macmillan
Publication Date: 1921
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Near Fine
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket