Lot 215
Merrill & Baker World’s Famous Books
Live — closing Oct 29 at 1:15 pm ET
- Estimate
- $50–$100
- Starting bid
- $16
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About this lot
Origin: United States, New York / England, London
Period: Circa 1900
Authors: Washington Irving (1783–1859); Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803–1873); William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863); Dinah Maria Mulock Craik (1826–1887); Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832)
Title/Series: World’s Famous Books, Group of Five Volumes
Publisher: Merrill & Baker
Medium: Hardcover books bound in matching dark green publisher’s cloth with elaborate gilt stamped spine decoration and lettering
Condition: Shelf kept condition with age related rubbing and wear to the green cloth, minor edge and corner wear, and toning to the text blocks. Several volumes show noticeable discoloration to the page edges, particularly along the upper portions. Gilt spine decoration remains generally strong and attractive.
Additional Information:
Group of five antique volumes from Merrill & Baker’s officially titled World’s Famous Books series, issued around the turn of the 20th century in matching dark green cloth bindings with elaborate gilt classical style spine ornament.
The group comprises:
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The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. — Washington Irving
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The Last Days of Pompeii — Edward Bulwer-Lytton
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Vanity Fair — William Makepeace Thackeray
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John Halifax, Gentleman — Dinah Maria Mulock Craik, identified on the spine as “Mulock”
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Ivanhoe — Sir Walter Scott
These are later collected library editions of classic literary works rather than first editions of the individual titles. Merrill & Baker marketed World’s Famous Books as a broader series containing additional authors and titles, so these five should be described as a five volume group from the series, not as a complete set. A surviving John Halifax bibliographic record explicitly identifies “World’s famous books” as its series.
Lot details
- Lot
- 215
- Category
- Antiques and Fine Art Auction
- Estimate
- $50–$100
- Starting bid
- $16
- Bids
- 0
- Bidding closes
- Oct 29 at 1:15 pm ET
