The Golden Treasury of the History, Topgraphy, Literature, Science, Art, and Religion of the Various Countries of the Globe, with Biographies of Their Illustrious People

Although no publisher or date of publication is listed, this mammoth book was probably published between 1887 and 1890. Other copies I've been able to locate are of English origin, and this one is probably as well. It was sold only by subscription. The hundreds of Victorian illustrations of historic interest and portraits make this volume a fascinating collectible. The book measures 8 1/4 by 11 inches and includes 480 pages. It has a shipping weight of 7 pounds and, thus, is restricted to domestic, U.S. shipping only since international shipping costs would be prohibitively expensive. Even so, domestic Media Mail shipping will require extra shipping costs. The book is bound in a deep green cloth that shows rubbing, edge fraying, and shelf wear. The front interior hinge is starting to split. A former owner seems to have practiced her ABC letter formations on the rear endpaper. Someone inserted a peacock feather between the page spread of 108 and 109, which I will leave. Due to apparent poor storage, there is some moisture damage to the margin area of many pages. Yet, there is no odor or musty smell. The heavy paper stock is a bit stiff. Yet the binding seems strong and secure. There is a frontis illustration, with a wrinkled tissue guard, of Queen Victoria, who was still ruler at the time of the book's publication. The countries (or continents) and their histories include England, Ireland, Scotland, Central and South America, Canada, the U.S., Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, the Barbary States, Central and South Africa, Syria and Palestine, India, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, and the Malaysian Islands. . Hard Cover. Good/No Dust Jacket. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.