Legends of the Virgin and Christ

Dodd, Mead & Co, 1897. hardcover. Guerber, H. A. : Legends of the Virgin and Christ, With Special Reference to Literature and Art. New York : Dodd, Mead & Co., 1897. Crown octavo size (8mo), 7.25"/18.4cm h. Half-bound in publisher's dark blue paper (spine and corners), marbled boards in tones of blue, red and gilt; gilt lettering/ornamentation to spine. Top stained in gilt. Marbled endpapers. Xx pp prelim material, 277 numbered pp, plus three blank; additional 24 unpaginated coated leaves w b&w reprod of artworks. Preface, list of illus, 13 chaps (Youth of the Virgin Mary; The Annunciation; The Nativity; The Flight; The Sojourn in Egypt; The Boyhood of Christ; The Ministry of Christ; Passion Week; The Crucifixion; Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ; The Descent into Hades; Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin; Mother and Son in Art). Condition notes: a roughly handled and inexpertly repaired copy: heavy wear to boards, bumped corners. Egregiously, the detached front board has been re-attached with strapping tape, obscuring the spine lettering. Interior tanned with generous occurrence of former moisture staining to edges and corners throughout (but no sticking or odors). Former owner's bookplate to front pastedown. But, for all that, the binding is square and the interior lacking notes or highlighting. An interesting and (in this printing) uncommon work. We personally inspect every book we offer.