Coelebs in Search of a Wife
 
By Mrs. Hannah More
Published 1837 | Quarter Leather Binding | Antiquarian Copy with Illustrated Title Page
 
Publication Details:
 
Published by J. Chidley, 123 Aldersgate Street, London, 1837.
Printed by C. E. Knight, Upper Holloway, Middlesex.
 
Binding and Physical Features:
 
A finely preserved antiquarian edition of Coelebs in Search of a Wife, Hannah More’s only novel and an early 19th-century bestseller. This 1837 edition is half bound in black leather with gilt decoration and gilt titles over a red panel on the spine. The marbled paper boards retain their rich colour but do have some rubbing and scratches. Page edges are attractively marble patterned, and the yellow endpapers and pastedowns add a vibrant contrast.
 
Dimensions: approx. 17.2 × 11 × 2.6 cm
Weight: approx. 323g
Binding: Half leather with marbled boards
Edges: All edge marble patterned
Decorative gilt spine with red title panel
Illustrated engraved title page
 
Historical and Literary Context:
 
First published in 1809, Coelebs in Search of a Wife follows Charles (Coelebs), a wealthy bachelor in search of a wife who conforms to his late mother’s strict moral ideals. While fictional, the novel served as a moral and religious treatise, resonating with Victorian readers and selling widely.
 
Hannah More (1745–1833) was a pioneering social reformer and evangelical philanthropist who campaigned against slavery, promoted education for the poor, and advocated for the moral improvement of society. Raised in Bristol during the height of the transatlantic slave trade, More used her influence and pen to effect significant social change, especially in support of abolition and women's education.
 
Exterior Condition:
 
The half-leather binding remains attractive, but with some scratches, rubbing, and wear to the corners and spine ends. The spine retains its gilt decorative flourishes and red title panel. The marbled paper boards show some surface wear. However, it is intact and robust. A good, solid example of a 19th-century binding.
 
Interior Condition:
 
All 364 pages are present and tightly bound. The pages are overall neat and clean for their age. They display light tanning, with just the very occasional scattered light foxing, small or light mark or light crease/small fold. There is some rubbing to the inner margin of a few pages, not affecting legibility. A small tear in the inner margin affects pages 361–364, creating a hole through these leaves, though the text remains legible (see photographs for examples). The front free endpaper has remnants of former writing and there is a penned inscription on the overleaf, and a some very small ink marks on the final page of text. The pastedowns and end papers exhibit some staining and marks. There are no further annotations, pencil markings, or no missing pages. Some pages are roughly cut, likely from an originally uncut edition opened by hand with a penknife.
 
Rarity and Value:
 
As Hannah More's only novel, and one of the best-selling titles of its time, early editions in decorative bindings are increasingly scarce. This 1837 example is a well-preserved and appealing copy.