Haydn’s Bible Dictionary c1879 Boutell Calf Leather 100 Wood Engravings Maps
 
Haydn’s Bible Dictionary, circa 1879–1885.
Edited by Charles Boutell.
Published by Ward, Lock & Co., Warwick House, Dorset Buildings, Salisbury Square, London.
Printed by Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., Printers, White Friars.
 
This is a richly illustrated 19th-century Bible dictionary of biography, history, antiquities, geography, physical geography, meteorology, topography, and natural history, incorporating the results of the latest research, exploration, and archaeological inquiry of the era.
 
Lavishly presented, the volume features one hundred (100) wood-engraved illustrations printed on double-sided plates, including a frontispiece, and plans of Jerusalem and the coastline of the Lake of Gennesareth. All illustrations and plates are present and accounted for.
 
Binding and Physical Description
 
Bound in full calf leather, this is an antiquarian hardback with five raised bands to the spine, with gilt-tooled compartments, and gilt embossed borders to both boards. The front board also features a gilt emblem.
 
Internally, the book displays marbled all edges, marbled endpapers and pastedowns with gilt-tooled turn-ins. There are cracks in the gutter between the pastedowns and the endpapers both front and rear, though the main text block remains tightly bound and secure.
 
There is no dust jacket, as issued. 
 
The volume measures approximately 23.2 cm x 15.8 cm x 6.2 cm and weighs roughly 1,674 grams.
 
Condition Report
 
The leather binding is complete but worn, with general rubbing, surface scratches, bumping to corners, and splits in the leather at the head and tail of the spine and along the hinges. A small split also appears along the fore-edge of the spine panel.
Gilt tooling to spine and boards mostly remains visible and decorative.
Internally, the pages exhibit age-appropriate tanning with light foxing mainly confined to the preliminary leaves and wood-engraved plates.
The pages are predominantly uncreased, with only occasional light or small creases to a few leaves.
Page 31 and its overleaf feature a small tear to the bottom edge, not affecting the text.
There is a personal inscription on the front flyleaf, dated Easter 1885, reading:
"To H. George Wedd. Conduct Prize from W. R. Lee, Brighton, Easter 1885."
A small ink stamp appears on the overleaf of the front free endpaper and the half-title page. There is also a small ink spot on page 365.
Despite cracks at the endpaper joints, the main text block remains firm with no loose or missing pages. All 670 pages are present.
 
Please review the provided photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.
 
Editor Biography
 
Charles Boutell (1812–1877) was an English archaeologist, clergyman, and antiquary, best known for his works on heraldry, ecclesiastical architecture, and antiquities. This work reflects his scholarly engagement with biblical and historical subjects.
 
Provenance
 
The inscription reads:
"To H. George Wedd. Conduct Prize from W. R. Lee, Brighton, Easter 1885."
While no definitive archival link to these individuals has been confirmed, the inscription suggests the volume was awarded as a school or church prize in Brighton in the late 19th century. No further provenance has been established, but it provides a charming historical connection.