Poems by Matthew Arnold c.1896 Canterbury Poets Special Edition Gilt Cloth
 
A Scarce Special Edition from the Canterbury Poets Series
 
Bibliographic Details

Author: Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)
Editor: With an Introduction by William Sharp
Publisher: Walter Scott Limited, Paternoster Square, London
Printer: The Walter Scott Press, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Series: The Canterbury Poets – Special Edition
Date: Undated; circa 1896
Dating rationale:
This volume was issued after Arnold’s death in 1888 and under the imprint Walter Scott Limited, a designation adopted in 1892. The editor, William Sharp, died in 1905. This places publication firmly between 1892 and 1905, with bibliographic consensus generally attributing this Special Edition issue to circa 1896.
Format: Small octavo (8vo)
Pagination:
304 pages of text, plus:
– Introduction
– 2 pages listing titles in The Special Edition of the Canterbury Poets
– 12 pages of publisher’s catalogue at the rear
Illustrations:
Photogravure frontispiece, complete with original tissue guard
Dimensions: Approx. 14.8 × 11.4 × 2.3 cm
Weight: Approx. 217 g
 
Features

•    Scarce Special Edition issue of the Canterbury Poets series
•    Elegant blue cloth binding with ornate gilt decoration
•    Gilt top edge; remaining edges roughly cut, as issued
•    Photogravure frontispiece with tissue guard
•    Introduction by William Sharp
•    Includes publisher’s catalogue and series list
•    Complete and tightly bound
 
Exterior Condition

Bound in blue cloth over boards and spine, decorated with ornate gilt patterns and gilt lettering to the spine. The binding is intact, firm, and structurally sound.
Condition reflects careful use and age-related wear, including:
•    Bumping to corners
•    Rubbing to edges
•    Some fading and light discolouration
•    Minor surface wear consistent with a finely finished Victorian volume
The gilt remains attractively visible, and the book presents well overall.
 
Interior Condition

Pages are lightly tanned throughout, with patches of tanning to the endpapers, consistent with age. The text block is clean, neat, and unmarked, with:
•    No pen or pencil inscriptions
•    No missing or loose pages
•    Predominantly uncreased leaves
Edges are roughly cut, typical of period manufacture and likely opened with a paper knife. As a result, there are:
•    Occasional very small edge rips from opening
•    Minor creases where pages were cut
•    A very small hole to the inner margin of pages 153–160, where pages are threaded
None of these affect the text. All pages remain secure and tightly bound.
 
About the Book

This Special Edition of Poems by Matthew Arnold forms part of the highly regarded Canterbury Poets series, which aimed to produce accessible yet beautifully presented volumes of major English poetry. The Special Edition issues were produced to a higher decorative standard, often featuring gilt embellishment and superior illustration, and are increasingly sought after.
The collection includes some of Arnold’s most important and enduring works, reflecting his engagement with classical themes, moral inquiry, and the tensions of Victorian modernity.
 
About the Author

Matthew Arnold was one of the central literary voices of the Victorian era, celebrated not only for his poetry but also for his influential prose criticism. His work reflects deep concern with cultural change, education, and the erosion of traditional values during the industrial age. Arnold’s poetry remains widely studied and collected for its intellectual depth and refined lyricism.
 
Rarity and Market Context

Special Edition Canterbury Poets volumes are notably scarcer than standard series issues, particularly when complete with frontispiece, tissue guard, and publisher’s catalogue. Matthew Arnold titles are among the more desirable in the series due to his lasting literary reputation.
Examples in comparable condition are increasingly difficult to source, especially with clean interiors and sound bindings.
 
Collector Notes

•    A particularly attractive example of a Special Edition Canterbury Poets volume
•    Complete and well-preserved, with original frontispiece and tissue guard
•    Ideal for collectors of Victorian poetry, Matthew Arnold, or finely produced series bindings
•    A compact yet elegant volume with strong shelf appeal