Girl's Own Annual Vol XVI 1894-1895 Illustrated Victorian Annual Scarce
 
Title & Bibliographic Details
Title: The Girl's Own Annual
Volume: XVI
Dates Covered: Oct. 6 1894 to Sept. 28 1895 (Numbers 771–822 inclusive)
Publisher: London: Religious Tract Society
Printer: William Clowes and Sons Ltd., Stamford Street and Charing Cross, London
Edition: Contemporary annual volume containing the complete run of Vol. XVI bound together in one substantial illustrated volume.
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
The Girl's Own Paper was one of the most influential periodicals produced for young women during the Victorian era. Combining fiction, history, travel, science, household instruction, fashion, moral guidance and educational articles, it provided an important insight into the aspirations and daily lives of late nineteenth-century girls and young women.
This volume captures a fascinating period of Victorian society and contains a remarkable range of material including archaeology, architecture, literature, history, travel, social commentary, domestic advice and illustrated fiction. Such annual compilations were often heavily used within family homes, making complete examples increasingly difficult to find today.
Collectors particularly value these annuals for their decorative bindings, colour plates, illustrations and their wealth of social-historical content.
 
About the Publication
Published by the Religious Tract Society, The Girl's Own Paper attracted contributions from many notable Victorian writers, educators and social commentators. The publication played a significant role in shaping popular reading for young women throughout the late nineteenth century.
The illustrated endpapers feature portraits of many contributors, including Princess Beatrice, Emily Lady Tennyson, Sarah Tytler, Ida Lemon, Gordon Browne and others associated with the publication.
 
About the Illustrators
This volume contains numerous illustrations and plates throughout, including two colour plates with protective tissue guards.
Highlights include:
Frontispiece: Going to Rest 
A Song of Spring (colour plate) 
Field of the Cloth of Gold 
Will You Buy? 
Healthy Recreation 
Lilies 
Numerous full-page engravings and in-text illustrations throughout the volume. 
The decorative Art Nouveau binding itself forms an important part of the book's visual appeal and collectability.
 
Binding & Exterior Description
A substantial Victorian hardback bound in highly decorative pictorial cloth.
The front board and spine are richly decorated in an Art Nouveau style with floral and orange-tree motifs in green, brown and yellow, complemented by stylised gilt lettering. The rear board retains its original blind-stamped decoration.
The binding remains structurally sound and visually attractive, with colours still bright and vibrant.
Wear includes:
Soft bumping to corners 
Small corner tears 
Small tears at head and tail of spine 
Minor rubbing 
A few light scratches and marks 
Very slight discolouration to parts of the spine and edges 
Despite these signs of age, the volume retains excellent shelf presence.
 
Interior Condition
The interior is in a well-read but complete condition.
The pages are lightly toned with light foxing throughout. There is a small amount of pencil on one free endpaper, minor coloured pencil markings on a small number of pages, pencil on the tissue guard of the plate facing page 417 and very small pencil marks on pages 545 and 832.
Additional condition points include:
Occasional light marks and creases 
Occasional small edge tears not affecting illustrations or text 
Light gutter cracks near the endpapers and between a small number of gatherings 
Pages 147–158 partially loose along the upper portion of the inner margin but still attached 
Pages 327–330 detached and loose, with edge tears and creasing that do not obscure text 
All text and illustrations remain legible 
Importantly, all listed plates have been checked and are present, including both colour plates.
 
Physical Details
Pagination: 832 pages
Illustrations: Numerous illustrations and plates throughout, including two colour plates with tissue guards
Binding: Decorative pictorial cloth
Dimensions: Approx. 28.4 × 22.1 × 4.7 cm
Weight: Approx. 2,128g