Jean Ingelow Poems 1908 Pocket Edition Andrew Lang Beautiful Binding
Title & Bibliographic Details
Title: Poems by Jean Ingelow
Author: Jean Ingelow
Selected and Arranged by: Andrew Lang
Publisher: Longmans, Green & Co.
Place of Publication: 39 Paternoster Row, London
Printer: Ballantyne, Hanson & Co., Edinburgh & London
Publication Date: 1908
Edition: Pocket Edition
Historical & Bibliographic Context
Jean Ingelow was among the most celebrated English poets of the Victorian period, enjoying immense popularity during the nineteenth century. Her narrative and lyrical poems were widely admired for their musicality, emotional depth and vivid descriptions of nature.
This attractive Pocket Edition was selected and arranged by the distinguished Scottish author and folklorist Andrew Lang, whose careful selection introduced a new generation of readers to Ingelow's finest work. The anthology includes many of her best-known poems, including The High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire (1571), Songs of Seven, Persephone, The Australian Bell Bird and Winstanley.
Published by Longmans in 1908, this compact edition forms part of the firm's elegant Pocket Library series, intended to bring classic literature to readers in beautifully produced yet affordable volumes.
About the Author
Jean Ingelow (1820–1897) was one of Victorian Britain's most popular poets and novelists. Her poetry was admired for its lyricism, religious reflection and depictions of the natural world, and she enjoyed international success throughout the nineteenth century.
About the Editor
Andrew Lang (1844–1912) was a Scottish poet, literary critic, folklorist and historian, best remembered today for editing the famous Fairy Books. His selection of Jean Ingelow's poetry reflects both literary scholarship and an appreciation for the enduring appeal of her verse.
About the Binding
This volume is particularly attractive for its refined decorative publisher's binding. It is bound in rich green cloth with a blind-stamped illustration of a sailing ship enclosed within a circular medallion on the front board and an exceptionally decorative gilt spine incorporating flowing Art Nouveau ornament and stylised maritime motifs.
The design displays strong Arts and Crafts and Glasgow Style influences that became fashionable during the opening years of the twentieth century. While the ornament is reminiscent of the work of Talwin Morris, no documentary evidence has been found attributing this binding to him, and it should therefore be regarded as an anonymous but highly accomplished period design.
Binding & Exterior Condition
Bound in the publisher's original green cloth with blind-stamped decoration to the front board, elaborate gilt decoration and lettering to the spine, and gilt top edge.
The binding remains exceptionally well preserved for its age. Wear is limited to very soft bumping to the corners, light rubbing to the corners and board edges, a few extremely light marks and surface scratches, and two very small edge dents to the rear board. Overall, this is a particularly attractive example retaining excellent shelf appeal.
Interior Condition
The pages remain bright with only very light age toning. Internally the book is notably clean, with only the occasional tiny mark that does not affect the text. The pages remain predominantly uncreased.
There are only two very small edge tears to the text block, both minimal and not affecting readability.
A contemporary pencil inscription appears on the front free endpaper beginning "Sail between...", although the remainder is indistinct.
There are contemporary ink ownership inscriptions reading apparently:
W. H. Tyrer
Wigan
dated 25 July 1911.
The surname is not entirely legible and has therefore not been positively identified. These inscriptions provide attractive early ownership evidence dating only three years after publication.
There is a very small amount of pencil in the inner margin of page one.
The binding remains secure, with only an extremely slight gutter opening between a few pages, entirely consistent with careful reading.
The original green ribbon bookmark is still present.
All viii + 211 pages have been carefully checked and are complete.
Physical Details
Pagination: viii, 211 pages
Dimensions: Approximately 16.2 × 11 × 1.6 cm
Weight: Approximately 228 g
Collector Notes
While Jean Ingelow's poetry was widely published during the Victorian era, this attractive Longmans Pocket Edition is encountered less frequently than many later reprints.
Collectors value copies retaining their original decorative cloth bindings, gilt top edge and original ribbon marker, particularly when found in such well-preserved condition.
The combination of Andrew Lang's editorial contribution, the handsome Arts and Crafts style binding and excellent overall condition makes this an especially appealing example for collectors of Edwardian decorative bindings and classic poetry.