1857 THE BOOK OF JOB Illustrated Rare Antiquarian Hardback Book with a fabulous binding and in a very good condition for its age. 
 
This is the iconic Bible story. ILLUSTRATED WITH FIFTY (50) WOOD ENGRAVINGS FROM DRAWINGS BY JOHN GILBERT; engraved by Dalziel Bros., J. W. Whymper, & W. L. Thomas and with explanatory notes & poetical parallels. 
 
John Gilbert was born in 1817 in Surrey, England. He was best known for his beautiful illustrations and wood-engravings he produced for the Illustrated London News. In 1872 he was knighted. Published by James Nisbet And Co., Berners Street, London in 1857. Printed by R. & R. Clark. Edinburgh.  
 
This book is a beautiful book, in such a lovely state, especially considering that this is NEARLY 170 YEARS OLD. 
 
The stunning and heavy brown cloth bound boards and spine have intricate and embossed gilt detailing to the entire cover, over the boards and the spine. There is a stylised gilt title on the spine. THE SPINE AND BOARDS ARE IN A GOOD CONDITION FOR THEIR AGE AND INTACT AND ROBUST. There are patches of wear, especially to the edges and corners, small marks, bumped corners and small holes in the cloth down the long edges of the spine. There are also small rips in the cloth at the top and bottom of the spine. However, the cover is still quite breath-taking and has the boards have protected the inside of this book.  
 
The PAGES ARE ALL EDGES GILT, which provides an added luxury to the book. 
 
Inside, the endpapers and pastedowns are lilac in colour. The PAGES ARE BRIGHT FOR THEIR AGE, and just very lightly tanned and there is some very light foxing to the preliminary and endpapers. There is also the very occasional small or light mark or very occasional light foxing to the rest of the pages, but the PAGES ARE IN AN OVERALL VERY NEAT CONDITION FOR THEIR AGE, AND THERE ARE NO CREASES OR RIPS. On both the front and back pastedown there is a small bookseller sticker pasted and remnants of pencil on the front free endpaper. There is no further pen or pencil written inside this book. THE BINDING IS TIGHT AND SECURE and there are NO LOOSE PAGES. There are NO MISSING PAGES and so all 188 PAGES are present and accounted for. This really is a fantastic example of this already rare book. 
 
Please study the photos carefully as to the condition of this book, as they do form part of the description.
 
This measures approximately 23.8 cm by 16.8 cm and 2.7 cm wide. It weighs approximately 835 grams. 
 
Thank you for looking.