c.1886 - The Creator’s Wonders In Living Nature 
By Dr. Herman, J. Klein & Dr. Thomé
Luxury Prize Edition - FULL LEATHER Bound - Antiquarian ILLUSTRATED Book
 
Also known as: Marvels Of Life In The Animal and Vegetable Kingdom
Translated from German by J. Minshull (believed to be Janet Minshull)
 
Published by Ward, Lock, and Co., London & New York
 
Features:
Rare Luxury Prize Edition in full blue polished calf gilt
Panelled gilt boards and spine with raised bands and gilt decorations
Gilt crest on the front cover with title “Prize” surrounded by “St. Catherines, Hermitage, Bath”
Includes original certificate & envelope from The Hermitage School, Bath, awarded midsummer 1886 to A. L. Flemming/Hemming for first place in Latin, Second Class
30 original engraved plates, all present and accounted for
Abundant beautiful illustrations in the text
All edges marble, with marble patterned pastedowns and endpapers
 
Condition:
Boards: Intact with cosmetic wear,  edge rubbing, small rips, discolouration, and spine cracking.  Some marks, stains, rubbing, and bumped corners with slight leather loss
Internally: Very neat for its age, pages lightly tanned but clean and mostly uncreased
Light foxing on endpapers, occasional small marks inside
No rips or loose pages; tight and secure binding
Pen inscription on front free endpaper confirms prize award, dated 1886
Chapter 1 begins on page 377 as per original layout; book ends at page 822 (446 pages total)
 
Dimensions & Weight:
Size: Approx. 24.4 cm x 17.3 cm
Thickness: 5.3 cm
Weight: Approx. 1,712 grams
 
This is a substantial, rare, and special edition of an already scarce and fascinating volume on organic life worldwide,  a must-have for collectors of natural history and antiquarian books.
 
Please examine photos carefully as they form an important part of the description.
 
Thank you for looking!