English Ways and By-Ways by John and Ruth Dobson (First Edition, Signed, Rare), 1921 🇬🇧📜✈️

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare first edition of English Ways and By-Ways.

Published in 1921 by Charles Scribner's Sons, the book recounts the experiences of "John and Ruth Dobson," a fictional persona used by the author to create an epistolary narrative. This travelogue is a portrait of England in the post-World War I era.

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2. About the Book/Object 📖✍️✨

English Ways and By-Ways is a travelogue that explores both famous landmarks and hidden gems in England. The book is an epistolary narrative that blends historical observations with portrayals of English character and scenery.

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3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

The book's authors, "John and Ruth Dobson," are a pseudonym for the true author, who used a fictional persona to create the epistolary narrative. The book was published by Charles Scribner's Sons, a major American publishing house.

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

This book is a product of the period immediately following World War I. As a nation grappled with the trauma of war, there was a cultural desire for a return to a more nostalgic view of English culture. The book's content reflects this trend by offering a look at England.

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a collector who specializes in travel writing, English history, or Americana. It is suited for a library that focuses on the cultural trends of the post-World War I era.

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This is a First Edition of a work from the early 20th century.

The book is 104 years old, having survived over a century. Its value is enhanced by its status as a signed first edition with a handwritten inscription from "Aunt Belle." The book also contains the original sticker from "Chas. E. Lauriat Co.," a bookseller in Boston, which adds to its documented history.

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

• The binding is green cloth with gilt stamping.

• The binding shows authentic wear consistent with its age, including rubbing, scuffing, and some discoloration.

• The pages have some expected age toning.

• The text remains clear and readable.

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8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• This volume is an example of a "crossover" collectible, appealing to collectors of rare books, travel writing, and Americana.

• The book's authors, "John and Ruth Dobson," are a pseudonym for the true author.

• The book has a detailed handwritten inscription from "Aunt Belle" to "Philip O Richardson" for "Christmas 1921."

• It has the original sticker from Chas. E. Lauriat Co., Importers & Booksellers in Boston.

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9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: English Ways and By-Ways

• Author: John and Ruth Dobson (pseudonym)

• Year: 1921

• Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons

• Place of Origin: New York

• Edition: First Edition

• Format: Hardcover, Cloth

• Transcription of inscription:

  • On the front endpaper, a handwritten inscription reads: "To Philip O Richardson, For Christmas 1921 from Aunt Belle"