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

$35.00

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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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"

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