Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore, (RARE, Decorative Binding, Illustrated), c. 1909 📜🥀🇬🇧

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

Step into the sweeping romance and adventure of 17th-century Exmoor with this charming vintage edition of "Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor" by R.D. Blackmore.

Published by Grosset & Dunlap around 1909, this volume features an attractive Art Nouveau-inspired binding and "Many Drawings" that bring the rugged English landscape and its characters to life. This book is a premier acquisition for any serious collector of classic English literature and decorative bindings.

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2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Lorna Doone is a timeless historical romance that weaves together elements of adventure, romance, and historical drama. It tells the tale of John Ridd, a young farmer, and his forbidden love for Lorna Doone, a member of a notorious outlaw family.

Blackmore paints a vivid picture of a turbulent era marked by social unrest and personal conflicts, exploring themes of love, loyalty, and justice against the backdrop of the wild and beautiful Exmoor countryside. The novel is widely celebrated for its rich language and its ability to transport readers to another time and place.

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3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Richard Doddridge Blackmore (1825-1900) was a Victorian English novelist celebrated for his vivid descriptions of the English countryside and his ability to create compelling characters. He was a master of his craft, known for his ability to blend historical fiction with elements of romance and adventure.

Lorna Doone remains his most famous work, which he published in 1869 to critical and popular acclaim. Blackmore's work is a cornerstone of Victorian literature, reflecting the era's fascination with historical romance and the pastoral ideal.

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

The publication of this book around 1909 places it at the tail end of the Art Nouveau movement, which emphasized flowing, natural designs. The era was a transition from the ornate Victorian style to the more modern aesthetic of the 20th century.

Publishers like Grosset & Dunlap embraced this aesthetic to produce beautiful, mass-market editions of classics like Lorna Doone. The book is a tangible example of how publishers used decorative art to make literary works more appealing to a broader readership. 

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This 1909 edition of Lorna Doone is a core acquisition for a collector building a focused library on Victorian literature and decorative bindings. It is a perfect fit for a literary historian who appreciates the intersection of a prolific author’s work with the aesthetic and literary appeal of early 20th-century bookmaking.

The personal inscription, "Martin from Pa & Ma Richardson. Christmas 1909," adds a layer of personal connection that makes it a unique find for a collector of family history and Americana.

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This 1909 edition of Lorna Doone is a genuinely beautiful and scarce asset.

The book is 116 years old, having survived a century of history. Its value is overwhelmingly driven by its striking decorative binding. 

The book’s attractive Art Nouveau-inspired binding, with its flowing floral designs, is a beautiful example of the book art of its time, making it a highly appealing display piece. 

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This book is a used hardcover edition with a decorative olive green cloth binding.

• Binding: The binding shows visible wear consistent with its age, including rubbing, scuffing, and some loss of the original finish, particularly on the spine and edges. The pictorial stamping shows some fading but remains largely discernible.

• Pages: The pages are age-toned but remain clear and legible.

• Structural Integrity: The binding is tight and sound, ensuring the book's structural integrity.

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8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Richard Doddridge Blackmore was a barrister before he became a full-time author.

• Lorna Doone was originally published in 1869 in a three-volume format and was not an immediate success. It only gained popularity after a favorable review in a prominent English newspaper.

• The book's personal inscription "Martin from Pa & Ma Richardson. Christmas 1909," adds a heartwarming layer of personal provenance, connecting this specific copy to a family's gift-giving tradition.

• The Art Nouveau movement, which influenced the binding of this book, was a global artistic style that flourished from the 1890s to the 1910s. It was known for its sinuous, asymmetrical lines and was a reaction against the academic art of the 19th century.

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9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor

• Author/Maker: R.D. Blackmore

• Year: c. 1909

• Publisher/Foundry: Grosset & Dunlap

• Place of Origin: New York, USA

• Illustrator: Uncredited (but illustrated)

• Format/Binding: Hardcover with decorative pictorial binding

• Edition: Grosset & Dunlap Edition

• Rarity: Rare

• Transcription: The handwritten inscription reads: “Martin from Pa & Ma Richardson. Christmas 1909.”