The Eternal City by Hall Caine (FIRST EDITION), 1901 📜⚜️🇮🇹

This is a rare First American Edition, First Printing of The Eternal City by Hall Caine, one of the world's best-selling authors of the era.

The volume is classified as a top-shelf literary artifact that is highly desirable for its superior Aesthetic Premium.

Its value is secured by its verifiable First Printing status in 1901 and its deep maroon cloth binding featuring elaborate, all-over gilt-stamped floral/vine motifs, making it a stunning artifact of Edwardian design.

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨ The novel is an ambitious work of social commentary set against the backdrop of Rome, Italy, at the turn of the 20th century. The plot centers on David Rossi, an Italian political reformer who champions the rights of the poor and clashes with the entrenched power structures of the era.

The book's chapters are titled to reflect the narrative's sweeping scope, such as "The Holy Roman Empire," "The Republic of Man," and "The Roman of Rome". The binding is the most compelling aspect: deep maroon cloth featuring elaborate, all-over gilt stamping of stylized laurel wreaths and vines, a characteristic of high-end Edwardian publisher's design .

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️ Hall Caine (Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine, 1853–1931) was a prolific Manx novelist and playwright whose works were cultural sensations in Britain and America. Caine was noted for his dramatic, sensational plots that often blended social issues with romance and religious themes.

At the height of his career, Caine was so popular that he was often mistaken for a member of the nobility. The publisher, D. Appleton and Company, was one of America's oldest and most prestigious houses, confirming the book's institutional standing as a major commercial release.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 This First Edition was published in 1901, placing it at the very start of the Edwardian Era and the close of the Victorian Age. This was a time of immense social and political upheaval in Europe, with rising interest in socialism and democratic reform—themes directly addressed by the novel.

The binding itself is a document of the period's taste for opulent, decorative design. After the industrial boom, decorative bindings, often featuring this intricate gilt stamping, became the standard for gifting and home display . This volume is a tangible record of the literary tastes and aesthetic standards of the American public at the turn of the 20th century.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️ This volume is an essential acquisition for a curator of Edwardian Decorative Bookbindings and 19th-Century Bestsellers.

It is ideally suited for a collector who specializes in high-aesthetic publisher's cloth and seeks books that were major cultural forces of their time. The book belongs in a collection that prioritizes design excellence and verifiable bibliographical status.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ This book is a First Edition, First Printing, a key bibliographical milestone. The volume is approximately 124 years old.

Its rarity is moderate as a high-volume title, but the value is significantly elevated by its superior Aesthetic Premium. The all-over, intricate gold gilt stamping on the spine and cover, typical of high-end Edwardian design, commands a premium over common First Editions . The book's structural integrity is excellent, further supporting its investment-grade status.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ The physical condition has been assessed directly from the provided high-resolution photography. The book is deemed to be in Very Good Antique Condition.

• Binding: Bound in original deep maroon publisher's cloth with all-over gilt stamping on the cover and spine .

• Printing: Confirmed as the First Printing.

• Cover Art: The gilt stamping is vibrant and largely intact across the cover and spine.

• Wear: The cloth shows light rubbing and minor fraying at the spine ends and corners, consistent with a volume of this age.

• Text Block: The text block is secure and clean, with light toning appropriate for its age.

• Internal Marks: Contains a small, discreet black "X" mark on the rear endpaper, likely an inventory code.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The Sales Phenomenon: Hall Caine's novels often saw sales figures comparable to modern bestsellers, making him one of the wealthiest authors of his time.

• The Appleton Mark: The title page features the ornate D. Appleton and Company publisher's mark (a tree with the motto "Inter Folia Fructus," or "Among the leaves, fruit") in bright red.

• Early Film Adaptation: The novel was one of Caine’s most famous works and was adapted into a silent film in 1915, showcasing the story's powerful cinematic appeal.

• The Rome Setting: The novel’s plot required Caine to conduct extensive research in Rome, lending an air of authenticity to his social and political commentary.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Object Type: First Edition Novel (Decorative Binding)

• Author: Hall Caine

• Title: The Eternal City

• Year/Period: 1901 (Copyright and Publication)

• Publisher: D. Appleton and Company

• Place of Origin: New York

• Format/Binding: Publisher’s Maroon Cloth with Elaborate Gilt Stamping

• Edition/Rarity: First American Edition, First Printing

• Transcription of Markings (Copyright/Title Page): Copyright, 1901, By HALL CAINE. / New York D. Appleton and Company 1901