Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., NY, nd. [Circa 1887.] Brown Cloth, gilt pages all-around, embossed lavender & gilt decorative front cover & spine (roses), gilt letters. Spine bumping/rubs, hd & ft, corners. Back board appears to have slight water-stains in places, with some traveling around to the spine & bottom of front board - inner boards/text unaffected. P.O.'s inscription & signature, dated Christmas/New Year 1888/1889, is scotch-taped to fff ; small initials, in pencil, inner corner of back board - no other markings. End-papers are a touch mottled with age, but pages are crisp & white on a heavier-than-usual stock. All edge-gilt is still bright, but the decorative gilt is subdued in places (mainly at the bottom of the spine). The book is moderately canted, with some rolling, but is still tightly bound. Both hinges are sound. 369 pages
Owen Meredith's 'Lucile' was first published in 1860, by Chapman & Hall in England and as a Ticknor & Fields "Blue & Gold" in the United States. During the 78 years between 1860-1938, nearly 100 American publishers brought out at least 2000 editions and issues, including Thomas Y. Crowell. The Crowell Company issued 'Lucile' in a great variety of printings and bindings - on the order of 200 identifiable formats - between 1876 and 1931. It issued the "Wild Rose" Edition between 1887-1890, printed on laid paper, bound in Extra Cloth, with Gilt Edges and an Elegant Wild Rose design in Red and Gold embossed on the cover. Price was $2.00, and it came in Brown or Lime Green.
