W.B Yeats - Poems - 1899

W. B. Yeats – Poems – 1899 – T. Fisher Unwin, London – Decorative Althea Gyles Binding

An attractive and historically significant 1899 edition of Poems by William Butler Yeats (1865–1939), one of Ireland’s most celebrated poets and the recipient of the 1923 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Published in London by T. Fisher Unwin, this edition features the distinctive dark-blue cloth binding with elaborate gilt decorative artwork designed by Althea Gyles (1867–1949), an Irish artist associated with the Celtic Revival and the literary circle of W. B. Yeats.

The striking gold design gives the volume a particularly distinctive appearance and makes it an appealing example of late-Victorian decorative bookbinding.

Bibliographic details

* Author: William Butler Yeats
* Title: Poems
* Publication year: 1899
* Publisher: T. Fisher Unwin
* Place of publication: London, England
* Language: English
* Binding: Original decorative cloth with gilt artwork attributed to Althea Gyles
* Pagination: Approximately 300 numbered pages, with preliminary and additional pages (subject to verification)
* Dimensions: To be measured in centimetres

Provenance and historical inscriptions

The volume contains several handwritten inscriptions from previous owners, adding an interesting element of personal history.

These include:

* A handwritten dedication dated December 1902, reading “With all good wishes from L.J.”
* A handwritten ownership inscription dated April 1944, referencing Salisbury and apparently bearing the name “Bernadette Judea” (surname not fully deciphered).
* An additional handwritten name, possibly “Macrae”.

These inscriptions have not been independently authenticated or linked to identifiable historical individuals.

Condition

The book remains intact, with its pages securely held in the binding and no loose pages reported.

The original decorative covers show visible signs of age and handling, including minor tears and wear to the exterior. The pages display age-related discolouration and staining consistent with an antique volume of this period.

The decorative gilt binding remains a notable feature of the book.

Please examine the accompanying photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

Collector’s interest

A desirable example of late-19th-century Irish literary publishing, combining the poetry of W. B. Yeats with the distinctive artistic contribution of Althea Gyles.

Of particular interest to collectors of Yeats, Irish literature, Celtic Revival art, Victorian decorative bindings, and antiquarian poetry.

The volume retains its original decorative binding designed by Althea Gyles, the portrait of W. B. Yeats by his father, John Butler Yeats, and the complete sequence of 300 numbered pages. The book remains securely bound, with no loose pages reported. It also contains handwritten inscriptions dated 1902 and 1944, adding an interesting element of historical provenance.