William Wordsworth - Poems - 1860-1860

William Wordsworth – The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth – ca. 1863 – illustrated by Keeley Halswelle – luxurious Victorian binding – gilt edges
Beautiful Victorian example of The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth from the famous English Romantic poet William Wordsworth (1770–1850).
Published in Edinburgh by William P. Nimmo, with London: Frederick Warne & Co., and richly illustrated by the British artist Keeley Halswelle (1831–1891).
This illustrated Nimmo edition appeared from 1863 and belongs to the beautifully produced 19th-century editions of Wordsworth’s collected poetry. The original edition is bibliographically recorded as issued in 1863. a0
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The book is presented in a particularly decorative dark green, embossed binding with geometric and floral ornaments. The central floral motifs and the spine are adorned with gold accents. All edges are gilt, giving the book a remarkably handsome appearance even when closed.
Inside lies the richly illustrated title page with Rydal Mount, Wordsworth’s famous residence, and several full-page illustrations after designs by Keeley Halswelle. The original 1863 edition is described as including a portrait, illustrated title page, and eight full-page plates. a0
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Particularly charming is the original handwritten price inscription on the flyleaf:
“Fanny Bartlett – Dec. 18th 1868 – 1st Cl. English Prize”
The book thus can be shown as a prize book as early as 1868. This nicely fits with Nimmo’s original positioning of the series, which was advertised in contemporary publisher advertisements as a luxury gift and school prize book. a0
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The work includes Wordsworth’s lyric, nature, and narrative poetry, supplemented with biographical information and notes.
Condition: good and attractive antique condition for a book over 160 years old. The binding shows clear wear, especially at corners, edges and the head of the spine. The decoration and gilding are still recognizably good. The gilt edges are notably well preserved. The interior looks largely clean and sturdy, with typical aging and occasional light spots/foxing. See photos for the condition of the binding and interior.