The Historians' History of the World . . . (complete in 25 vols; 1907)

Williams, Henry Smith (ed)

Description:

". . . A comprehensive narrative of the rise and development of nations as recorded by the great writers of all ages . . . With the collaboration of many specialists and with contributions by [more than thirty academics and editors from around the world]"

Half brown leather and green leather-cloth, gilt rules and design and lettering to the spines, which have five raised bands. Green marbled endpapers, green binding reinforcing tapes. More than 16,000 pages, including index; more than 150 plates and more than 2000 other illustrations in the text. There is a tissue-protected frontispiece in each volume, with all tissues undamaged and in place. The top page edges are gilt; the bottom page edges are rough trimmed.

There are no ownership or other marks but the set has been in the continuous possession of one German, later South African, family for more than one hundred years. The cover corners and spines are rubbed and show long usage wear, but, with the bindings, are still firm and functional. There is no foxing or other discolouration. The set is complete and intact with the single exception of the back cover of Vol XII, which is detached but present. There is also a 75 mm tear at the top of Vol XXII (see images).

This is an exceptional set of one of the library classics of an earlier generation. Full sets come up for sale only rarely. Even rarer is to find a set in as good overall condition as this one.

By arrangement, we are in a position to offer free delivery of this 40 kg lot to a physical address in Johannesburg.

 

Details:

  • Publisher: The Times
  • Publisher Place: London
  • Date of Publication: 1907
  • Edition: First
  • Binding Condition: Very Good (see description)
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 270 x 190 x 1.7 m shelf length (weight: approx 40 kg)
  • Lot No: 218
  • Hammer Price: $950
  • Bids: 9
  • Visits: 168
  • Estimate: $1800
  • Reserve: $650

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Seller Details:

  • Name: Fontein Books
  • Address: 27 Voortrekker Street, Philippolis 9970
  • Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
  • Country of Origin: South Africa
  • Email: fontein@wol.co.za
  • Website:
  • Preferred Payment Methods: Internet bank transfer or Visa or Mastercard
  • Trade Association: AA Approved
  • Additional Information: Fontein Books has for several years participated in Antiquarian Auctions and its predecessor. It specialises in historical and contemporary books on the Free State and Northern Karoo, and is also an active buyer and seller on commission in these and other fields. Fontein's owner, Richard Proctor-Sims, was an editor, writer and small publisher until 2005, when he moved from Johannesburg to Philippolis, the first settlement (1822) north of the Gariep or Orange River, where he opened his first physical bookshop (to which buyers and sellers are welcome), with reasonable holdings in Africana, both Anglo-Boer wars, biography, history, military history, natural history and travel. He regularly visits Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and offers to deliver heavy or valuable books or sets to these cities on such visits. Richard Proctor-Sims retains the copyright of Fontein's Antiquarian Auction descriptions and these may not be reproduced without permission and acknowledgment.