The World's Great Men (Volumes I-VI)

Complete in six divisions (volumes). Subscription edition. [1880]. Illustrated title page, vi, 408pp, plus over 100 tissue-guarded steel engraved plate portraits. All six divisions uniformly bound in black buckram with blind embossed decorations and gilt titles front and spine. Bevelled edges. All edges gilt. 4tos. Cloth worn to dull, rubbed at edges, particularly around heavily rounded corners and spine ends which are rounded and fraying, some mild marks and minor indentations. All volumes a little grubby, especially volume one, where the front endpapers are soiled and marked, with a cracked hinge. Front endpapers in all volumes grubby. In volume five the first portrait, that of Sir Thomas More, has an area of damp stain in the upper corner; similar affecting second portrait in volume two. Previous owner's name inked on each front free endpaper, dated 1949. Some occasional minor edge damage to pages. A scarce set.