The Iliad of Homer (Beckswell Hall School Presentation copy)

Undated but physical evidence dates volume to circa 1850. xxxii, 616pp, with an extra illustrated title page, and tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece.  School presentation binding of full green leather with extensive decorative gilding on front and rear panels and a five raised bands spine.  All edges gilt.  Inner gilt dentelles.  16mo.  Covers are rubbed, especially on corners and ends of a heavily sunned  and dry spine.  Front hinge cracked, causing a minor wobble to front panel.  Front free endpaper bumped along fore-edge.  The first and last few pages have some minor soiling in the margins else pages are bright and crisp.  Gilt stamped on the upper panel 'Beckswell Hall' and a presentation inscription inked on the front paste down, indicating that the volume was presented to one W W B Hulton for 'second best answering in French' at Beckswell Hall School in 1857, inscription signed by Revd. Charles Bickmore, the founder and headmaster of Beckswell Hall School. Beckwell Hall is a grade II* country house in Warwickshire, now converted to residential housing.  For centuries the home of the Marow/Wilmott family, it was leased to Rev Charles Bickmore between 1843 and 1860, where Bickmore founded and ran a boys' boarding school. A lovely vintage copy with strong associations.