In and Around the Isle of Purbeck
By Ida Woodward. London: John Lane, The Bodley Head; New York: John Lane Company, 1908. First Edition. Illustrated with color plates by John W. G. Bond. 237 numbered pages, plus preliminary pages.
An attractive early illustrated guide to Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck, covering villages, local history, churches, castles, landscapes, and coastal scenery. The book includes views of Corfe Castle, Swanage, Worth Matravers, Lulworth, Kimmeridge, Tyneham, and other Purbeck locations.
The title page calls for 36 color plates by John W. G. Bond. This is a complete illustrated copy with all 36 plates confirmed present, plus the separately printed Isle of Purbeck map.
Complete illustrated copy: All 36 color plates called for are present, along with the Isle of Purbeck map.
Condition
Poor/Fair binding condition; no dust jacket. This copy has a major internal text-block break: it opens almost completely into two sections at one point, with sewing/lining exposed. The binding is not sound and the book requires careful handling; professional rebinding or conservation would be appropriate for normal use. Please see the close-up photo of the break.
Original green ribbed cloth with gilt lettering. The gilt front-cover lettering remains readable. The cloth has scuffs, scratches, light surface soiling/white marks, and a visible crease/indentation at the lower front cover. Corners and spine ends are rubbed and frayed. The lower text-block edge has a rough/deckled appearance with handling wear; that irregularity may be partly original to the book’s untrimmed finish.
The photographed title page, contents, and preface leaves are generally clean with age toning and minor handling wear. The color plates remain attractive. Complete illustrated copy: all 36 color plates and the Isle of Purbeck map are present.
Please examine every photograph closely for the exact cloth wear, lower text-block wear, page condition, and plates. You will receive the exact 1908 copy shown. No dust jacket is included.