Walden Thoreau, Henry David Literature,Literature Before 1900

First edition thus, two volumes. xliii, 260; vi, 261 - 523 pp, illustrated with photogravures. Bound in publisher's green cloth with decorative gilt stamping, laid endpapers, top edge gilt. Near Fine with light rubbing to covers, sunned spines with light wear to spine ends. Light offsetting from jackets (now lacking) to endpapers, owner signature dated 1924 to front free endpapers. Volume I hinges over-opened, first gathering a little loosened. A lovely edition of an American classic, designed by Sarah Wyman Whitman during the Book Beautiful movement of the 1890s. Whitman was one of the most prominent book designers during the golden age of decorative bindings, notable for her elegant and restrained designs that made use of the rear board as well as the front.