The Lucile Project

...recovering the publication history of a single 19th century book.

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32mo. Editions
Stokes printed 32mo editions between 1895 and 1917 from the same set of 316 page electroplates under the generic series title "Masterpieces of Verse and Prose". The same plates were used to create an additional "Laurel" series in 1897. Sometimes the series was embellished with illustrations, sometimes not, and always in a variety of bindings. The Masterpiece series is described here chronologically by the dates it unfolds in Stokes catalogues annually contributed to Publishers' Trade List Annual with the Laurel Series inserted at 1897.

Reported copies: [1895]. Quarter white cloth stamped gold with fleur de lys in design, finished in floral cloth. Spine has [paper?] label "COLLECTION / OF / MASTERPIECES". Library of Congress NL 0594650 is copyright deposit of 11/5/95. Other copies of NL 0594650 are John Carroll University; University of Missouri, Columbia: original binding. ----, [1895]. Dark cloth stamped gold with rectangular floral design filling much of board; title/author in square. University of Missouri.

Masterpieces of Verse and Prose
1895-1896 PTLA: A delightful series of little classics, in a new and attractive form. Each volume is a 16mo, and will have twenty or more vignette illustrations, chiefly full-page, but occasionally set in the type or projected into the margin, in the French style. Printed on coated paper, with wide margins, and with a cut on each title page.... 1. Pansy binding, with back and half sides of white vellum cloth, stamped with title, and an attractive design in gold on half side. With outer half sides of illuminated design of pansies with gold background, heavily embossed with "moire silk" effect. Price, each, in a box, 75 cents. 2. Violet binding, with back and half sides of reversed green linen. With title stamped on back and half side in gold, and with an attractive fleur-de-lis design in gold on the half side. With outer half sides in an illuminated design of blue and white violets, with gold, heavily embossed. Gilt top. Price, boxed, 75 cents. 3. Full brown cloth, with title stamped on back in gold, and with attractive fleur-de-lis designs stamped on the front side in gold. Gilt top. Price, boxed. 75 cents. 4. White cloth, with attractive fleur-de-lis designs stamped on the front side in gold. Gilt top. Price, boxed, 75 cents. 5. Half calf, gilt top, boxed, $1.50. 6. Full wine colored leather, with title stamped in gold, gilt edges, boxed. $2.00. 7. Limp calf, full gilt, boxed. $2.00. 8. Mogador Levant, gilt edges, boxed, $2.50.

1895 PW Christmas Bookshelf, p49: The successful Vignette Series (Stokes) has its "orchid," "daisy," and "violet" bindings on two new volumes.... Masterpieces of Verse and Prose, a series of little classics in most attractive form, with many vignette illustrations and the many pretty "violet" and "pansy" bindings this house [Stokes] is noted for, has just added to it Owen Meredith's "Lucile" and Scott's "Lady of the Lake."

1897 PW Sept 25, p502 ad lists the Laurel Series: 32mo, white cloth, tastily stamped with an elaborate design in assorted ink, with title in silver on front side in a silver and white framing, Price, each volume, $1.25.

1897 PTLA: Masterpieces. 1. Forget-me-not binding, with back and half sides of violet buckram, stamped with title and an attractive design in gold. With outer half sides in an illuminated thistle design, heavily embossed. Gilt top. Price, each in a box... 75 cents. / 2. Thistle binding, with back and half sides of green buckram, stamped with title and an attractive design in gold. With outer half sides in an illuminated thistle design, heavily embossed. Gilt top. Price, each in a box... 75 cents. / 3. Violet binding, with back and half sides of reversed green linen. With title stamped on back and half side in gold, and with an attractive fleur-de-lis design in gold on the half side. With outer half sides in an illuminated design of blue and white violets, with gold, heavily embossed. Gilt top. Price, boxed, 75 cents. / 4. White cloth, with attractive fleur-de-lis designs stamped on the front side in gold. Gilt top. Price, boxed, 75 cents. 5. Half calf, gilt top, boxed, $1.50. / 6. Full wine colored leather, with title stamped in gold, gilt edges, boxed. $1.50. 7. Limp calf, full gilt, boxed. $1.50. 8. Mogador Levant, gilt edges, boxed, $2.00.

1898 PW Sept 24, p 421 ad for Masterpieces of Verse and Prose: Each volume is a 32mo and has 20 or more vignette illustrations, chiefly full-page, but occasionally set in the type or projected into the margin, in the French style. Printed on coated paper, with wide margins, and with a cut on each title page. Full cloth style, boxed, 50 cents; Floral style, 50 cents; Half calf, $1.50; Full leather, $1.25; Limp calf, $1.50.
1898 PTLA: 32mo, illustrated: full cloth style, boxed 50 cts; floral style 50 cts; half calf $1.50; full leather $1.25; limp calf $1.50; Mogador Levant $1.50.
1899 PTLA: as 1898, omitting Mogador Levant.
1899 PW Sept 30, p577 ad for Masterpieces of Verse and Prose: Full cloth style, size 3 1/2 x 5 1/2, boxed, 50 cents; Floral style, 50 cents; Half calf, $1.50; Full leather, $1.25; Limp calf, $1.50.

1900 PTLA: 32mo, illustrated. Full cloth style, boxed 50 cts. / Floral style 50 cts. / Embossed leather $75 cts. / Half calf $1.50. / Full leather $1.25. / Limp calf $1.50. [Cut].

1901 PTLA: 32mo, illustrated. Full cloth style, boxed 50 cts. / Embossed leather 75 cts. / Full leather $1.25. / Limp calf $1.50. [Cut].

1901 PW Sep 28, p656: Masterpieces of Verse and Prose: A delightful series of little classics in a new and attractive form, and with several new titles. / Each volume is a 32mo, and has 20 or more vignette illustrations, chiefly full page, but occasionally set in the type or projected into the margin, in the French style. Printed on coated paper, with wide margins, and with a cut on each title-page. [Lucile is on list] Full cloth style, boxed, 50 cts; Embossed leather, 75 cts; Full leather, $1.25; Limp calf, $1.50.

1902 PTLA: Full cloth style, boxed, 50 cts.; Embossed leather, 75 cts.; Full mottled calf, full gilt, $1.00; Full leather, $1.25; Limp calf, $1.50.
1902 PW Sept 27, p626: Masterpieces of Verse and Prose. This delightful series of little volumes is now offered in a new and attractive leather binding -- mottled calf, full gilt, boxed, at $1.00 per volume. / Each volume is a 32mo, and contains twenty or more vignette illustrations, chiefly full page, but occasionally set into the type. Printed on coated paper, with wide margins, and with a cut on each title-page. 19 titles.

1903-1904 PTLA: Full cloth, 50 cts.; Canton silk style, 60 cts.; embossed leather, 75 cts.; full mottled calf, $1.00.
1905 PTLA: cloth, Canton silk, red leather, full mottled calf.
1906-1907 PTLA: cloth, Canton silk, red leather.
1908-1910 PTLA: holly binding, 50c.; Canton silk style, 60c.; red leather, 75c.
1911 PTLA: Canton silk style, 50c.
1912 PTLA: Onyx paper, 30c.; Canton silk style, 50c.
1913 PTLA: Onyx paper, 30c.
1914 PTLA: A series of handsome little booklets containing famous pieces of literature with explanatory notes and numerous illustrations. Onyx paper with colored inlay. 30c.
1915-1917 PTLA: Onyx paper, 30c.
1918-1920: Lucile... (Out of print).

16mo. Editions
Stokes printed 16mo editions between 1890 and 1904 from the same set of 352 page electroplates. Some series were then embellished with illustrations, others were not. Nearly all of the series were offered in a variety of bindings. Some series overlap, but gnerally as a new variation was intoduced, another was dropped. They are described here chronically by the dates they first appear in Stokes catalogues annually contributed to Publishers' Trade List Annual.

16mo Series of Poetical Works in Dainty Bindings
1890 PTLA: III. 16mo Edition. New half cloth, gilt top, $1.00; Parchment-paper binding, in a box, $1.00; Half calf, gilt top, $2.00; Half crushed Levant, gilt top, $2.25; Limp, imitation seal, gilt edges, in a box, $2.50; Limp calf, red-under-gold edges, in a box, $3.00; Tree calf, gilt edges, in a box, $3.50.

Poets, 16mo Series of. Each one of the seventeen volumes of this series is offered in two new styles of bindings. 1. "Orchid" binding , with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery in gold, and outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. Price, each, $1.00; 2. Ooze calf binding, with limp covers of this soft and beautiful leather, bearing the lettering on the side in gold. The corners are rounded and the edges of the books are gilded. Price, each, $3.00. / (The full limp calf binding in this series is now to be had at $2.50 per volume.)

1891 PTLA: Some of the most popular volumes of this series are now offered in sets, boxed. [Lucile with Tennyson's Lyrical Poems, The Golden Treasury, and Faust, 4 vols., $4.00]. 16mo, "orchid" binding.... [Also] "red and white" binding, with back and half sides of white vellum cloth, stamped with gold, and outer sides of red cloth, with an attractive design stamped in gold, gilt tops. Each set in a handsome red, cloth-covered box.

1892 PTLA: Uniform in size and style. Printed in clear type on fine, laid paper, wide margins. Mostly made up of Poets whose works appear in no other good American edition. Very attractive in appearance. / Of one of these volumes The Week says: "The critic finds it impossible to take up this volume without being prepossessed in its favor by the dainty loveliness of its dress. The paper is charming, the margins are liberal, the type neat and clear." / Each of these 17 volumes [Lucile is number 12] is a 16mo, well-printed on very fine, laid paper, with wide margins, from electrotype-plates.

Styles of binding. Each volume is offered in a great variety of bindings, all of which have been given most careful attention by the publishers. I. New "Orchid" binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth entirely covered with tracery in gold, and with other half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. Price, each... $1.00. II. Half-cloth binding. With back and half sides of dark green, vellum cloth, covered with tracery in gold. Outer half-sides delicate green, buff and gold. gilt top. Price, each... $1.00. III. Parchment-paper covers, with hand-illuminated design on side; title and back printed in red ink. Different designs for each volume as follows: ... 12, Jacqueminot Rose. Each volume in a box... $.75. IV. Half-calf, extra, gilt top, neat tooling and lettering and good materials and workmanship. Price, each... $2.00. V. Half-crushed levant, flat back, with wide raised bands, plain, in French style, with linings and gilt top. Price, each... $2.25. VI. Limp wine-colored, pocket-book calf, round corners, red-under-gold edges. Price, each, in a box... $2.50. VII. 2. Ooze calf binding, with limp covers of this soft and beautiful leather, bearing the lettering on the side in gold. The corners are rounded and the edges of the book are gilded. Price, each... $3.00. VIII. Very dark brown tree-calf, gilt edges. Price, each, in a box... $3.00. / Volumes sold separately or in sets.

David I. Holmes, Catalogue Eighty "Victorian Literature" (1990s?), offered (item 140, price $275) a Stokes Lucile, title page dated 1891, described consistent with the Orchid binding image above, with a printed "soiled, edges rather chipped" dust jacket; the jacket was not further described.

Reported copies: [1891]. Quarter white cloth stamped gold and finished in floral (cyclamens?) paper. University of North Carolina. ----, [1892]. Quarter white cloth stamped gold and finished in floral (cylamens?) paper. University of British Columbia. ----, Dark moire silk with gold floral rule around edges of top board. University of Minnesota. ----, Quarter white cloth stamped gold (pattern of small floral tools) finished in plain linen finish cloth. Wesleyan.

Wild Rose Series
1893 PTLA: A New series of popular poets, beautifully illustrated and handsomely bound. Each of these volumes, unless otherwise specified, has 16 full-page illustrations by well-known artists... With 12 full-page illustrations by Thomas McIlvaine. I. Wild Rose binding, with back and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery in gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pink and white roses, delicately embossed. Price, each, $1.00; II. "Old Madrid" binding, full brown cloth, with back and front sides covered with an old Spanish design in gold. Price, each, $1.00. III. Moire (watered) silk binding, full gilt. With title stamped in gold and with back and front side stamped with attractive design in gold. Price, each, $1.50; IV. Half calf, extra, gilt top, neat tooling and lettering, and good materials and workmanship, $2.00; V. Limp, wine-colored, pocket-book calf, round corners, red-under-gold edges, $2.50.

1894 PTLA: The volumes in this popular series have now been issued in a beautiful new binding of half maroon leather.... Each 1 vol., 16mo, with back and half sides of half maroon leather, with title and attractive design in gold. With outer half sides of brown paper, stamped with fleur-de-lis designs in gold, embossed. Price, each volume, $1.25.

1895 PTLA: Wild Rose... 75cts. Old Madrid... 75 cts. Moire... $1.00. Half maroon leather... $1.25. Half calf... $2.00. Limp pocket-book... $2.50. [Also] Venetian Rutland leather, with round corners, gilt edges, at $2.00 per volume, and in mogador levant at $3.00 each.

Reported copies: [c1893]. Quarter white cloth stamped gold finished in floral paper. Library of Congress NL 0594646, copyright copy deposited 8/19/93. New Illustrated Edition. Quarter white cloth stamped gold finished in floral paper, same design and paper as LC copyright copy. Yale NL 0594645. ----, Other NL 0594645 copies: OrPS; Harvard. ----, [c1893]. Titlepage printed red): New Illustrated Edition. Semi-limp red leather, title in gold on spine and top board; aeg. Marbled endsheets. BAP SC8: Chemise and red cloth slipcase.

Tulip Series
1896 PTLA: A dainty series of books of poems by popular authors. Especially suitable for Christmas gifts. ... Each volume, 16mo., full white cloth, stamped with an elaborate and beautiful tulip design in gold and with title in gold, gilt top, boxed, $1.00. .. half calf binding, gilt top, neat tooling and lettering, $2.00. ... limp, wine colored, pocket-book calf, with round corners, red-under-gold edges, $2.50. ... Venetian Rutland leather binding, with title stamped in gold, full gilt, boxed, $2.00. ... beautiful mogador levant binding, round corners, full gilt, boxed, $3.00.
1897 PTLA: as 1896 except mogador levant reduced in price to $2.50.
1898-1899 PTLA: 16mo, full white cloth.

Criterion Series
1896 PTLA: An attractive series of standard and popular works, well printed and bound, and at an exceptionally low price. The cheapest line on the market, considering the high standing of the authors and the excellence of manufacture. ... Lucile, profusely illustrated by Frank M. Gregory.... 1. Each vol., 16mo, with back and half sides of white cloth, completely covered with tracery in gold, and with outer half sides of fancy paper. Price, per volume, 50 cents. 2. Full brown cloth, with title stamped in a graceful design in gold, on back and sides. 50 cents. 3. Half leather, with back and half sides and corners of half leather, with back heavily stamped with gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design. Price, each... $1.00.
1897-1899 PTLA: as 1896 but offered only in binding 1.

Garland Series
1898 PTLA: A choice line of standard books, in an attractive binding, well printed and in a convenient size. Each volume 16mo, white cloth... 50 cts.... Profusely illustrated by Frank M. Gregory.

Berkeley Series of Verse and Prose
1900 PTLA: 16mo, illustrated, full cloth, 50 cts.
1901-1904 PTLA: Thirty-one volumes. Full cloth. Excellent binding, paper and printing of good quality, each volume illustrated.... Price per volume, 50 cts. [Cut].

1901 PW Sep 28, p657: Popular favorites in a new and attractive binding. Berkeley Series of Verse and Prose. Thirty-one volumes. Full cloth. Excellent binding, paper and printing of good quality, each volume illustrated. Price, per volume, 50 cts.

12mo. Editions
Stokes' 12mo editions seem all to have been printed from a set of 352 page electroplates, sometimes embellished with illustrations, sometimes not, and offered in a variety of bindings, typically less expensive ones. They thus seem to have been aimed at a market segment seeking a "utilitarian" edition of a standard book more expensive than the 32mo and 16mo versions but distinctly less expensive than the Vignette, Family, McIlvaine, and Lemaire editions. They are arranged here by the dates they first appear in the annual PTLA catalogs.

Duodecimo Poets
1890 PTLA: I. Duodecimo Poets. Cloth, gilt top, plain, $1.25; Half calf, gilt top, $2.50; Limp, imitation "seal," gilt edges, in a box, $3.00.

1891-1892 PTLA: Each volume of this series is now offered in an attractive new binding.... Each, 1 vol., 12mo, "lace" binding, with back and half sides of white vellum cloth and outer half sides of white "lace" pattern on a gold "watered" background. Price, per volume, $1.00.

1893 PTLA: ... "lace binding"... Bengaline silk binding, with back and half side very heavily stamped with lettering and design in gold. Price, per volume, $1.50.

1894 PTLA: ... Each 1 vol., 12mo, with back and half sides of reversed cloth, heavily stamped with title and attractive design in gold. With outer half sides in an illuminated design, with cloth corners. Price, per volume, $1.00; 2. Bengaline silk binding, $1.50; 3. Persian seal binding. With back and half sides of Persian seal and with title and attractive design heavily stamped in gold on the back. With outer half sides of light brown paper. stamped with fleur-de-lis in gold, embossed. $2.00.

1895 PTLA: "lace" and Bengaline.

Favorite Illustrated Series
1891-1892 PTLA: A popular series of standard books, in an ornate and very attractive binding. Each volume is illustrated by one hundred new illustrations by a well-known artist, and is beautifully printed on fine paper.... Each 1 vol., 12mo, full green cloth, with rich stamping in gold and silver on back and sides, and with panel of white cloth on side. Bevelled boards, gilt edges, in a box, price each volume, $2.00.

Regal Series
1896 PTLA: A new line of popular books, beautifully printed with clear type on good paper, and well bound. The finest line of standard books ever offered at so moderate a price... Each volume, 12mo., half cloth binding, with back and half sides of white cloth, stamped with gold, and with outer half sides of fancy paper, full gilt edges, boxed, 1.25. ...[Some titles also:] Each volume, 12mo., red Holliston cloth, full gilt edges, $1.25.

Imperial Series
1897 PTLA: A series of standard authors, tastefully bound and well printed on good paper at popular prices.... Each 12mo., full leather binding, tastily stamped with gold, full gilt edges, boxed, $1.75.

Laurel
1897 PTLA: A new line of popular books, beautifully printed with clear type on good paper, and well bound... 12mo, green cloth, tastily stamped with an elaborate design in white ink, with title in silver on front side in a white and silver frame. Price... $1.25.

Mistletoe Library
1898 PTLA: A new line of popular books, beautifully printed and bound. Full cloth binding, stamped on back and sides with metal. 12mo. Boxed. Per volume, $1.00.

Oak Leaf Series
1898-1899 PTLA: An attractive edition of standard works in full cloth binding, 50 cents per volume.

Vignette Edition
All Vignette editions are approximately 125x195mm with a text block of 420 pages (and a small, oblong illustration of Lucile in her nun's habit on the page facing 420). The frontispiece is consistently a drawing of Lucile at her writing desk captioned "I am told you are going to marry Miss Darcy," as shown below. The title page is consistent as well (with earlier issues dated in roman numerals, some later edition in arabic numbers, with most later editions entirely undated on the title page. The verso of the title page, in all copies, carries a copyright notce for Frederick A. Stokes & Brother, 1889 (which applies to the 100 Gregory illustrations). Paper stocks vary somewhat, but generally a glossy paper was used, on which the illustrations printed well. All cloth-bound copies have plain paper endsheets; copies in leather typically have marbled or other decorative paper endsheets.

1890 PTLA: IV. Vignette Edition. 12mo. With 100 vignette illustrations by Frank M. Gregory. Half brown cloth, gilt top, $1.50; Parchment-paper covers, in colors, $1.50; Half calf, new style, gilt top, $3.00; Half crushed Levant, gilt top, extra, $3.50; Full crushed Levant, gilt edges, extra, in a box, $5.00; Full tree calf, gilt edges, in a box, $5.00.

Vignette Series. The publishers have spared neither pains nor expense to render the volumes in this remarkable series the most beautiful editions in existence of the works selected for publication. So many new bindings for Lucile are now offered that this successful volume is given here, together with three new volumes representing an outlay of many thousands of dollars. [Lucile, The Princess, Faust and Lalla Rookh]. Each is a remarkably beautiful 12mo volume most profusely illustrated by new half-tone engravings after original designs made especially for the work. Many of the illustrations are full-page, and the remainder are of various sizes and odd shapes, and are set in the text in the French style. / Each volume is printed in the best manner, and on the first quality of paper, with wide margins. The greatest care has been given to the numerous styles of binding offered: 1. Parchment-paper covers, with appropriate design in colors, uncut edges (Lucile, only, is offered in this binding), $1.50; 2. New half cloth binding. Back and half sides in dull-finish cloth, outer half sides in illuminated patterns of rich effect. Each volume, $1.50; 3. New "Orchid" binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. Each volume, $1.50; 4. Full dark cloth, with back and front side entirely covered with beautiful tracery in gold. With quatrefoil ornament of white cloth in centre of front side. Each volume, $1.50; Half calf, flat back, raised bands, gilt top, Each volume, $3.00; Half crushed levant, best quality, beautifully finished, gilt top. Each volume, $3.50; Full limp, pocket-book calf, red-under-gold edges. In a box. Each volume, $4.00; Ooze calf, limp, gilt edges. In a box. Each volume, $4.50; Ooze calf, stiff covers, with attractive metal corners, gilt edges. Each volume, $5.00; Full crushed levant, best quality, gilt edges. In a box. Each volume, $5.00; Dark brown tree calf, gilt edges, in a box. $5.00.

1890 PW Christmas Bookshelf, p41: The success won by "Lucile," the initial volume of the Vignette Series (Stokes), will not be forfeited by the additions to the series. Tennyson's "Princess," Goethe's "Faust"......

1890 PW Christmas Bookshelf, p64: ...Of value during the holidays and throughout the year are the volumes of the Vignette Series, every one of which is a remarkably pretty 12mo volume, profusely illustrated by new half-tone engravings after original designs. "Lucile," "The Princess," "Lalla Rookh" and "Faust" are included thus far. These books are in every style of binding, and are little works of art.

----PW Christmas Bookshelf, p106, ad: ... Many of the illustrations are full-page, and the remainder are of various sizes and odd shapes, and are set in the text in the French style. / New half cloth binding, $1.50; New "Orchid" binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered with a tracery of gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed, $1.50; Full dark cloth, $1.50; Half calf, $3.00; Half crushed levant, $3.50; Full limp, pocket-book calf, in a box, $4.00; Ooze calf, stiff covers, with attractive metal corners, $5.00; Full crushed levant, in a box, $5.00; Dark brown tree calf, in a box, $5.00.

Reported copies; 1889. Yale: half cloth finished in marbled paper; "Vignette Edition" stamped at foot of spine.

University of North Carolina NL 0594636: MDCCCXC (1890); half cloth finished in marbled paper; "Vignette Edtion" stamped at foot of spine. ----, BAP SC4: quarter white cloth stamped gold, finished with floral (orchid) paper; flyleaf signature dated 1890; NYPL; Brigham Young. ----, Yale NL 0594636: rebound in half cloth.

1891 PTLA: This series has become so important that the four old volumes of the series, Lucile, The Princess, Faust, and Lalla Rookh are given here, together with the eight new volumes, representing an outlay of tens of thousands of dollars. [Bindings as 1890; Lucile and The Princess also offered as sets in orchid binding, boxed, and in "new half red and white binding," boxed].

1891 PW Sept 26, p422: Vignette Series [leading the line], The publishers have spared neither pains nor expense to render the volumes in this remarkable series the most beautiful editions in existance of the works selected for publication. / This series has become so important that the four old volumes of the series, Lucile, The Princess, Faust, and Lalla Rookh, are given here, together with the eight new volumes, representing an outlay of tens of thousands of dollars. / Each is a remarkably beautiful 12mo volume, most profusely illustrated by new half-tone engravings, after original designs made especially for the work. Many of the illustrations are full-page, and the remainder are set in the text in the French style, with wide margins.

"Orchid" binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered with a tracery of gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. $1.50. / Full dark cloth, with back and front side entirely covered with beautiful tracery in gold. With quatrefoil ornament of white cloth in centre of front side, $1.50. / Half calf, flat back, wide raised bands, gilt top, $3.00. / Half crushed levant, best quality, gilt top Full crushed levant, best quality, gilt edges, in a box, $5.00. / Dark brown tree calf, gilt edges, in a box, $5.00.

[Lucile and The Princess also offered together as a boxed set in two bindings:] -- in the beautiful orchid binding; -- in the new half red and white binding... With back and half sides of white vellum cloth, stamped with gold. With outer half side in red cloth, also stamped with neat design in gold. Each book protected by a heavy wrapper of red cloth.

----, p423 ad: A popular series of standard books, in an ornate and very attractive binding / Favorite Illustrated Series / Each volume is illustrated by one hundred new illustrations by a well-known artist, and is beautifully printed on fine paper. [6 titles include Lucile]. Each, 1 vol., 12mo, full green cloth, with rich stamping in gold and silver on back and sides and with a panel of white cloth on side. Beveled boards, gilt edges, in a box, $2.00.

----, p425 ad: Standard Poets in choice bindings. POETS, 16MO. / Some of the most popular volumes of this series are now offered in sets, boxed. [Lucile is boxed with Tennyson's Lyrical Poems, The Golden Treasury, and Faust for $4.00]. New "red-and-white binding" [same set for $6.00] 16mo "red-and-white binding" with back and half sides of white vellum cloth, stamped with gold, and outer sides of red cloth, with attractive design stamped in gold, gilt tops. Each set in a handsome red, cloth-covered box.

Reported copies: UCLA: MDCCCXCI; quarter white cloth stamped gold, finished with floral (orchid) paper. ----, Duke NL 0594641 (Y Y); University of Virginia (Y); Harvard.

1892 PTLA: ... This series has become so important that the twelve former volumes are given here, together with the four new volumes, representing an outlay of tens of thousands of dollars.... [Bindings as 1890].

Reported copies: 1892 MsU NL 0594643 MsU: original binding. ----,University of Pennsylvania: MDCCCXCII (1892). Dark green cloth with white cloth or vellum onlay in center of top board (as 1891 above).
----, MDCCCXCII (1892) UCLA; BAP SC6: quarter white cloth stamped gold, finished with floral (orchid) paper. BAP: inscribed June 27, '92.

1893 PTLA. All the volumes of this beautiful series have received the highest praise from the press of the country. A few of these comments are: "It would seem that the acme of fine book publishing at a marvelous low figure had been reached in this series." --Menominee Democrat. / "It is amazing that a volume, gotten up in such exquisite form typographically and illustrated so beautifully, can be placed upon the market at a popular price." --Madison Democrat. / "The books are admirably calculated for holiday gifts, and will make beautiful ornaments for a library or parlor table."--Grand Rapids Democrat. / "All the features of these books, bindings, illustrations, press work, and contents, combine to make them especially appropriate Christmas gifts." --Jefferson Journal. / "A combination of excellence in book-making seems to have been reached in this series." --Boston Hearld. / "How so handsome a volume can he produced for the money is a mystery." --Methodist Recorder. / "A series of very handsome gift books. The bindings are strikingly pretty, and the typography and press work are of a superior character."--National Baptist. / "As dainty a holiday presentation as ever came from the poet's, printer's and binder's hand is the Vignette edition of Scott's Lady of the Lake." --Boston Traveller. / These volumes are all published in a large variety of attractive bindings. / "Orchid" binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery of gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. Each volume... $1.50. / Full dark cloth, with back and front side entirely covered with beautiful tracery in gold. With quatrefoil ornament of white cloth in centre of front side. Each volume, $1.50. / Fleur de Lis binding, with back and half sides of white vellum cloth, stamped with title and fleur de lis in blue and gold, with outer half sides in an illuminated design, embossed, with white vellum cloth corners. Each volume $1.50. / Full green cloth binding, full gilt, with rich stamping in gold and silver on back and sides, and with panel of white cloth on side. Beveled boards, gilt edges, in a box... $2.00. / Moire (Watered) silk binding, full gilt, with back and sides richly stamped with title and attractive design in gold. Each volume, in a box,... $2.00. / Half calf, flat back, wide raised bands, gilt top. Each volume, $3.00 / Half crushed levant, best quality, beautifully finished, gilt top. Each volume, $3.50. / Full limp, pocket-book calf, red-under-gold edges, in a box. Each volume, $4.00. / Ooze calf, limp, gilt edges, in a box. Each volume, $4.00. / Ooze calf, stiff covers, with attractive metal corners, gilt edges. Each volume... $4.50. / Full crushed levant, best quality, gilt edges, in a box. Each volume... $5.00. / Dark brown tree calf, gilt edges in a box. Each volume... $5.00.

1893 PW Sept 30, p480 ad: Vignette Series is offered "in a large variety of attractive bindings": "Orchid" binding, $1.50; Full dark cloth, $1.50; Fleur de Lis binding, $1.50; Full green cloth binding, $2.00; Moire (watered) silk binding, $$2.00; Half calf, $3.00; Half crushed levant, $3.50; Full limp, pocket-book calf, $4.00; Ooze calf, limp, $4.00; Ooze calf, stiff covers, with attractive metal corners, $4.50; Full crushed levant, in a box, $5.00; Dark brown tree calf, in a box, $5.00. [Also offered as a set, with The Princess, in red and white binding, $4.00].

Reported copies: MDCCCXCIII (1893). BAP: Green cloth with white cloth or vellum onlay as 1891. ----, CU-BANC: original binding.

1894 PTLA: [The Vignette Series is entered twice, pages 6-7 and pages 32-33, with the titles differently ordered. Both are headed:] The publishers have spared neither pain nor expense to render the volumes in this remarkable series the most beautiful editions in existence of the works selected for publication. [Page 6 continues:] This series has become so important that all of the former volumes are given here, together with those published this year. This line of standard poets and prose writers is admitted to be the most popular and meritorious published and represents the outlay of tens of thousands of dollars. / Each is a remarkably beautiful 12mo volumes, illustrated by from 75 to 100 new half-tone illustrations after original designs made especially for the work. Many of the illustrations are full-page, and the remainder are of various sizes and odd shapes, and are set in the text in the French style, with margins. / Each volume is printed in the best manner, and on paper especially manufactured for this series, and each is published in a large variety of attractive bindings / Daisy binding, with back and half sides of white vellum cloth, stamped with title and fleur de lis in blue and gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design embossed, with white vellum cloth corners. Each volume, $1.25. Maroon cloth, with back and front sides heavily stamped with beautiful design and title in gold. Gilt top. Each volume, $1.50. Half levant cloth binding. With back and half side of brown cloth, stamped in almost perfect imitation of half levant. Flat back, wide raised bands, with the title and ornamental design stamped in gold, and with front half sides in an illuminated design, with levant cloth corners. $1.50. Violet binding. With back and half sides of reversed dark gray cloth, heavily stamped with title and an elaborate design in gold. With outer half sides in an illuminated design of blue and white violets with green foliage and gold, embossed. $1.50.

[Page 32 continues with the "Each is a remarkably beautiful 12mo" paragraphs as above and the entry ends, page 33, with the newspaper quotations as 1893. The bindings are described as in 1893 except: the fleur de lis binding is dropped; the full green cloth binding is reduced in price to $1.50; and Lucile and The Princess are offered as single volumes or a set ($3.00) in "white back and half sides of white vellum cloth, stamped with gold. With outer half side in red cloth, also stamped with neat design in gold. Each book protected by a heavy wrapper of red cloth."]

1894 PW Christmas Bookshelf, p163 ad: Vignette Series... Price, per volume, daisy binding, $1.25; orchid or cloth binding, $1.50; For a full description of more expensive bindings, varying in price from $2.00 to $5.00, send for DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE.

1895 PTLA: [as second 1893 entry with bindings:] Daisy binding, with back and half sides of white vellum cloth, stamped with title and fleur de lis in blue and gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design embossed, with white vellum cloth corners. Each volume, $1.25. / Violet binding. With back and half sides of reversed dark gray cloth, heavily stamped with title and an elaborate design in gold. With outer half sides in an illuminated design of blue and white violets with green foliage and gold, embossed. $1.50. / Full cloth or buckram, stamped with wreath design in gold and black ink on back and side... $1.50. / Pansy binding. With back and half sides of vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery of gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale pansies with gold, heavily embossed... $1.50. / "Orchid" binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery of gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. Each volume... $1.50. / Full green cloth binding, full gilt, with rich stamping in gold and silver on back and sides, and with panel of white cloth on side. Bevelled boards, gilt edges, in a box... $2.00. / Moire (Watered) silk binding, full gilt, with back and sides richly stamped with title and attractive design in gold. Each volume, in a box,... $2.00. / Half calf, flat back, wide raised bands, gilt top. Each volume, $3.00 / Half crushed levant, best quality, beautifully finished, gilt top. Each volume, $3.50. / Full limp, pocket-book calf, red-under-gold edges, in a box. Each volume, $4.00. / Ooze calf, limp, gilt edges, in a box. Each volume, $4.00. / Ooze calf, stiff covers, with attractive metal corners, gilt edges. Each volume... $4.50. / Full crushed levant, best quality, gilt edges, in a box. Each volume... $5.00. / Dark brown tree calf, gilt edges in a box. Each volume... $5.00. / [Lucile and some other titles are also offered in] Swiss Levant... $3.50 and Mogador Levant... $5.00.

1896 PTLA: [as 1894 with bindings:] Half basket cloth binding. With back and half sides of white or brown basket cloth, covered with an attractive design stamped in gold, with outer half sides in an illuminated design... $1.25. / Full cloth or buckram, stamped with wreath design in gold and black ink on back and side... $1.50. / Pansy binding. With back and half sides of vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery of gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale pansies with gold, heavily embossed... $1.50. / "Orchid" binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery of gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. Each volume... $1.50. / Full green cloth binding, full gilt, with rich stamping in gold and silver on back and sides, and with panel of white cloth on side. Bevelled boards, gilt edges, in a box... $2.00. / Moire (Watered) silk binding, full gilt, with back and sides richly stamped with title and attractive design in gold. Each volume, in a box,... $2.00. / Half calf, flat back, wide raised bands, gilt top. Each volume, $3.00 / Full limp, pocket-book calf, red-under-gold edges, in a box. Each volume, $4.00. / Full crushed levant, best quality, gilt edges, in a box. Each volume... $5.00. / Dark brown tree calf, gilt edges in a box. Each volume... $5.00. / [Lucile and some other titles are also offered in] Swiss levant... $3.50 and mogador levant ("The leather is an exquisite mottled green and gives the books a very rich appearance..." $5.00.]

1896 PW Sept 26, p498, ad: [Vignette Series is brought under a "Classical Authors" series edited by Rosa Belle Hold] ... All the volumes in this beautiful series have received the highest praise from the press of the country. A few of these comments are: "A combination of excellence in book-making seems to have been reached in this series." --Boston Herald. "How so handsome a volume can be produced for the money is a mystery." --Methodist Recorder. "A series of very handsome gift-books. The bindings are strikingly pretty, and the typography and presswork are of a superior character." --National Baptist. These volumes are all published in a large variety of attractive bindings. Half basket cloth binding, $1.25; Full buckram, $1.50; Pansy binding, $1.50; Orchid binding, $1.50; Full green cloth binding, full gilt, in a box, $1.50; Moire silk, in a box, $2.00; Half calf, $3.00; Full limp, pocket-book calf, in a box, $4.00.

1897 PTLA: as 1896 with bindings: Half basket cloth binding. With back and half sides of white or brown basket cloth, covered with an attractive design stamped in gold, with outer half sides in an illuminated design... $1.25. / Iris binding, white cloth, with backs and sides almost entirely covered with stamping in inks of assorted colors. With title stamped in a graceful frame of gold on back and front side... $1.50. / Thistle binding, with back and half sides of green cloth, entirely covered with gold stamping, and with title in a gold frame on back and side. With outer half sides in an illuminated thistle design, cloth corners... $1.50. / Forget-me-not design, with back and half sides of blue cloth, covered with gold stamping, and with title in a graceful frame on side and back. With outer half sides in an illuminated design of forget-me-nots, cloth corners... $1.50. / "Orchid" binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery of gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. Each volume... $1.50. / Full green cloth binding, full gilt, with rich stamping in gold and silver on back and sides, and with panel of white cloth on side. Bevelled boards, gilt edges, in a box... $1.50. / Half calf, flat back, wide raised bands, gilt top. Each volume, $2.50. [Also:] Moire silk $2.50; Swiss levant $3.50; mogador levant $5.00; limp, pocket-book calf $3.50.

1897 PW Sept 25, p500 ad: ... have received highest praise from the press of the country. A few of these comments are: "It would seem that the acme of fine book publishing at a marvelous low figure had been reached in this series." --Menominee Democrat. "It is amazing that a volume, gotten up in such exquisite form typographically and illustrated so beautifully, can be placed upon the market at a popular price." --Madison Democrat. "All the features of these books -- binding, illustrations, presswork and contents -- combine to make them especially appropriate Christmas gifts." --Jefferson Journal. [The bindings offered are:] Half basket cloth binding, $1.25; Iris binding, white cloth, $1.50; Thistle binding, with back and half sides of green cloth, boxed, $1.50; Forget-me-not binding, with back and half sides of blue cloth, boxed, $1.50; Orchid binding, with backs and half sides of white vellum cloth, boxed, $1.50; Full green cloth binding, full gilt, in a box, $1.50; Half calf binding, boxed, $2.50.

1898 PTLA: as 1897, quotes reduced. Binding are: Purple and gold binding, full green cloth, stamped with Florentine design, title in gold, boxed... $1.00. / Same, Louis XIV binding, full cloth, gilt side and back... $1.00. / Full buckram $1.00. / Half basket cloth $1.00. / Floral $1.25. / Orchid $1.25 / Favorite style $1.50 / Half calf $2.50. / Limp calf $3.50.

1899 PTLA: Purple and gold binding, full green cloth, stamped with Florentine design, title in gilt, boxed, $1.00; same, Louis XIV binding, full cloth, gilt side and back, $1.00; Full buckram, $1.00; Half basket cloth, $1.00; Floral binding, $1.25; Favorite binding, $1.50; Half calf binding, $1.75.

1899 PW Sept 30, p577 ad for Vignette editions: Each volume, 12mo, purple and gold binding, full green cloth, stamped with Florentine design, title in gilt, boxed, $1.00; Same, Louis XIV binding, full cloth, gilt side and back, $1.00; Full buckram, $1.00; Half basket cloth, $1.00; Floral binding, $1.25; Favorite binding, $1.25; Half calf, $1.75.

1900 PTLA: purple and gold, Louis XIV, buckram, basket cloth [cut] as 1899; also Gold line style and Favorite binding.
1901 PTLA: Purple and gold $1.00. / Half basket $1.00. / Gold line style $1.25. [Cut as 1900].
1901 PW Sept 27, p626: Vignette Series. This beautiful series of English classics is now offered in a new leather binding -- mottled calf, full gilt, boxed, at $2.00 per volume. / Each volume is a remarkably beautiful 12mo, illustrated profusely by half-tone engravings. 25 titles. Send for catalogue.
1902 PTLA: purple and gold; half basket; gold line; and full mottled calf, full gilt, $2.00.
1903 PTLA: half basket; gold line; mottled calf.
1904-1905 PTLA: half basket; gold line.
1906 PTLA: half basket.
1907 PTLA: half basket; Gold Line style. Cloth, gilt top, fully illustrated, boxed, 12mo, $1.25.
1908-1909 PTLA: half cloth, $1.00.

Copies not identified to edition:

Reported Vignette Editions: Quarter white buckram gold stamped with a diaper pattern and finished in floral paper. BAP SC2a, Copy 1; copy 2: most of gold has been lost from buckram, inscribed March 16, 1898; copy 3: floral cloth differs from copies 1, 2.
----, quarter white buckram gold stamped with a printed paper of diaper design with alternating griffins and shields. BAP SC2b.
----, [1893]. 19cm, 420p. Quarter white cloth finished, 420p. Quarter white cloth finished with dark solid cloth with square floral stamp in center of top board. Yale.

8vo. Editions: The Family Edition

1890 PTLA: II. Family Edition. Ilustrated by H.N. Cady, with borders in tints by W. St. John Harper. 8vo, cloth, full gilt, $2.00; Imitation seal, padded covers, gilt edges, in a box, $3.50.

1891 PTLA: Each volume of this series is now offered in the "orchid" binding.... Each, 1 vol., 8vo. "orchid" binding with back and half sides of a white vellum cloth, entirely covered with tracery in gold, and with outer half sides in an illuminated design of pale purple orchids with gold, heavily embossed. Gilt top, Price, each volume, $2.50.

Reported copies: 1889: NL 0594622 NYPL: missing; University of Virginia; Princeton. ----, 1891. Brown diagonal fine-ribbed cloth stamped black, ochre and gold, beveled edges, aeg. University of Texas, Austin.
----, 1891: NL 0594640 University of Virginia; University of North Carolina, original binding; University of Illinois, original binding.

1892 PTLA: ... Each volume is a large 8vo., cloth, bevelled boards, gilt edges, $2.00; Imitation seal, padded covers, gilt edges, in a box, $3.50.

1893 PTLA: 10. Lucile. Fully illustrated with original illustrations by H.N. Cady, including a portrait of the author. / With beautiful border, printed in tints, designed by W. St. John Harper, and engraved by George T. Andrew. / ... Each volume is a large 8vo., cloth, bevelled boards, gilt edges, $2.00; "Orchid" binding, $2.50. Imitation seal, padded covers, gilt edges, in a box, $3.50. Full moire, silk bindng, with title and ornamental design stamped in gold, in a box, $4.00.

1894-1896 PTLA: as 1892 plus: maroon cloth binding, $2.00; Orchid binding, $2,50; full moire silk binding, with title and ornamental design stamped in gold, in a box, $4.00.

----, MDCCXCII (1892). 158x250mm, 352p. Verso titlepage:copyright 1886 by White, Stokes, & Allen. Quarter [white?] cloth finished in floral paper. University of Illinois.

4to. & Folio Editions

[McILVAINE EDITION]
1893, "with twelve fac-similes of water-color paintings by Thomas McIlvaine, Together with numerous illustrations in black-and-white by Thomas McIlvaine and Frank M. Gregory". NL 0594646. 1893 PW Christmas Bookshelf describes as in direct competition with Estes & Lauriat photogravure-illustrated edition: "...is a flat quarto, with twelve fac-similes of water- color designs by Thomas McIlvaine, and the same number of half-page half-tone engravings after original designs. Either is beautiful enough to satisfy any reasonable buyer."

1893 PW Sept 30, p481. A handsome gift for Christmas... The handsomest edition of "Lucile" ever published, with 12 fac-similes of water-color designs by Thomas McIlvaine, and 12 Full-page half-tone engravings, after original designs made especially for this work by the same artist. / Mr. McIlvaine has made a careful study of his subject and has illustrated this popular poem in a thoroughly delightful way. With portrait of Mr. McIlvaine and numerous vignette illustrations by other well-known artists. / 1 volume, 4to, gilt top. In each of the styles of binding, 1 and 3, a frame is stamped in gold, and within the frame is shown a small fac-simile of one of Mr. McIlvaine's water-color sketches / 1. Maroon cloth with back and half sides of light brown cloth, with attractive stamping in gold and silver, in a box, $3.50; 2. "Forget-me-not" style, with back and half sides of blue cloth, attractively stamped in gold and silver, and with outer sides in an illuminated design in forget-me-nots and daisies with blue cloth corners, in a box, $3.50; 3. Silk, attractively stamped with gold, in a box, $4.00.

1894-1896 PTLA: as PW except binding style 1 is "Full blue cloth, with attractive stamping in gold and silver, In a box, $3.50".
1897 PTLA: full blue cloth $3.00;, "forget-me-not" $2.50; silk $3.50.
1898 PTLA: 4to, half cloth, full cloth; silk.
1899 PTLA: 4to, half cloth, full cloth.
1900-1901 PTLA: 4to, half cloth.

The McIlvaine photogravures

[Lemaire De Luxe & Octavo Editions]
1897 PTLA: The most beautiful edition of this popular work ever published. / The especial features of this valuable work are twelve fac-similes of water-color sketches by Madeleine Lemaire. These are the only examples of the color work of this distinguished artist ever published in this country. / Mme. Lemaire, who made a most careful study of this popular poem, has thoroughly caught its spirit, and has interpreted it artistically and truthfully, in a way to charm the reader. / In addition to these beautiful pictures are one hundred half-tone engravings after original designs by C. McCormick Rogers, well printed on paper made especially for this edition. / 1 vol., 4to, full green cloth, with title and an artistic design in gold stamped on front side and back, gilt top, boxed... $4.00. / Full white cloth, stamped with gold on back and front side, beveled boards, full gilt, boxed... $5.00. / With back and half sides of half red morocco, with front side of white cloth, with title in red ink in a heavy gold frame, beveled boards, full gilt, boxed... $6.00.

The deluxe edition was reviewed (among other places) in The Critic: a Weekly Review of Literature and the Arts (1886-1898); Dec 25, 1897, vol 28 page 827, in the "New Books and New Editions" column: "The choice of Mlle. Madeleine Lemaire to illustrate a luxurious edition of Owen Meredith's Lucile could hardly be improved on. The illustrator of l'Abbé Constanin is at home in the scenes suggested by the poem. Her Comtesse de Nevers and Lord Alfred Vargrove [sic] have real flesh and blood under their fashionable attire and are human in drawing rooms and by Alpine lakes. The original water-color drawings, reproduced in all their accidental tints and gradations, are separately printed on heavy plate paper. There are twelve of these facsimiles, and many dozens of smaller pen and ink illustration by C. McCormick Rogers, printed in the text.  The cover has a very pretty design of fleurs de lis in gold on rough green canvas [signed "AR"= Amy Richards]. (Frederick A. Stokes Co.)"

Octavo (Trade) Edition, in reduced size, with color-printed plates replacing the photogravure plates, has title page and binding designed by Will Bradley (the binding is signed "B" in the lower right corner).

In its 2017 Spring Short List, Austin Abbey Rare Books (Mount Vernon, VA) offers a copy of this edition (blue cloth) with an explanation of Bradley's motifs: "Bradley represented the primary conflict of the poem [that between English Lord Vargrave and French Duc de Luvois] in his binding by using an alternating design that includes both the English rose and the French lily."

1897 PTLA: A beautiful edition of this work in a size especially convenient for the reader. Illuminated by 13 fac-similers of water color sketches by Madelaine Lemaire and by 100 half tone engravings after original designs by C. McCormick Rogers. / To illustrate works of this size so thoroughly is a new departure in book-making, which the publishers believe will prove a welcome novelty to the reading public. / 1. 1 vol., 8vo, with back and front side almost covered with the title and a most artistic design by Will H. Bradley stamped in gold. Gilt top, boxed, $3.00. 2. Dark cloth, with same stamping as No. 1, boxed, $4.00. 3. Three-quarters levant, with front sides of fancy paper, gilt top, boxed, $5.00.
1898-1899 PTLA: cloth $2.00; three-quarters levant $3.00.
1900 PTLA: cloth $2.00; three-quarter leveant $4.00.
1901-1910 PTLA: cloth $2.00
1911-1914 PTLS: cloth $1.50

The Lemaire Photogravures taken from the Calendar

Last revised: 15 May 2023