William Blades, The Enemies of Books, 1888, Very Good hardcover

BLADES, William, The Enemies of Books, London: Elliot Stock, 1888. English, Very Good hardcover 12mo, 4 ½” x 7”, 165 pp., + index.

Very Good green cloth over beveled boards, gilt title lettering and owl design to front panel. Black-and-white unattributed illustrated frontispiece + 7 engravings. Floral pattern endpapers. Tiny remnant of dealer plate to front pastedown, splitting to upper rear hinge, binding still tight. Clean bright interior pages. Published as part of the Book-Lover’s Library series, revised enlarged edition. An examination of various misfortunes that can befall books including water, gas, dust, worms, rats, children, servants, and pirates. Overall, a handsome copy of a worthy title for any bookbinder or printer’s library.