Binding and Provenance

Condition

While the animal hide cover of the book is beginning to fall off and the first few pages are missing, the original binding of the book remains intact; though the spine is now stamped with the Tisch Library call number. The remaining pages are composed of a thin paper, which appears aged but in good condition.

Provenance

According to a sticker on the inside cover, Staunton's work was donated to Tufts library by Frederick W. Crocker. The final page bears the signature “D. Crocker,” indicating that the book may have belonged to a family member of the donor. A unique feature of the book is a page titled “Directions to the Binder,” which describes the placement of images within the book. This would imply that the book was sold without binding and that the cover was likely a personal choice made by the purchaser.

Images

Animal hide book cover.

Book binding, including the Tufts Special Collections' library call number.

The first intact page of the Tufts Special Collections' edition, including the inside cover with a library label indicating the book was donated to Tufts library by "Frederick W. Crocker, Esq." Marginalia in the form of numbers can also be seen along the inside cover and the first intact page.

The final page bearing the signature “D. Crocker."

A page titled “Directions to the Binder,” implying that the book was sold without binding and that the cover was likely a personal choice made by the purchaser.