1912 "A General History of the World", set of 3 books [English]

Three handsome volumes in warm tan leather with blue and gold marbled covers, the kind of swirl that looks like stormy water. Each spine is stamped in gold with little globes, the title in clean block letters, and "Grosvenor" beneath. Leather corners frame the marbled boards on each one.

Inside is Victor Duruy's sweeping world history, from the first humans to modern times, updated by Amherst professor Edwin A. Grosvenor. Volume I opens with a fold-out color map, "The World as Known to the Ancients," in soft pink, orange, and yellow. Black-and-white plates appear throughout, including the Trial of Joan of Arc and the famous "Ermine Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth I.

The leather is rubbed and softened with age, with one chipped spine top- the honest wear of books that were read and kept. Beautiful as a trio on a shelf, a desk, or a mantel, and a nice gift for a history lover.

Dimensions: 7 1/4" H x 5" W (per volume)

Medium: Three-quarter leather over blue-and-gold marbled paper boards, spines stamped in gilt

Age: 1912

Origin: New York — The Review of Reviews Co.; printed by The Quinn & Boden Co. Press, Rahway, New Jersey

Signature/mark: Spines stamped in gilt "DURUY'S GENERAL HISTORY OF THE WORLD — GROSVENOR," volume numbers I, II, III, and "REVIEW OF REVIEWS CO." at the foot

Disclosures: Sold as-is in antique condition; this is Vols. I–III only; Vol. IV is not included; bindings are solid; leather is rubbed at the spines, edges, and corners, with light sunning and color variation; pages are toned with age and readable