'The Centenary Burns'. T. C. and E. C. Jack, Edinburgh 1897. 4 Volumes bound in gilt decorated half-leather by Bayntun (Riviére), Bath, England. Overall 1806 pages.With 32 full-page illustrations (etchings) by William Hole and 11 leaves of facsimiles.
This is a very representative copy of the 'Centenary Edition' of the poetry of Robert Burns. Bound by the famous Bayntun (Riviére) bindery in Bath in decorative half leather and cloth covered boards. The spines have five raised bands, gilt lettering on morocco labels and gilt tooling to compartments. Top edges gilt. Bindings remain generally clean, some ligth surface streaks to leather on some boards. Joints rubbed,some cracking mainly to upper joints resulting in a little movement to boards, others remain firm. Corners showing a little wear and bumping, small loss to leather on two tips. Marbled endpapers with binder's signature to top corner verso of front free endpapers. Half-titles present.Title pages printed in black and red, dated 1897 in Vol. IV only. Text-blocks firm, pages generally very clean although off-setting from plates to adjoining pages.
'Don't be afraid. I'll be more respected a hundred years after I am dead than I am at present.' (Robert Burns, July 1796)
