The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini translated by J Addington Symonds 1910 Collier Publishing The Harvard Classics Fabrikoid Edition

This is a very good hardcover bound in Fabrikoid. 1909 Collier Publishing The Harvard Classics special fabrikoid binding. Fabrikoid binding was used for a special edition of The Harvard Classics 1909-1910. Fabrikoid Co. was one of the predominant American manufactures of artificial leather, incorporated in 1902 and purchased by Du Pont in 1910.  Du Pont managed to get Henry Ford to use it as the covering on his Model T in 1914, putting it on over 130,00 cars. In essence, fabrikoid is imitation leather. This set was bound in black (although it appears dark green in some light) fabrikoid. Given the binding, there is to be expected some mild "bubbling" of the binding and that is apparent on this copy and can be seen in photos. BUT but binding is supple, flexible and the bubble effect is from the imitation leather slightly lifting off the under covering. Many Harvard Classics editions are known to crack along the spine binding but these in fabrikoid are solid and showing only the "bubble" effect. The bindings are sewn, not glued, a factor that improves durability and style. Each has the "Veritas" design inside front and back endpapers. All volumes of this edition have gold tipped top outer page edges. Each is standard crown octavo book size or 5" x 8". This copy only has light natural tanning to pages from age with no foxing or markings seen. The edition presents itself as a special binding copy from The Harvard Classics.

The Harvard Classics was originally published as Dr Eliot's Five Foot Shelf of Books. It was originally compiled and edited by then Harvard University President Charles W. Eliot. He believed that a reading of the series would offer the benefits of a liberal education and entertainment meant for the average readers or collector.

This is Volume 31 of The Harvard Classics, 1910 Collier Publishing special Fabrikoid edition. The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini translated by J. Addington Symonds. An Intro and Notes are included. The famous Renaissance sculptor was much loved and often resented by some of the most powerful politicians and artists of Rome and Paris. The work is a vivid portrait and considered culturally important.

Thank you for visiting Bobbis Bookstore !!