The British Empire in the 19th Century by Edgar Sanderson (1897, 6-Volume Set)

The British Empire in the 19th Century by Edgar Sanderson (1897, 6-Volume Set)

$365.00

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Victorian 6-volume empire history | 1897 gilt leather set | Illustrated | Provenance

A Rare Victorian Chronicle in Leather & Gilt
Presented by Artifex Spaces

Experience the full sweep of Victorian ambition, artistry, and empire with this magnificent six-volume set of The British Empire in the 19th Century, published in 1897 by Blackie & Son. Authored by Edgar Sanderson, the set offers richly illustrated insights into the rise of British global influence—through war, trade, exploration, and industrial transformation.

Bound in elegant gilt-embossed leather, with color maps, finely detailed engravings, and gilt-edged pages, this set is a masterwork of historical storytelling and fine book production.

📚 Highlights
• Complete in six volumes, all matching and from the original 1897 printing
• Lavishly illustrated with color maps, architectural engravings, portraits, and landscapes
• Gilt-edged pages and intricate spine detail in leather-bound volumes
• Provenance: From the Lockley Family Collection, associated with:
– Ronald Lockley, naturalist and author, inspiration for Silent Spring
– Martin Lockley, paleontologist and global authority on fossilized trackways
• Weight: Approx. 17 lbs total | Size per volume: 10" x 7"

đź§­ What You'll Discover Inside
• Firsthand accounts of British colonial campaigns and global expansion
• Vivid maps and illustrations capturing the geopolitical imagination of the era
• Discussions of Victorian industry, culture, and military campaigns—through a scholarly, period-specific lens
• Ideal for historians, collectors, educators, and curators of 19th-century imperial thought

đź“– Condition Summary
• Bindings: Leather-bound with bright gilt; minor rubbing, bumping at corners
• Pages: Bright and clean, with minor foxing
• Notable flaws: Small spill mark on early pages of volumes 5 and 6 (purely cosmetic, does not affect text or illustrations)
• All maps and illustrations intact

📦 Shipping & Care
• Free U.S. shipping included
• International shipping available (customs/duties may apply)
• Each volume carefully wrapped in archival-safe materials and boxed securely
• Gift-ready note available upon request

A statement piece of historical storytelling—crafted in leather, illustrated with care, and steeped in the ambitions of empire.

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Do you ship internationally?

Currently, I ship within the United States only to keep things simple and sustainable.

That said, if you’re located internationally and see something you love, you’re welcome to reply to a Dispatch email or join the mailing list and send a note. I occasionally make exceptions for subscribers on a case-by-case basis.

✉️ Join here to stay in touch: artifexheirloom.myflodesk.com/join

Do you ship internationally?

Currently, I ship within the United States only to keep things simple and sustainable.

That said, if you’re located internationally and see something you love, you’re welcome to reply to a Dispatch email or join the mailing list and send a note. I occasionally make exceptions for subscribers on a case-by-case basis.

✉️ Join here to stay in touch: artifexheirloom.myflodesk.com/join

Do you ship internationally?

Currently, I ship within the United States only to keep things simple and sustainable.

That said, if you’re located internationally and see something you love, you’re welcome to reply to a Dispatch email or join the mailing list and send a note. I occasionally make exceptions for subscribers on a case-by-case basis.

✉️ Join here to stay in touch: artifexheirloom.myflodesk.com/join