Books

First edition, first printing. Original publisher's gilt and black stamped green cloth, wood-engraved frontispiece by C. Hewitt, 8 pp. of publisher's advertisements in rear. In Carter's "C" binding, with a small gilt horse's head medallion, looking to the left, as is virtually always found (Carter, More Binding Variants, 37-38). Fine with light wear to extremities, moderate foxing to all edges. Contemporary female gift inscription on front free endpaper; contents lightly toned with scattered foxing. An exceptionally well-preserved and unrestored copy of this scarce work. Housed in a custom full morocco clamshell box by Patron.The most celebrated animal story of the 19th century.

Black Beauty is a novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she remained in her house as an invalid. The novel became an immediate bestseller, with Sewell dying just five months after its publication, long enough to see her first and only novel become a success. It is one of the best-selling books of all time.