Bella Donna
Robert Hichens
London: The Readers Library Publishing Company Ltd, reprint 1928
The Readers Library published affordable editions of popular fiction in the period 1924-35, cheaply produced but very attractive with their wrap-round dustwrapper artwork.
A tale of passion and death amongst the pyramids by Robert Hichens (1864-1950), originally published by William Heinemann (1909) to great success. The Readers Library published this title in abridged form in 1927, this copy being the third reprint.
Lovely dustwrapper art by A. F. Merritt.
Hardback in dustwrapper. pp 250, [1] colophon. Size: 6.75 x 4.25 inches approx. (168mm x 105mm).
Dustwrapper lightly rubbed and worn, small loss to spine ends and corner tips; tear to tail of spine forming a small flap; a little discoloured and foxed; series number 139 in ink to spine. Light shelf wear to spine and boards; gilt dulled to spine. Pages age toned throughout but otherwise generally clean; front free endpaper/Foreword page becoming detached but still hanging in there; series number 139 in ink to title page verso.
Overall, showing some wear but otherwise a nice, clean copy – presents well.
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References
An interesting look at The Readers Library can be found at A Series of Series
