1864 Rare First Edition in a Nutt Binding – Enoch Arden, etc. by Alfred Tennyson
Author: Alfred Tennyson, D.C.L., Poet Laureate.
Title: Enoch Arden, etc.
Publisher: London, Edward Moxon & Co., Dover Street, 1864. First Edition.
Printer: Bradbury and Evans, Printers, Whitefriars.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 6.5 x 4 inches
Pages: 178 pages.
Binding: Very good and attractive signed binding by W. Nutt, Binder — full polished green calf, covers bordered in gilt double-rule and dotted roll, spine richly gilt in compartments with intricate tooling, two contrasting red morocco title labels lettered in gilt, gilt-ruled turn-ins with floral-and-fan patterned inner dentelles, all edges marbled, and beautiful marbled endpapers (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Near fine content (bright, tight and clean, rare light toning - as shown).
Estimate: (USD 250 – USD 350).
The book: A beautiful 1864 first edition of Alfred Tennyson’s Enoch Arden, etc., handsomely bound by W. Nutt. The title poem, Enoch Arden, is a poignant narrative about a humble fisherman who, after a shipwreck, spends over a decade stranded on a remote island. Upon returning home, he discovers his wife has remarried his childhood friend; rather than disrupt her new happiness, he conceals his identity and dies in silence. The collection also includes shorter works such as “Aylmer’s Field,” “Sea Dreams,” and several lyrical poems, showcasing Tennyson’s mastery of Victorian verse and his enduring themes of love, sacrifice, and moral fortitude.
Estimate: (USD 250 – USD 350).
The author: Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892), Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria’s reign, remains one of the most popular English poets. His work is renowned for its rich imagery, musicality, and emotional depth, and Enoch Arden—first published in this 1864 edition—was among his most commercially successful poems in his lifetime.
The binder: W. Nutt was an accomplished Victorian binder whose work often combined traditional craftsmanship with fine decorative details. This binding reflects his hallmark quality: meticulous gilt tooling, elegant dentelles, and harmonious design, creating both durability and aesthetic beauty.