1890 Rare First Edition - The Treasures in the Marshes by Charlotte M. Yonge

A quiet Victorian tale of discovery and moral treasure, set against the evocative landscapes of rural England.

Author: Charlotte M. Yonge. Illustrated by W. S. Stacey.
Title: The Treasures in the Marshes.
Publisher: London, National Society’s Depository; New York, Thomas Whittaker, circa 1890s. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches.
Pages: vi, 173 pages + publisher’s catalogue.
Binding: Very good publisher’s original pictorial cloth binding, decorated in gilt and colors to the front cover and spine; light rubbing and general wear to extremities, with minor soiling and a few faint marks as shown (hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover. Overall, an attractive and well-preserved example of this charming Victorian binding.
Content: Very good; clean, tight, and well-preserved; light toning consistent with age; a neat gift inscription dated 1922 to the front endpaper; occasional light foxing as shown; overall a pleasing and readable copy.
Illustrations: Complete with 3 full-page illustrations by W. S. Stacey, including the frontispiece; the illustrations are crisp and well-preserved, complementing the narrative with fine period detail.

The book: The Treasures in the Marshes is a fine example of late Victorian moral and domestic fiction, written by one of the era’s most beloved authors, Charlotte M. Yonge. Set within the quiet rhythms of English rural life, the novel weaves themes of character, integrity, and the true meaning of “treasure” through the lives of its young protagonists. Blending gentle storytelling with moral reflection, Yonge’s narrative reflects the values and social concerns of her time, while remaining accessible and engaging to modern readers. The attractive pictorial binding, paired with its evocative illustrations, makes this volume both a literary and visual artifact of the period.

The author: Charlotte Mary Yonge (1823–1901) was a prolific English novelist and one of the most widely read writers of the Victorian period. Closely associated with the Oxford Movement, her works often explore themes of faith, duty, and moral development within family and community life. Her novels, including The Heir of Redclyffe, enjoyed immense popularity and influenced generations of readers with their earnest and humane storytelling.