1880 Scarce Victorian Edition - Grace Darling: Heroine of the Farne Islands

A stirring Victorian tribute to courage at sea, bound in richly decorative cloth and alive with maritime drama.

Author: Anonymous (by the author of Our Queen).
Title: Grace Darling: Heroine of the Farne Islands.
Publisher: London, Walter Scott, Ltd., Paternoster Square; printed at The Walter Scott Press, Newcastle-on-Tyne, no date (circa 1880).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5 x 5 inches.
Pages: 312 pages + publisher’s catalogue.
Binding: Attractive and very good scarce original Victorian publisher’s decorative green cloth binding, richly stamped in black with elaborate designs and gilt title panels to the front board and spine; rear board with floral motif; light wear and scuffing consistent with age; hinges sound; all edges gilt; a striking and well-preserved example of Victorian cloth artistry; housed in a removable protective mylar cover.
Content: Good to very good; bright, tight, and clean overall, with occasional light foxing or staining as shown; a pleasing and solid copy.
Illustrations: Complete with 16 full-page illustrations, including the frontispiece; featuring coastal landscapes, famous lighthouses (Bell Rock, Skerryvore, The Needles), castles, and dramatic maritime scenes such as The Wreck of the Forfarshire.

Estimate: (Scarce, with few comparable copies of this edition currently available).

The book: A beautifully illustrated Victorian biography celebrating the life and legend of Grace Darling (1815–1842), the lighthouse keeper’s daughter whose courage captured the imagination of an entire nation. In 1838, she famously braved storm-tossed seas alongside her father to rescue survivors from the wreck of the Forfarshire, an act that quickly elevated her to heroic status. This richly produced edition not only recounts her story but situates it within the dramatic landscapes of the Northumbrian coast, combining biography, moral narrative, and maritime imagery. The elaborate decorative binding and extensive illustrations make this volume both a compelling historical account and a highly attractive collector’s piece.

The author: Published anonymously by the author of Our Queen, this work reflects the Victorian taste for moral biography, presenting Grace Darling’s heroism as a model of duty, faith, and quiet strength. Through a blend of narrative and reflection, the author places her story within the broader cultural fascination with maritime life and national character in 19th-century Britain.