The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas and Best Loved Poems are matching 1936 Spencer Press hardcovers from The World's Greatest Literature series, offered together as a two book lot.
These are good reading copies with decorative brown bindings, green spine panels, and gold stamped designs. The Count of Monte Cristo is Volume 4 and Best Loved Poems is Volume 18. Both books open easily, and the pages are clean and easy to read. Each book also carries a previous owner's handwritten inscription inside.
Details
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Item: Two book vintage literature lot
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Title: The Count of Monte Cristo and Best Loved Poems
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Author: Alexander Dumas for The Count of Monte Cristo. Best Loved Poems contains works by multiple poets.
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Illustrator: not confirmed from photos
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Publisher: The Spencer Press
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Publication Year: 1936
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Edition and Printing: The World's Greatest Literature, Volume 4 and Volume 18. Printing cannot be determined from photos.
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Format and Binding: Matching brown decorative hardcovers with green and gold stamped spines
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Dust Jacket: None present
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Pages: The Count of Monte Cristo, 479 pages. Best Loved Poems, 399 pages.
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Genre: Classic fiction and poetry
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Language: English
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ISBN: no ISBN
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Dimensions: Each approximately 8 1/4 x 6 x 2 inches
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
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Graded Good: Both books are complete reading copies with noticeable age and handling wear but clean, readable pages.
- The printed pages remain clear and easy to read, and the decorative green and gold spine designs remain attractive.
- The matching bindings make the pair especially nice together on a shelf while still being books that can be handled and read.
Issues / Wear
- Both brown covers show rubbing and edge wear from age and use, with more wear visible around the spine ends and corners.
- The exposed page edges have age toning. The Count of Monte Cristo shows somewhat heavier toning along the page block.
- Each book has a previous owner's handwritten inscription inside. I see this as part of the books' history, but buyers wanting completely unmarked copies should note it.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
The matching World's Greatest Literature bindings give these two different kinds of reading a consistent shelf presence.
The Count of Monte Cristo is the stronger individual title in the pair and remains a book people actively seek out to read.
Best Loved Poems broadens the set with an anthology rather than another novel, so the pair feels more like the start of a small home library.
I would choose this pair for reading and display rather than for someone seeking untouched copies. The inscriptions and visible wear are part of what you are buying.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
Care and Handling:
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40 to 50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
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