"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
— Franz Kafka

London: George Routledge, n.d. [c.1880]. [English Literature]. Five volumes. Small octavo (18 x 12 x 8cm), complete. Half navy blue calf with raised bands and gilt decoration to spine, twin red and black title labels, combed marbled sides, edges and endpapers. One or two minor spots or folds else Internally clean, some ageing to bindings, spines pleasingly sunned. Very good. Issued as Routledge's Ruby Series [ECB records publication as 1875, Keynes 78 as 1877], being an undated reprint of the 1849 Fireside Companion. An uncommon nineteenth century edition in a pretty antique leather binding. Item #50214
Price: £650.00