1913 First American Edition Paris Nights & Other Impressions | Arnold Bennett | Illustrated Hardcover Book

A wonderfully atmospheric 1913 first American edition of Paris Nights and Other Impressions of Places and People by Arnold Bennett, illustrated by E. A. Rickards and published by the George H. Doran Company of New York.

This is a particularly charming early-20th-century book with the kind of old-library presence that simply cannot be recreated. The original taupe/gray paper-covered boards, cloth spine, and gilt lettering give it a wonderfully understated Edwardian appearance, while the interior contains numerous illustrations and Bennett's observations of Paris, London, Italy, the Riviera, Switzerland, England, and other places.

The title page identifies the publisher as George H. Doran Company, New York, with the date MCMXIII (1913), and the copyright page states “Copyright, 1913 by George H. Doran Company.” Bibliographic and rare-book sources identify the Doran issue as the 1913 First American Edition.

There is also a charming personal-history detail inside: an Ex Libris bookplate for Corrine Kramer, along with a handwritten “Corrine Kramer” and “1940” in blue ink. This gives the book a wonderful sense of having actually lived a life before arriving in your collection.

Details

• Title: Paris Nights and Other Impressions of Places and People
• Author: Arnold Bennett
• Illustrator: E. A. Rickards, F.R.I.B.A.
• Format: Hardcover
• Edition: First American Edition, 1913
• Publisher: George H. Doran Company
• Publication Location: New York
• Publication Date: 1913
• Copyright: 1913, George H. Doran Company
• Language: English
• Pages: Approximately 384 pages
• Illustrations: Frontispiece plus approximately 45 additional plates/illustrations
• Binding: Original cloth-backed paper-covered boards
• Cover: Taupe/gray paper-covered boards with gilt title and author labels
• Spine: Brown cloth with gilt lettering
• Endpapers: Plain cream
• Personalization: Ex Libris bookplate for Corrine Kramer, plus handwritten name and 1940 date
• Dust jacket: None
• Country of origin/publication: United States — New York edition
• Translation: Not applicable; English-language original work

The contents include sections devoted to Paris Nights (1910), Life in London (1911), Italy (1910), the Riviera (1907), Fontainebleau, Switzerland, England, the Midlands, the British home, and street roads and trains.

Rare-book references specifically describe the George H. Doran issue as a First American Edition, while the British edition was issued by Hodder & Stoughton in the same year. 

Condition: Heavily worn vintage condition

This is an approximately 113-year-old book, and the exterior shows substantial age and handling wear.

• Significant rubbing and discoloration to the boards
• Heavy wear to the corners and edges
• Substantial wear and deterioration to the cloth spine
• Fraying and loss around the spine ends
• Areas of exposed/frayed binding material
• Wear and separation around portions of the covers
• General surface marks, scuffs, and age-related staining
• The binding is fragile and should be handled carefully
• Interior pages remain remarkably presentable for the age, though naturally toned
• Some pages/edges show age-related waviness and wear
• Ex Libris Corrine Kramer bookplate inside
• Handwritten “Corrine Kramer” and “1940” in blue ink
• No dust jacket

The book is not being represented as a restored or collector-grade fine copy. Its value here is the combination of its 1913 first-American-edition status, literary importance, illustrations, original period binding, and wonderfully aged appearance.

Please study all photographs carefully. This is a vintage antique book being sold in its photographed condition, with the binding wear and imperfections considered part of its character.

Styling: This book is an absolute natural for old-library, Edwardian, dark-academia, and vintage European-travel décor.

The muted taupe boards, brown cloth spine, faded gilt lettering, creamy pages, and delicate early illustrations create a wonderfully sophisticated period look.

It would look especially beautiful:

• On an antique or vintage bookshelf
• In a study or home library
• On a coffee table beside other old travel books
• In a dark-academia interior
• In an Edwardian-inspired room
• Alongside vintage maps and travel ephemera
• In a European-inspired décor display
• As a photography or styling prop
• In a literary collection
• As a gift for an Arnold Bennett or vintage-book collector

And the Corrine Kramer provenance detail and 1940 inscription make this copy feel particularly personal rather than simply mass-produced.

The illustrations by E. A. Rickards add another layer of charm, capturing the people and places Bennett encountered around Europe. 

Shipping: This antique hardcover will be packaged carefully with protective wrapping and padding to help prevent additional damage to the already-fragile spine, corners, and boards during transit.

Because of the binding condition, the book will be secured appropriately inside a sturdy shipping package rather than allowed to move freely during shipment.

Shipping costs are calculated at checkout and are paid by the buyer.

One of a kind. Once this Ugly Duckling finds its new home, it's gone.