The Recreations of a Country Parson – A. K. H. Boyd – 1868 – First & Second Series – 2 Volumes – Full Leather Gilt Bindings

**THE RECREATIONS OF A COUNTRY PARSON – FIRST AND SECOND SERIES** **A. K. H. Boyd – London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1868 – Matching Two-Volume Set** An attractive matching two-volume Victorian edition of *The Recreations of a Country Parson* by Andrew Kennedy Hutchison Boyd (1825–1899), the distinguished Scottish clergyman, essayist and author. Published in London by Longmans, Green & Co. in 1868, comprising the First and Second Series of Boyd's popular literary essays. Originally published in 1859 and 1861 respectively, these essays first attracted widespread attention through *Fraser's Magazine* and established Boyd as one of the best-known Scottish clerical writers of the Victorian period. Combining thoughtful observations on everyday life with gentle humour, philosophical reflection and commentary on human nature, the essays explore subjects including country life, society, disappointment, friendship, ageing and the responsibilities of the clergy. **ATTRACTIVE VICTORIAN LEATHER BINDINGS** Both volumes are uniformly bound in full leather, with gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, decorative gilt tooling and matching Victorian binding designs. The front boards feature decorative gilt and ruled borders with the initials **M.J.S.** and the date **1868**. The set also retains attractive multicoloured marbled endpapers and gilt page edges. These features give the books considerable decorative appeal, making them particularly suitable for collectors of nineteenth-century bindings and Victorian literature. **PROVENANCE** Both volumes contain the distinctive *Ex Libris C. Vivian Henry* bookplate, featuring Geoffrey Chaucer on horseback. An additional bookseller's label for C. Goodman, 407 Strand, London, provides another interesting detail of the books' history. The gilt initials M.J.S. and date 1868 on the bindings suggest that the books were specially bound or personalised for an early owner, although that individual's identity has not yet been established. **CONDITION** Good antique condition overall. Both volumes retain their matching leather bindings, which remain intact and present attractively. The spines show rubbing, surface wear and some deterioration to the leather, particularly at the heads, tails and joints. The board corners and extremities display age-related wear. The decorative gilt tooling remains attractive, and the marbled endpapers retain their colour. Internally, the pages are generally clean and well preserved, with light age toning, occasional minor spotting and handling marks. The text blocks appear firm, with no significant loose or missing pages identified from the examination available. No dust jackets. Please consult the photographs for a detailed assessment of condition. **COLLECTOR INTEREST** A pleasing example of mid-Victorian literary publishing, distinguished by its matching gilt-decorated full-leather bindings, personalised gilt initials and layered private-library provenance. Particularly suitable for collectors of Victorian essays, Scottish literature, nineteenth-century theology, decorative leather bindings, and antiquarian books. **SHIPPING** Both volumes will be carefully packaged and dispatched from Spain with tracked international shipping. Worldwide delivery and combined postage available. From a private collection assembled over more than thirty years.…