{"title":"Discover More","description":"\u003cp\u003eA little bit of everything we love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom beautiful Folio Society editions and vintage ephemera to intriguing metal detecting finds and one-of-a-kind curios, this is where the unexpected lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpdated regularly with new treasures — come and see what’s caught our eye this time.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"folio-society-blue-fairy-book-andrew-lang-sealed","title":"The Blue Fairy Book — Folio Society Edition | 1999 | Sealed | Mint","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Blue Fairy Book — Folio Society Edition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAndrew Lang | Illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk | In original publisher's seal\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThere are Folio Society editions and then there are Folio Society editions. This is one of the latter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe Blue Fairy Book — Andrew Lang's timeless gathering of fairy tales from across Europe — is presented here in what is arguably one of the most beautiful editions the Folio Society has ever produced. Charles van Sandwyk's illustrations are quite simply extraordinary: 16 full page colour plates of breathtaking detail, accompanied by dozens of intricate line drawings and decorations woven throughout the text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe binding is striking — deep blue pictorial cloth with elaborate gilt and colour blocking designed by van Sandwyk himself — and the volume sits in a sturdy matching slipcase that shows it off perfectly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e This copy remains in its original publisher's seal — completely unread and untouched since it left the press. The slipcase is flawless. The pages have never been turned. For a collector this is about as good as it gets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout this edition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Now out of print and increasingly hard to find in any condition — let alone sealed. Lang's Fairy Books have delighted readers since 1889 and this Folio Society edition does them full justice. Whether you are a fairy tale enthusiast, a van Sandwyk admirer or a Folio Society collector, this is a genuinely special find.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eExtra photographs of the publisher's seal, slipcase or binding are available on request. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePacked with stiff packing paper, card and a sturdy outer box for safe delivery anywhere in the world.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55456413942145,"sku":null,"price":195.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/2ca2fa04-il_fullxfull.7734185956_8ucl.jpg?v=1774168653"},{"product_id":"alice-in-wonderland-tarrant-24-plates-ward-lock-1929","title":"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland — Illustrated by Margaret W. Tarrant | Ward, Lock \u0026 Co. | c.1929 | 24 Colour Plates","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA proper childhood treasure — this charming early 20th-century edition of Lewis Carroll’s classic brings Margaret W. Tarrant’s whimsical, dreamlike illustrations to life in full colour. The cover captures the Mad Hatter’s tea party in all its glorious chaos: the Hatter gesturing wildly, the March Hare with his floral wreath, the sleepy Dormouse, and a wide-eyed Alice at the table — exactly the sort of scene that has delighted generations of readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003ePublished by Ward, Lock \u0026amp; Co. in their popular Sunshine Series around 1929, this edition features 24 beautiful colour plates by Tarrant (one of the most beloved children’s illustrators of the era), plus the full text of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The pictorial boards and warm, storybook feel made these volumes favourites for family bookshelves and Christmas stockings alike — a perfect blend of Carroll’s nonsense and Tarrant’s gentle, fairy-tale magic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003ePhysically it’s a compact delight: octavo size with the iconic colour-illustrated front board, green cloth spine, and all 24 plates present and bright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eCondition is good with honest age. The cover shows expected shelf wear — rubbed edges, bumped corners, light scuffing and some surface soiling — but remains bright and intact. Binding is firm with no loose pages. Inside, the title page and plates are clean and fresh; there is some foxing and light staining to the endpapers and a couple of blank leaves (typical for books of this age), plus old pencil notations (“13\/6” and “15”) from a previous owner. No major tears, inscriptions, or missing plates — a perfectly readable and displayable copy that still feels special.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAbout this edition: The 1929 Sunshine Series Tarrant Alice (with its reduced but still generous 24 plates) is a favourite among collectors of illustrated Carroll and early 20th-century children’s books. These editions were designed to be affordable yet beautiful, and complete examples with all plates intact are increasingly sought after. This one sits happily alongside other vintage storybooks or curious finds — a lovely reminder of cosy bedtime reading from a gentler age. Personally sourced and honestly described by our small team in North Yorkshire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eExtra photographs available on request. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55460189798785,"sku":null,"price":32.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/alices-adventures-in-wonderland-illustrated-by-margaret-w-tarrant-ward-lock-co-c1929-24-colour-plates-3635204.jpg?v=1778402617"},{"product_id":"edwardian-9ct-gold-seed-pearl-lovers-knot-bar-brooch-birmingham-1909","title":"Edwardian 9ct Gold Seed Pearl Lover's Knot Bar Brooch | Birmingham 1909 to 1910 | Fully Hallmarked | Fine","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eSome pieces of jewellery carry their age as a burden. This one wears it as a grace note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis is a fully hallmarked Edwardian bar brooch in solid 9 carat gold, made and assayed at the Birmingham Assay Office in 1909 to 1910 — the final years of the Edwardian era, in the last months of King Edward VII's reign. The central motif is a lover's knot: that timeless figure-of-eight symbol of eternal fidelity and devotion that was a favourite of Victorian and Edwardian jewellers and is as eloquent now as it was then. The knot is set throughout with natural seed pearls, their soft, warm lustre perfectly complementing the rose gold tone of the metal. Further seed pearls are set at intervals along the bar, the whole composition delicate, restrained and quietly beautiful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBar brooches of this kind were the everyday jewellery of Edwardian women — worn at the collar or lapel, given as gifts between sweethearts and friends, and kept for a lifetime. They were made in their thousands, but a fully hallmarked example in solid gold with intact seed pearls and a crisp, unworn pin is considerably harder to find than the numbers might suggest. The lover's knot motif adds a further dimension — this is a piece with symbolic weight as well as aesthetic charm, and the hallmarks give us its precise biography: made by a Birmingham goldsmith, submitted to the Birmingham Assay Office, and stamped with the date letter for 1909 to 1910.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine, and remarkable for a piece of over 115 years of age. The gold bar is straight and undamaged. The seed pearls retain good natural lustre throughout. One pearl is absent from its setting — noted honestly and consistent with the age of the piece. All remaining pearls are secure and intact. This is an honest flaw in a 115 year old brooch and is reflected in the price. The pin mechanism is original and functions correctly. The hallmark sequence is crisp and fully legible: sponsor's mark SBRO, fineness mark 375 confirming solid 9ct gold, Birmingham anchor assay mark, and date letter k for 1909 to 1910. A piece that has been very carefully kept.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout this piece:\u003c\/strong\u003e Edwardian 9ct gold jewellery with full Birmingham hallmarks and intact original settings represents the very best of the period's everyday fine jewellery tradition — unpretentious, beautifully made, and honest about what it is. The lover's knot has been a symbol of devotion for centuries and continues to resonate. This brooch would make an exceptional gift, a meaningful addition to a collection of antique jewellery, or simply something beautiful to wear every day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eExtra photographs available on request. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003ePacked with stiff packing paper, card and a sturdy outer box for safe delivery anywhere in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55481505120641,"sku":null,"price":118.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/DSC02854.jpg?v=1774809794"},{"product_id":"victorian-to-edwardian-fox-mask-bar-brooch-c-1890-to-1910-gold-tone-sporting-country-very-good","title":"Victorian to Edwardian Fox Mask Bar Brooch | c.1890 to 1910 | Gold Tone | Sporting \u0026 Country | Very Good","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eSmall, characterful and unmistakably English — this is a brooch that knows exactly what it is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe fox mask has been a staple of British sporting jewellery since the mid-Victorian era, when the culture of the hunt permeated every level of country life and jewellers were quick to supply the demand for wearable emblems of that world. This bar brooch centres on a beautifully modelled three-dimensional fox head — ears pricked, expression alert, with a small gemstone eye that catches the light exactly as it should. The fox sits proud of a plain, elegantly proportioned gold tone bar with a functioning pin to the reverse. It is a small piece but a perfectly formed one, and it speaks immediately and clearly to anyone with an eye for the country and the antique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBar brooches of this sporting type were worn at the collar or lapel — by men at the hunt, by women who followed it, and increasingly by anyone in Edwardian England who wished to signal their connection to rural life and its pleasures. They were made in considerable numbers, but a well-modelled three-dimensional fox mask example with a stone eye and intact pin is a considerably more appealing find than the flat stamped versions that make up the majority of survivors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very good, consistent with age. The fox mask is crisp and well-defined with all detail present — ears, muzzle and eye all intact. The pin mechanism functions correctly. The gold tone bar shows honest patina consistent with its age, with no damage or significant wear. No hallmark is present — the piece is offered as gold tone and priced accordingly. It remains a charming and wearable piece of antique sporting jewellery regardless of the metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout this piece:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fox mask jewellery has never really gone out of fashion — it appeals equally to collectors of antique jewellery, lovers of country life and those who simply appreciate a piece with personality and provenance. This one has both in abundance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eExtra photographs available on request. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55481510920577,"sku":null,"price":42.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/DSC02857.jpg?v=1774810257"},{"product_id":"silver-port-starboard-navigation-lantern-earrings-captain-om-watts-london","title":"Silver Port \u0026 Starboard Navigation Lantern Earrings | Captain O.M. Watts, Albemarle Street, London | c.1950s to 1960s | Original Box | Fine","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eSome pieces of jewellery tell you exactly where they came from. This pair announces it on the box lid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThese are a pair of silver drop earrings modelled as miniature ship's navigation lanterns — one in deep ruby red enamel for port, the left side of a vessel, and one in rich bottle green for starboard, the right. Each lantern is a beautifully proportioned miniature of the real thing: cylindrical body, domed cap, suspension ring and screw-back fitting, all in silver, each stamped SILVER to the reverse. They are a matching pair in every sense — mirror images of the navigation lights that have guided vessels safely past one another at sea since maritime law first required them. Red to port, green to starboard: every sailor knows it, and these earrings are for the woman who knows it too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWhat elevates this pair entirely is the original box in which they sit. The pale blue watered-silk lid is embossed in gold with the crest and name of \u003cstrong\u003eCaptain O.M. Watts Ltd, 49 Albemarle Street, London W.1\u003c\/strong\u003e — one of the most celebrated nautical outfitters in Britain. Captain Oswald Martin Watts was a master mariner, nautical author and the fashionable yacht chandler of Mayfair, whose Albemarle Street showroom was the destination for serious sailors and those who simply loved the sea. Charts, instruments, clothing, books, and precisely the kind of beautifully conceived nautical gift jewellery represented by these earrings — all of it passed through those varnished double doors. Captain Watts was also the man whose representations to the BBC led directly to the introduction of coastal weather forecasts in 1965. The Albemarle Street address places this box firmly in the earlier chapter of the shop's history — before the business relocated to Dover Street — dating these earrings with confidence to the \u003cstrong\u003e1950s or 1960s\u003c\/strong\u003e when the Albemarle Street premises were at the height of their reputation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine throughout. Both earrings are present and matching. The enamel is vivid and intact on both — no chips, cracks or losses noted. The screw-back fittings are functional on both. The silver retains good colour with honest patina consistent with age. The original box is present and retains its shape, with expected light wear to the exterior consistent with its age. A genuinely complete survivor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout this piece:\u003c\/strong\u003e Navigation lantern jewellery has long been a favourite of those with a connection to the sea — sailors, yachtspeople, and those who love the coast. A boxed pair in silver from Captain O.M. Watts of Albemarle Street is about as good a provenance as this category gets. An exceptional gift for anyone with salt water in their veins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eExtra photographs available on request. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55481539232129,"sku":null,"price":72.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/silver-port-starboard-navigation-lantern-earrings-captain-om-watts-albemarle-street-london-c1950s-to-1960s-original-box-fine-2041999.jpg?v=1778402598"},{"product_id":"vintage-gold-tone-floral-rose-spray-brooch-mid-century","title":"Vintage Gold Tone Floral Spray Brooch | Rose Bouquet with Buds \u0026 Leaf Detail | c.1950s to 1960s | Mid-Century | Very Good","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eNot every beautiful thing needs a signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis is a generously scaled mid-century gold tone floral spray brooch — a loose, naturalistic arrangement of roses, buds and detailed foliage rendered with confident dimensional casting and fine surface texture throughout. The composition has real presence: roses in full bloom sit alongside tightly furled buds and broad textured leaves, the whole thing built with the kind of depth and layering that catches the light beautifully and rewards a close look. It is the sort of piece that makes an impression on a dark winter coat or a plain lapel without needing to shout about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eFloral spray brooches of this type were enormously popular throughout the 1950s and 1960s — a golden era for costume jewellery on both sides of the Atlantic, when skilled manufacturers were producing pieces of genuine quality and style for women who understood that a well-chosen brooch could transform an outfit entirely. The rose motif in particular has never gone out of fashion, and this one is executed with considerably more care and three-dimensionality than many of its contemporaries. The scale is generous, the casting is crisp, and the gold tone retains warmth and depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very good, consistent with age. The gold tone is even and warm throughout with no significant loss or tarnishing. The pin mechanism is original and functions correctly. No maker's mark is present — this is offered as an unsigned vintage piece and priced accordingly, though the quality of construction suggests a competent mid-century manufacturer rather than the lowest end of the market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout this piece:\u003c\/strong\u003e Unsigned does not mean unremarkable. Mid-century floral brooches are having a genuine fashion moment, driven by a younger generation of vintage buyers who pin them to everything from blazers to denim jackets. This one, with its full rose heads and detailed buds, is exactly the kind of piece that stops people in their tracks and prompts the question — where did you get that?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eExtra photographs available on request. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55481559024001,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/vintage-gold-tone-floral-spray-brooch-rose-bouquet-with-buds-leaf-detail-c1950s-to-1960s-mid-century-very-good-1123250.jpg?v=1778402596"},{"product_id":"west-ham-conservative-association-merit-medal-victorian","title":"West Ham Conservative Association Merit Medal — c.1880 to 1900 | Victorian Political | Blue Enamel | Very Good","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eSomeone earned this. That is the first thing to say about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn the ferociously contested political landscape of late Victorian England — when Disraeli's Conservative Party was fighting street by street to win the hearts of working class voters in industrial East London — somebody in West Ham gave enough of themselves to their local Conservative Association that their fellow members felt compelled to mark it. This small, beautifully made medal is the physical record of that recognition. History held in the palm of your hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe obverse bears the inscription \u003cem\u003eWEST HAM CONSERVATIVE\u003c\/em\u003e around the border with \u003cem\u003eFOR GOOD WORK DONE\u003c\/em\u003e at the centre — plain, unambiguous and rather moving in its directness. The reverse carries the motto \u003cem\u003eDO WELL AND FEAR NOT\u003c\/em\u003e around a central image of a gauntleted arm holding a lance above a shield — a heraldic device of strength and readiness. This motto was closely associated with Lord Salisbury, the great Conservative Prime Minister who dominated British politics between 1885 and 1902, and its presence here places this medal firmly within that era of high Victorian Toryism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe construction is characteristic of the finest Victorian associational medals — oval gilt brass body with a deep cobalt blue enamel border, beaded inner and outer rims, ornate scroll cartouches at top and bottom, and a suspension ring at the crown for wearing on a watch chain or ribbon. It is a proper piece of craft, not a trifle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWest Ham in this period was one of Victorian Britain's great industrial towns — a place of docks, ironworks and chemical factories that earned it the nickname \"London over the border.\" The Conservative Association here was working hard against a strong Liberal and later Labour tide, and the volunteers who gave their time to the cause were genuinely valued. Whoever received this knew they had made a difference.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eCondition: Good throughout with honest age. The blue enamel has some light losses consistent with 120 to 140 years of life, and the gilt has developed a rich warm patina. The suspension ring is intact and the overall structure is sound and solid. A piece that wears its history openly rather than hiding it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eVictorian political association medals of this type are increasingly sought after by collectors of political ephemera, social history and Victoriana. Local association pieces — particularly those with specific place names — are rarer than the national club medals and considerably more evocative. This would sit beautifully alongside other Victorian collectables or as a standalone piece of East London and Conservative Party history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eExtra photographs available on request. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55518455660929,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/Tory_Badge_Back.jpg?v=1775989313"},{"product_id":"virgil-aeneid-folio-society-1993-first-edition-dryden-hollar","title":"Aeneid — The Folio Society | Virgil | 1993 | First Edition | Translated by John Dryden | 72 Engravings by Wenceslaus Hollar | Fine in Slipcase","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eA fine first edition of the Folio Society's 1993 publication of Virgil's \u003cem\u003eAeneid\u003c\/em\u003e — one of the supreme works of Western literature, presented here in a production of lasting distinction and beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eAeneid\u003c\/em\u003e is the great foundation epic of Roman civilisation: twelve books of verse tracing the journey of Aeneas, survivor of the sack of Troy, across the Mediterranean world to the shores of Italy, where his descendants will found the city of Rome. Written between 29 and 19 BC, it is at once a celebration of Roman destiny and a profoundly human meditation on the costs of empire — on duty, loss, love, and the inexorable will of the gods. Of all the works of classical antiquity, none has exercised a greater influence on the literature, art, and thought of the Western world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe translation is that of John Dryden, first published in 1697 — itself one of the masterpieces of English verse. Dryden brings to Virgil's Latin a grandeur, energy, and formal mastery wholly in keeping with the original, and his version has never been surpassed as an English rendering of the poem. The introduction is by Peter Levi, one of the most distinguished classical scholars and poets of the twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe illustrations are among the most historically significant to have accompanied any English edition of Virgil. The 72 engravings were designed by Francis Cleyn and executed by Wenceslaus Hollar — the same plates that appeared in Dryden's own first edition of 1697 — giving this Folio Society production a direct and tangible connection to the poem's publishing history. They are reproduced here with exceptional fidelity, and their combination of Baroque energy and classical clarity perfectly complements the text. Map endpapers chart the voyages of Aeneas across the ancient Mediterranean world. 417 pp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBound in quarter black leather with large, bold gold lettering to the spine — striking and authoritative on the shelf — over sage-green cloth boards printed with a wraparound classical cavalry scene after the engravings of the period. Gold decorative chain border at the leather-cloth join. Housed in the original matching sage-green slipcase.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis copy is in fine, as-new condition throughout — the leather spine jet black and entirely unmarked, the gold lettering brilliant and razor-sharp, the cloth boards vivid and clean, the pages fresh and pristine throughout, the binding tight and square, the slipcase equally fine and unmarked. A first-class example, rarely encountered in this state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eAn exceptional piece for collectors of classical literature, fine Folio Society productions of the 1990s, or the history of English translation — and one of the handsomest books in the Folio Society's classical series.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55601870799233,"sku":null,"price":175.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/aeneid-the-folio-society-virgil-1993-first-edition-translated-by-john-dryden-72-engravings-by-wenceslaus-hollar-fine-in-slipcase-9923014.jpg?v=1778402606"},{"product_id":"alessi-fiato-sul-collo-necklace-alisei-earrings-mario-trimarchi-2011-stainless-steel","title":"Alessi 'Fiato sul Collo' Necklace \u0026 'Alisei' Earrings — Mario Trimarchi, 2011 | Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel Set","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg\u003eThere are objects that simply hold things, and there are objects that hold an idea. This pairing belongs firmly to the latter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eDesigned by the Sicilian architect Mario Trimarchi for Alessi in 2011, the \u003cem\u003eFiato sul Collo\u003c\/em\u003e necklace and its companion \u003cem\u003eAlisei\u003c\/em\u003e earrings form part of one of the most quietly poetic ranges the great Italian design house has ever produced — an extension into jewellery of Trimarchi's celebrated \u003cem\u003eLa Stanza dello Scirocco\u003c\/em\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe name \u003cem\u003eFiato sul Collo\u003c\/em\u003e translates as \"breath on the neck\", and the conceit is exactly that. Small, irregular plates of mirror-polished 18\/10 stainless steel are scattered as though caught mid-flight — sheets of paper lifted and turned by a warm wind. Trimarchi spoke of \"unstable geometry\": fragments held in a delicate, shifting balance, never quite at rest, celebrating the beauty of life's irregularity. The necklace wears without a conventional clasp; the steel itself flexes gently to sit close at the throat and adjust to the wearer. The matching \u003cem\u003eAlisei\u003c\/em\u003e earrings — named for the trade winds — carry the same weightless, restless language in miniature, each a little cluster of bright steel splinters (roughly 3 × 3 cm, with threaded post fittings) that catch the light as you move.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe whole collection was born, in Trimarchi's words, \"out of the abstract and motionless atmosphere of a magic place\" — the windowless Sicilian room in which one shelters from the sultry sirocco, left with nothing to do but contemplate the wind undoing everything outside. Trimarchi is no ordinary jeweller: an architect of the \"freehand\" generation, he worked within the Olivetti Design Studio before founding his own studio, Fragile, in 1999. This is design as small poetry — and a piece taken seriously enough to be stocked by museum shops including the Royal Academy and the National Galleries of Scotland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eOffered as a complete matched set, presented in their original Alessi boxes with outer sleeves and guarantee documentation. In excellent unworn condition, the mirror polish bright and unmarked throughout. A genuine piece of contemporary Italian design history, and a striking thing to wear. A soft cloth keeps the finish gleaming; hand-wash only.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Novel Relics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55735364354433,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0934\/7887\/9617\/files\/Alessiset.jpg?v=1779988718"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.novelrelics.co.uk\/collections\/discover-more.oembed","provider":"Novel Relics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}