This is one of the copies Muir describes as ‘unsigned and bound in a cheaper binding with col. instead of gilt lettering &c, suggesting that they may have bound up later and sold as remainders’. Top edge not gilt and no tissue guards to the illustrations. In the chronological biography of Ida Rentoul Outhwaite compiled by Michael Organ it is speculated that only 600 true de-luxe editions were bound and signed and that this was possibly due to lower than expected sales and led to a further 400 copies being bound more cheaply in pale blue covers and without the tissue guards. List of subscribers at end. Pale blue cloth lettered and decorated in yellow. A fabulous book.51 hand-tipped plates of which 19 (including the frontispiece) are coloured. Black & white vignette and numerous text illustrations, pictorial endpapers. Very good condition. Boards slightly soiled and a little faded. Spine dulled. Edges of boards lightly rubbed and corners a trifle frayed. Two very small holes to cloth near foot of upper joint. Previous owner’s inscription at head of half-title page. Tine crease to one corner of frontispiece. A couple of short edge splits to pages 19 and 21. Light damp staining to top edge of a few leaves (affecting margins only). very light surface graze to margin of p90 near hinge. Endpapers faintly offset, occasional very light soiling.