An Attractive and Uniformly Bound 22 Book Unbroken Run of the Argosy Dated 1867-1878

Ellen Price (1814 –1887) was an English novelist better known as Mrs. Henry Wood who she married in 1836. Henry worked in banking and shipping in the South of France, where they lived for 20 years. On the failure of Wood’s business, they returned to England with their four children and settled in Upper Norwood near London, where Ellen turned to writing, the earnings from which supported the family. She wrote over 30 novels, many of which (especially East Lynne) enjoyed remarkable popularity. Wood’s works were translated into many languages, including French and Russian.

In 1867, a year after Henry’s death, Ellen purchased and became editor of the English magazine The Argosy, which had been founded by Alexander Strahan in 1865. It had a somewhat racy tone from the outset with the serialisation of Charles Reade’s novel Griffith Gaunt, which concerns a case of bigamy.

Ellen wrote much of the magazine herself, but other contributors included Hesba Stretton, Julia Kavanagh, Christina Rossetti, Sarah Doudney and Anthony Trollope. Wood continued as its editor until her death in 1887, when her son Charles took over and it ran until 1901.

At her death, caused by bronchitis, Wood’s estate was valued at the then considerable sum of over £36,000. She was buried in Highgate Cemetery and in 1916 a monument to her was unveiled in the Cathedral of Worcester, the city of her birth.

The Argosy was published bi-annually and this unbroken run covers Volume V to XXVI spanning 1867-1878. Uniformly bound in half tan calf with marbled paper boards, end pages and page edges with the gilt decorated spines arranged in 6 compartments by 5 raised bands the 2nd and 4th compartments with gilt lettering. Each volume carries a full plate frontispiece and a few full page illustrations as well as occasional illustrations within the text.

This smart run sits well on the shelf and is presented in good antiquarian condition. Externally rubbing, marks, a little loss to gilding and bumping to some corners. Internally pages age toned with some foxing and occasional marks and minor creasing. A plate to volume V has been later coloured by hand.

Each volume is 21.3 cm high, 14.6 cm deep and the overall shelf coverage is some 70 cms. The total combined unpackaged weight is about 15.3 kg

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