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There is something very special about these early twentieth-century illustrated annuals – books created at a time when publishers believed knowledge, inspiration, art and philosophy should live together within the same pages.
This is Bibby’s Annual for 1914, edited by Joseph Bibby and published by J. Bibby & Sons of Liverpool.
Printed on the eve of the First World War, this volume captures a fascinating moment in history. It combines essays, moral reflections, literature, philosophy and beautifully printed illustrations typical of the Edwardian and Art Nouveau publishing style.
The annual is especially striking for its dramatic colour covers, including the powerful image of a winged angel guiding a knight on horseback, accompanied by the famous lines from William Ernest Henley:
\"I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.\"
Inside are richly illustrated pages featuring historical, social and spiritual themes, including works based on paintings by artists such as Max Liebermann and James Clark. The decorative contents page and several full-page plates make this a particularly attractive volume for collectors of early illustrated books.
These Bibby annuals were produced as inspirational literary collections and were sold through bookstalls across Britain in the early 1900s.
Details
• Title: Bibby’s Annual
• Year: 1914
• Editor: Joseph Bibby
• Publisher: J. Bibby & Sons Ltd., Liverpool
• No. 9 edition
• Illustrated throughout with full-page plates and decorative artwork
Condition
Good antique condition for a book over 110 years old.
• Covers remain bright and visually striking
• Some edge wear and creasing to the cover
• Light age toning to pages
• Binding remains intact
• Interior pages generally clean with illustrations well preserved
Please study photographs carefully as they form part of the description.
A wonderful Edwardian era illustrated annual, ideal for collectors of antique books, early twentieth-century illustration, or decorative literary volumes.Own a little piece of history ❤️If you enjoy treasures with stories, please have a browse through my other listings — I upload new finds every day.I’m currently selling my grandmother’s incredible lifetime collection of souvenirs and antiques to help fund a new roof and lovingly restore her beautiful home 🏠.She was an air hostess in the 1940s and 50s, travelling the world and bringing back unique pieces from every corner ✈️. She later married my grandfather — the pilot she fell in love with in the skies — and together they continued collecting unusual, charming, and historic items.In the 1960s she became an antiques dealer in her own right, running her business with passion right up until she retired at the grand age of 92.Now I’m carefully sorting through everything she treasured, hoping these pieces bring you the same joy and nostalgia they brought to my grandparents for so many decades.Thank you so much for looking — it means the world. 💛
