Antique Book English 1888 THE MAKERS OF FLORENCE Rossall School Prize England For Sale

1888 THE MAKERS OF FLORENCE – Mrs. Oliphant
Fine Victorian Rossall School Prize Copy – Full Moroccan Binding – Gilt Edges – 1892 Presentation
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📖 THE BOOK
Title: The Makers of Florence: Dante, Giotto, Savonarola and Their City
Author: Mrs. Oliphant (Margaret Oliphant)
Publisher: Macmillan and Co.
Places: London and New York
Date: 1888
Format: Octavo
Binding: Full red Moroccan leather prize binding
Edges: All edges gilt (gold leaf)
Illustrated: Engraved plates throughout
Provenance: Rossall School Prize Award, dated July 26, 1892
A handsome and substantial Victorian historical work by the prolific and respected author Mrs. Oliphant. This volume explores the intellectual, artistic, and religious figures who shaped Renaissance Florence, including Dante, Giotto, Savonarola, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and others.
The book is illustrated with engraved plates, including:
• Portrait of Savonarola (frontispiece)
• Portrait of Dante
• Giuliano de’ Medici (“Il Pensiero”) after Michelangelo
• Interior of the Baptistery
• Palazzo Pubblico
• The Bargello
• Cathedral and Campanile
• Additional architectural and sculptural subjects
The volume contains approximately 400+ pages (complete with illustrated list of plates).
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Binding & Craftsmanship
This is not a standard trade binding. It is a fine Victorian prize binding in full red morocco leather, featuring:
• Elaborate gilt-stamped Rossall School crest to upper board
• School motto “Mens Agitat Molem” (“Mind moves matter”)
• Richly gilt-tooled spine with raised bands
• All page edges fully gilt (gold leaf)
• Marbled endpapers
• Decorative inner dentelles
• Original fitted slipcase/box (rare survival)
The leather is of excellent period quality — true morocco, typical of late-Victorian institutional prize bindings. The gold leaf edges remain bright and highly reflective.
This is a display-quality example of 19th-century English bookbinding.
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Condition
• Binding firm and tight
• Leather remains supple with minor rubbing consistent with age
• Gilt tooling strong and clear
• Gold leaf edges bright
• Pages generally clean with light scattered foxing typical of the period
• Engravings sharp and well preserved
• Original slipcase present
Overall: Very Good antique condition for a 137-year-old leather prize volume.
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Presentation Plate
Awarded by Rossall School to:
J. C. C.Hogan
For Classical III Form Prize
Dated July 26, 1892
Signed by Headmaster Charles C. Tancock
A fully documented late-Victorian school award copy with intact provenance.
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🏫 THE SCHOOL
Rossall School is an historic independent boarding school located in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. Founded in 1844, it is one of the established Victorian public schools of Britain.
The school received a Royal Charter in 1890 — just two years before this book was awarded — placing this volume firmly within Rossall’s late-Victorian golden era.
Rossall’s motto, prominently stamped on the binding, translates to:
“Mind Moves Matter.”
Prize bindings such as this were traditionally awarded to distinguished pupils and were specially commissioned in fine morocco leather with gilt crests — a significant honor.
Rossall School remains in operation today.
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🌟 FIVE NOTABLE OLD ROSSALLIANS (ALUMNI)
1. Sir Thomas Beecham – Internationally renowned conductor and founder of major British orchestras.
2. David Brown – Industrialist and owner of Aston Martin; the “DB” in Aston Martin DB models.
3. Leslie Charteris – Author and creator of The Saint (Simon Templar).
4. J. G. Farrell – Booker Prize–winning novelist.
5. Walter Clopton Wingfield – Often credited with developing and popularizing lawn tennis.
The association with such a historically significant institution adds provenance to this book.
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Summary
A superb late-Victorian full morocco prize binding of Mrs. Oliphant’s The Makers of Florence, awarded in 1892 by Rossall School and preserved with gilt edges and original box.
An elegant and historically interesting volume combining:
• Renaissance subject matter
• Fine 19th-century English bookbinding
• Institutional provenance
• Alumni