Description: Book Love Perpetuated The Story of a Dagger by Douglass Sherley
in Wood Box Published 1884
Dimensions: Box: 9” W X 1 1/4” D X 10" H
Book: 8" W X 1/2" D X 9 3/8" H
For sale is Number 18 of 99 copies of the Book entitled “Love Perpetuated The Story of a Dagger” written by Douglass Sherley that was published in 1884.
This Copy features custom hand-painted illumination by Margaret Greenleaf, showcasing vibrant Arts and Crafts style ornamentation with ornate scroll borders and Gothic-inspired typography.
The highest-tier version of this Book was an "Edition de Luxe" limited to only 99 signed copies that originally sold for the premium price of $10.00. at the time. The book pages are kept inside a custom wooden storage box or tray, which was standard for Sherley’s high-end, artistic "booklets" intended as premium gifts or parlor pieces.
This Book has a soft cover and the pages are thick. The entire story is printed on about 20 pages. This Book is dated “Christmas / Eighteen Hundred and Eighty-Four”.
This Book “Love Perpetuated The Story of a Dagger was published by J.P. Morton & Company in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Box is dark stained wood with 2 brass hinges on one side and a brass clasp on the other side. On the top of the wood box are 3 metal embellishments attached at an angle. I suspect the metal is probably pewter. The top metal piece is shaped like a marquee shape on which is printed “The Story of a”. The second metal image is shaped like a Dagger with a ceramic handle shaped like and idol as described in the book. The third metal piece is shaped like a banner on which is printed “1884”.
From the Internet:
George Douglass Sherley (June 27, 1857– December 28, 1917) was an author, journalist, and poet. Sherley was born and lived in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He was born into a wealthy family with interests in railroad companies and inherited the family's estate. He graduated from Centre College and then studied law at the University of Virginia. Douglass Sherley used his inheritance to publish highly stylized, limited-edition works. He worked as a journalist for the Louisville Courier-Journal beginning in the 1870s despite his millionaire status. He wrote poetry and short stories which he published using his own wealth during the 1880s.
His works received little attention until he partnered with the popular poet James Whitcomb Riley in 1893 to tour the United States. Riley helped Sherley gain acceptance in the western literary community and, as part of Riley's show, he performed with other major talents including Samuel Clemens. After Riley and Sherley stopped touring in 1895, Sherley returned to live in both Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, where he continued writing poetry and short stories, and three novels. His best selling books were Love Perpetuated, A Few Short Sketches and The Inner Sisterhood, published by J.P. Morton & Company. He had success writing short stories to serve as introductions to sheet music and other authors' works.
He died in Martinsville, Indiana, and is buried in the Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.[2]
This Book entitled “Love Perpetuated The Story of a Dagger” is in remarkable vintage condition for a book that is 142 years old. The pages are in good shape, with no tears, but have darkened in color over time and there are some dark spots on the last pages. The pages are intact with no evidence of corner page bends or dog ears. This book is still stiff like a brand new book. There is no writing or highlighting in this Book. The Wood Box is in excellent vintage condition. The 3 metal pieces do have some breaks probably at stress points, but these are not noticeable.
Please view the accompanying pictures. These pictures are part of the description and condition of this Book “Love Perpetuated The Story of a Dagger” by Douglass Sherley in Wood Box Published 1884.
Please send me any questions you may have. Thanks for your interest.