Volume VIII – Photogravure Illustrated – Copy No. 507
Step back through two thousand years of world history with this exceptional 1900 limited Testimonial Edition of The Library of Historic Characters and Famous Events of All Nations and All Ages, published in Boston by J. B. Millet.
This is Volume VIII, one of only 1,000 individually numbered copies produced, and this example is Copy No. 507, clearly documented on the limitation page.
This volume spans Ancient Rome to 19th-century America, featuring influential figures, defining moments, and landmark events that shaped civilization, including:
Abraham Lincoln – Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation, Second Inaugural
Ulysses S. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Lee, Jackson – U.S. Civil War campaigns
Queen Elizabeth I – England’s Golden Age
Mohammed & Mohammed II – The rise of Islam & fall of Constantinople
Mughal Emperors – Baber, Aurengzebe, Shah-Jehan (Taj Mahal)
Tiberius & Nero – Imperial Rome
Raphael, Mozart, Beethoven – Renaissance art & classical music
British Empire & Colonial India – Clive, Hastings, Chatham
A true global historical anthology, not limited to one country or era.
This volume is illustrated with original photogravure plates, as confirmed by the printed List of Photogravure Plates.
Featured plates include:
Lincoln’s Address at Gettysburg (Frontispiece)
Sherman, Grant & Sheridan
Queen Elizabeth at Tilbury
Mohammed II
Aurengzebe Takes Shah-Jehan Prisoner
Photogravures were a premium, labor-intensive process used only in higher-end publications of the era, prized for their tonal depth and artistic detail.
Title: The Library of Historic Characters and Famous Events
Volume: VIII
Publisher: J. B. Millet, Boston
Year: 1900
Edition: Testimonial Edition
Limitation: 1 of only 1,000 numbered copies
Copy Number: 507
Authentic 1900 publication
Limited Testimonial Edition to just 1,000 copies
Illustrated photogravure plates after great artists and authentic portraits
Gilt spine titling
Several uncut pages
Thick, deckle-edged pages
Heavy, thick paper stock with age-toned edges
True circa-1900 historical volume, not a later reprint
Original cloth binding (highly preferred by collectors)
Rich historical content spanning early modern Europe, the Enlightenment, and early American history
Illustrations enhance display and research value
Ideal for antique book collectors, historians, or decorative library display
Scholarly editorial oversight
Broad, classical historical scope
Ideal for collectors of antique history books, decorative libraries, or academic reference
This volume is hand-numbered “507” in red copy pencil on the limitation page, consistent with early 20th-century publisher or bookseller practice.
Binding: Original blue cloth boards remain intact and solid. The cloth shows visible age-related wear, rubbing, areas of discoloration and fading, faint smooth. Spine title area shows heavy wear to the original labeling, but the book remains firmly bound.
Cover: Shows age-related wear, including surface discoloration, light staining, rubbing and fading.
Rear cover shows a small light-colored spot consistent with old adhesive residue from a removed label; surface is smooth and non-sticky.
Spine & Hinges: Inner hinges are intact.
Pages: All pages appear present and intact. Paper shows age toning and foxing, consistent with a true antique. No evidence of modern replacement pages.
Illustrations: Contains photogravure plates/illustrations, including a striking full-page historical scene (see photos). Illustrations remain clear and visually strong, adding significant collector appeal.
Overall Integrity: This is not a modern rebind or reproduction—it is an original survivor that has aged naturally over more than a century — not restored, not modernized — and retaining strong appeal for collectors of early historical reference works.