🔍 INSPECTOR’S SUMMARY: Grade A- (Excellent Vintage)
This literary specimen is a high-grade 2002 vintage hardcover compendium. It maintains excellent structural integrity with rich color contrast on the cover elements and shows minimal evidence of handling or shelf fatigue.
🔍 Technical Audit & Inventory:
Object Type: Tall Format Hardcover Book (Issued without Dust Jacket)
Title: Secrets of the Druids: Wizards, Powers & Spells, Chants & Visions, Bardic Traditions, Celtic Lore, and Merlin's Magic
Author/Editor: Compiled and Edited by John Matthews
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Year of Manufacture: ©2002 (Full alphanumeric print string 'h g f e d c b')
ISBN: 1-57912-232-9
Binding: Hardcover cloth over boards with stamped gilt/yellow design elements
Interior Elements: 400 pages featuring text and intricate line illustrations printed in a distinct deep blue ink palette
Dimensions: Unique tall, narrow quarto profile (Approx. 11.25" x 5.25")
Origin: Manufactured in China
🔍 Condition Audit (The "Inspector’s Eye"):
Structural Integrity: Pass. The spine text block is tight, square, and uncracked. Corners exhibit trace, microscopic softening but maintain sharp geometry.
Page Audit: Clean text block. Interior pages are crisp, white, and completely free of marginalia, highlighters, or moisture wrinkling.
Surface Audit: The cloth boards show trace, superficial storage scuffs visible only under direct angled inspection. No deep scratches or board exposure.
Odor Profile: Smoke-free; neutral vintage paper scent.
🔍 Description:
Up for sale is an exceptional copy of Secrets of the Druids, meticulously compiled by noted Celtic and Arthurian scholar John Matthews. Published in 2002 by Black Dog & Leventhal, this distinctive tall-format hardcover serves as an expansive treasury of ancient British and Irish lore, Ogham scripts, rituals, and bardic traditions. Collectors will appreciate the beautiful internal presentation, featuring illustrations and text rendered entirely in a striking blue ink instead of standard black. A fantastic addition to any occult, history, or folklore library looking for a crisp, high-grade reference copy.
📦🚚 Shipping: Will be shipped with "Industrial-Grade" care. To safeguard the spine corners and eliminate transit friction, the book will be sealed in a moisture-barrier bag, wrapped securely in heavy-duty bubble wrap, and shipped within a rigid, crush-resistant box.
🔍 [SCALE] Vintage Textiles & Media
Grade A (Near Mint): Case-fresh or crisp unread status; flawless corners and zero surface wear.
Grade A- (Excellent): [THIS ITEM] Trace evidence of light storage or handling; tight binding; no internal marking or text blemishes.
Grade B (Very Good): Light spine softening, minor surface scuffs, or slight edge toning to pages.
Grade C (Good): Ex-library copies, soft hinges, or noticeable shelf wear to boards.
📋 SPECIAL NOTES:
● SALES TAX COLLECTED ON ALL PURCHASES
● INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO IMPORT/TARIFF FEES
● ITEMS SHIPPED NEW IN PACKAGING OR NEW WITH TAGS MUST BE RETURNED UNOPENED AND WITH TAGS STILL INTACT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A FULL REFUND.
● HOLIDAY/SEASONAL ITEMS RETURNED AFTER THE WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REFUND