H.G. Wells - THE OUTLINE OF HISTORY 1920 – Rare One-Volume, W.H. Smith Binding– Rare One-Volume, W.H. Smith Binding

H.G. Wells — The Outline of History (1920)

Rare Early Single-Volume Issue — Handsome W.H. Smith Binding — Richly Illustrated

Wells, H.G.
The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
London: George Newnes Ltd., 1920.
Early printing of the scarce single-volume edition. Most copies from the first issued book-form year (1920) were produced in two volumes; single-volume examples appear far less frequently.

Bound shortly after publication in contemporary half leather over cloth by W.H. Smith & Son Ltd., gilt-lettered spine with raised bands and gilt double rules. A substantial quarto, richly illustrated with colour plates, maps, and textual figures throughout.

A clean, appealing example of this important work — Wells’s grand civilizational narrative, hugely influential in 20th-century popular history and world-culture studies.

Condition

Very good. Binding sound; gentle rubbing to extremities and a small surface indentation on spine panel; leather otherwise sound. Light surface wear to boards consistent with age. Text block clean and bright overall, with light scattered foxing to preliminaries and edges. Hinges firm.

A well-preserved copy, solid and attractive, presenting well on the shelf.

Notes

• Scarce single-volume format (preferred binding presentation; most copies encountered are two-volume)

• W.H. Smith & Son Ltd. bindery stamp at rear endpaper

• Beautifully printed and illustrated throughout

Provenance

No prior ownership markings beyond binder’s stamp; presents cleanly.

Shipping & Handling

Expertly packaged in archival tissue and rigid protection. Tracked, insured shipment worldwide.