1908 Old Testament Stories Prize Binding Art Nouveau Leather

This 1908 edition of Stories from the Old Testament by S. Platt is a striking example of early 20th-century religious and educational publishing. Beautifully bound in three-quarter leather with raised bands and ornate gilt Art Nouveau floral panels on the spine, this book was awarded as a school prize by Moorland House, Heswall, and features the school’s name and Latin motto richly stamped in gold on the front cover. Inside, the book offers a sensitive retelling of key Old Testament narratives, originally intended to make scripture more engaging and understandable for young readers. Authored by S. Platt, a former educator at Girton College, the stories are clear, moral, and accessible, making this volume ideal for collectors of devotional literature, decorative books, or Edwardian-era school history. Complete with a decorated title page and black-and-white illustrations, including “The Mother of Moses,” this edition blends narrative beauty with visual charm. Its custom prize binding, elaborate cover design, and deckled page edges make it a highly collectible and display-worthy piece.

[d]Author | S. Platt [d]Title | Stories from the Old Testament [d]Publisher | T. C. & E. C. Jack [d]Date | 1908 [d]Edition | Early 20th-century prize edition [d]Binding | Three-quarter leather with green cloth boards [d]Features | Raised bands, ornate gilt Art Nouveau floral panels, gilt-stamped school crest and motto, deckled page edges, decorative title page, black-and-white illustrations, prize inscription dated 1908 [d]Subject | Biblical stories, Old Testament, religious education, school prize book, Edwardian binding design [d]Origin | London and Edinburgh [d]Language | English

[condition] The binding is strong and attractive throughout. The deep green cloth boards are holding well, with the black leather corners intact and the gold-embossed school crest on the front cover remaining bright and legible. The spine shows only mild rubbing, and the gilt Art Nouveau floral detailing is crisp. The deckled page edges are intact, naturally rough and uneven as intended. Internally there is a charming 1908 ink prize inscription on the front endpaper. Some age-related foxing and browning to the preliminaries and occasional light spotting throughout the text, all consistent with a book of this age. The binding is sound, and all pages and illustrations are present and accounted for.