Idylls of the King
Alfred Tennyson (Lord Tennyson), edited by James E. Thomas
📚 Genre
Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Arthurian Legend
🏢 Publisher
Silver, Burdett & Company, under "The Silver Series of Classics"
📅 Publication Year
c. 1900-1903
🔢 ISBN
None (Pre-dates ISBN system)
About This Book
Tennyson's cycle of twelve narrative poems retells the legend of King Arthur, his knights, his love for Guinevere, and the rise and fall of Camelot. The poems utilize the Arthurian myth to explore Victorian ideals, morality, and social order. The cover features dark green cloth with black stamped ornamentation including fleur-de-lis motifs and floral scrollwork characteristic of late Victorian educational series.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
Approximately 230-240 pages
Edition
Educational/School Edition, Hardcover (Green Cloth)
Series
The Silver Series of Classics; individual volume in a long-running educational series
Target Audience
Academic/General Audience (specifically designed for school and college use in the early 20th century)
Collector Information
Condition
Good. Notable wearing at the spine tips and corners. The spine shows fading and rubbing (shelf wear). The binding appears intact, though the cloth shows typical darkening/soiling from age.
Estimated Value
$10-$25
Rarity
Uncommon but low demand. While these specific educational bindings survived in smaller numbers than mass-market editions, they were produced in high volume at the time for schools. They are not frequently found in pristine condition.
Historical Significance
One of the most important works of the Victorian era, it revitalized the Arthurian legend for the modern age and remains a cornerstone of English literature. This specific edition reflects the turn-of-the-century effort to standardize English literature for academic study.
Collector Notes
Value is driven by the aesthetic of the series binding rather than the rarity of the text itself. Collectors of 'Silver Series' volumes or Arthuriana may find it desirable. Preservation should focus on keeping the book in a pH-neutral environment to prevent further acid decay of the wood-pulp paper typical of this era.
Similar Books
Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory; The Once and Future King by T.H. White; The Lady of Shalott and Other Poems by Alfred Tennyson.
Notable Features
Part of a specific early 20th-century textbook series; contains critical notes and introduction by James E. Thomas for educational use.