1909 “Poems” by Robert Louis Stevenson Leather-bound Book with Pressed Wildflower Specimens

Up for sale is a 1909 “Poems” by Robert Louis Stevenson Leather-bound Book with Pressed Wildflower Specimens! It measures 6 7/16” by 4 5/16” around the outside cover and contains 205 pages. The piece is in excellent overall condition with minor signs of wear consistent with its age and use (contains all pages; scattered light surface wear to outside cover; some loss to end of page marker ribbon). Please message us if you have any questions. Thanks!

This is a beautiful, highly collectible antique pocket edition of “Poems” by Robert Louis Stevenson, published in London in 1909 by the prestigious house of Chatto & Windus. This scarce volume includes three of his finest anthologies: Underwoods, Ballads, and Songs of Travel. Part of the publisher's coveted early 20th century "Fine-Paper Edition" library series, this pocket-sized book is bound in a premium, publisher-upgraded burgundy leather binding displaying a tight, distinctively grained finish. The spine is heavily decorated with gorgeous, ornate gold-gilded accents and bright gold-leaf lettering, complemented by full all-edges gilt (AEG) page blocks and an integrated matching fabric ribbon page marker. The front cover showcases a stunning, central gold-embossed circular medallion featuring the intertwined "RLS" monogram surrounded by a beautifully detailed botanical wreath. Adding an extraordinary layer of intimate, century-old human sentimentality, this unique copy features two separate antique pressed wildflower specimens from the Mint family (Lamiaceae, likely historic Self-Heal or Heal-All) tucked within its pages. The first is beautifully preserved between pages 36 and 37 alongside the poem "The Sick Child", and the second is nestled between pages 178 and 179 alongside "If This Were Faith", both leaving a natural organic shadow patina on the paper. Directly above the latter poem, a poignant, contemporary antique pencil inscription reads, "The saddest + bravest song he ever wrote", offering an incredible glimpse into a historic reader's personal connection to the text. The front flyleaf also bears a clean, elegant vintage signature reading "William H. Shipley", adding an authentic layer of personalized historical provenance to the volume. This tactile volume boasts a rich historical patina with minor, honest shelf wear to the spine caps and outer corners, making it an absolute masterpiece for serious antiquarian book collectors focusing on fine leather bindings, vintage poetry, Stevensoniana, or sentimental historic ephemera.

♦️$5.75 flat rate shipping to all of the United States (Combined, international, and freight shipping as well as local pickup available upon request!)