12mo - 18 x 12 cm.; viii - 244 - (16) pp. Brown cloth over boards with gilt lettering on the spine and the front board and with blind stamped decoration on the spine and both boards. All text block edges are gilt as issued. First published in 1894, this is the second edition. Illustrated with many black and white engravings, head pieces, tail pieces and full page. Thirty-nine narratives in all from common working folk to world famous explorers. The externals show mild wear with lightly bumped board corners and spine tips. The gilt lettering on the spine is a trifle faded, otherwise all gilding is bright and crisp. The interior is clean and the binding is solid. A clear and removable archival cover has been fitted.