Date based on English Catalogue of Books and form of publisher's name and address. Cf. Topp, Chester W. Victorian yellowbacks & paperbacks, Vol. VII, 2003.

Chromolithographed plates are unsigned and without imprint. All are with title captions. Plates are printed on glossy white paper.

Includes elaborate wood-engraved illustrated initials and tail-pieces. All are unsigned.

Publisher's advertisements on p. [1-4] at end.

MASS copy: Bound in blue fine diagonal rib-grain cloth blocked in gold, black and blind in the same design as McLean D 0512, McLean D 0514, McLean D 0515 and McLean D 0516. With rectangular sunken panel cut in upper board laid with textured gold paper. Panel hand-painted with floral illustration. Spine with imprint: "Cassell & Company, Limited". Boards with bevelled edges; a.e.g. Spine with gold stamp: "Elswick Mechanics Institute Library".