{"product_id":"joseph-strutt-sports-pastimes-england-green-calf","title":"1845 Joseph Strutt Sports \u0026 Pastimes of England Green Calf *AS-IS*","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-4o\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-5\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-id=\"d54d18e7-cf56-4889-810b-3d2e012bdb5a\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"909\" data-start=\"0\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003ePLEASE READ CONDITION\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"909\" data-start=\"0\"\u003eThis edition of \u003cem data-end=\"66\" data-start=\"16\"\u003eThe Sports and Pastimes of the People of England\u003c\/em\u003e by Joseph Strutt likely dates to the mid-19th century (circa 1830s–1850s), though the original work was first published in 1801. Strutt (1749–1802) was an English antiquarian and illustrator who sought to document the various amusements, games, and festive customs that shaped English social life from the medieval period onward. At a time when there was a growing interest in preserving cultural traditions and exploring the nation’s past, Strutt’s study served as a pioneering effort to compile historical evidence—drawn from manuscripts, illuminated texts, and early printed works—into a single comprehensive account. His work reflects the broader antiquarian enthusiasm of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, during which scholars aimed to rescue fading folk customs and highlight the leisure pursuits that bound communities together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1424\" data-start=\"911\"\u003eA particularly striking feature of this copy is its sumptuous green calf binding, decorated with an ornate gilt-stamped centerpiece depicting a floral urn and framed by an elaborate gilt border. The spine is richly tooled in gilt compartments, with a contrasting red title label that reads “Sports and Pastimes.” This style of binding, with its detailed gilt work and polished leather, exemplifies the Victorian taste for showpiece books, often purchased by collectors or gifted to institutions as prized volumes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1867\" data-start=\"1426\"\u003eIn essence, Strutt’s work traces how ordinary people found enjoyment through tournaments, archery, folk dances, pageants, and seasonal celebrations, presenting a lively picture of England’s communal life over the centuries. An easy way to remember its scope is that it catalogs nearly every kind of recreation—from rough rural games to more refined courtly spectacles—illustrating how these amusements evolved and influenced English culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[d]Author | Joseph Strutt [d]Title | The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England [d]Publisher | Likely London, publisher not confirmed [d]Date | Likely mid-19th century, circa 1830s to 1850s (first published 1801) [d]Edition | Later edition, exact printing not stated [d]Binding | Full green calf with ornate gilt-stamped boards and gilt-tooled spine [d]Decoration | Central gilt urn motif with decorative border, red title label [d]Origin | England [d]Language | English\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[condition]\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe condition of the book is generally satisfactory, with a delicate and fragile front cover. The green calf boards have some signs of wear along the edges and hinges, and there may be minor cracking in certain areas. However, the gilt decoration is still vivid and the spine, although slightly worn at the top and bottom, maintains its bright tooling. The red title label is still legible. Inside, the pages have typical 19th-century foxing, but the text remains legible and the binding remains strong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Austyn Marie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49804936806678,"sku":"AMD-0418","price":875.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0896\/4623\/5926\/files\/DSA05450.jpg?v=1761670710","url":"https:\/\/austyn-marie.myshopify.com\/products\/joseph-strutt-sports-pastimes-england-green-calf","provider":"Austyn Marie Design","version":"1.0","type":"link"}