1910 – SIEPMANN’S PRIMARY FRENCH COURSE, Part I by Otto Siepmann ILLUSTRATED Antiquarian Hardback Book. Comprising a first reader, grammar, and exercises with questions for oral practice, and an alphabetical vocabulary.

It is beautifully illustrated by H. M. Brock; with 30 plates inside, which are all present and accounted for. 

Published by Macmillan And Co., Limited, St. Martin’s Street London, in 1910. It is a new edition. The first edition was in 1902. It was printed in Edinburgh by R. & R. Clark. 

Otto Siepmann was a teacher of modern languages and the head of languages at Clifton College, Bristol. He was originally from Cologne. The illustrator, Henry Matthew Brock, was born in 1875. He was a British illustrator and landscape painter and contributed to the art in the renowned “Punch Magazine”. 

This does not have a dust jacket, but until recently this was protected by a makeshift thick brown paper jacket. 

It is evident that this book has been well read over the years, and there are noticeable signs of wear, but please bear in mind that this book is 113 years old, and its condition has been reflected in the price. 

The blue cloth bound boards and spine are intact. However, there is some wear to the cover, more-so to the corners, the top and bottom of the spine and the sides of the spine, where there are small tears in the cloth. There are also small marks present and a slight lean to the spine. The boards have rounded corners and there is gilt lettering on the spine. Please see the photographs provided for further reference. 

Inside, the pages are tanned, they have a number of small or light marks throughout and some small folds to the corners. Several pages have small rips to their edges and a larger rip in the middle of the plate on page 71, which has been repaired with light tape (please see the photo). On the front free endpaper there is a pen inscription, and, in addition, there is a small amount of pen or pencil on several pages. Between a handful of pages there are light cracks in the gutter and pages 3 to 14 inclusive have become loose, just to the bottom part of the binding, and so are still attached within the book. There are no missing pages, and all 249 pages are present. Please study the photos carefully as to the condition of this book, as they do form part of the description.  

This measures approximately 19 cm by 12.8 cm and 1.8 cm wide. It weighs approximately 324 grams. 

Thank you so much for looking.