1912 Titanic Book Unique First Edition with Leather Binding and Marbled Page Edges | "Wreck of the Titanic" by L.H. Walter

FOR SALE ☞ Rare 1912 Wreck of the Titanic by L.H. Walter – Early Edition with Leather Binding, Marbled Edges, Ex Libris Stamp & Bookseller’s Packing Notice

DESCRIPTION ☞ 320 pp. This is a rare and unusual 1912 edition of Wreck of the Titanic, the first account of one of history’s greatest maritime disasters. Unlike other versions with illustrated covers and plain white page edges, this edition features a minimalist cloth cover with only a shortened title on the spine compared to the more commonly found "The Story of the Wreck of the Titanic." The book also features stunning Edwardian-era marbled page edges—a refined binding choice often seen in earlier or premium print runs. This suggests a possible first edition or early variant, when they rushed to get the book to market after the disaster, making it a unique addition to any Titanic or rare book collection.

Inside, the title page reads "The Wreck and Sinking of the Titanic – The Ocean’s Greatest Disaster." Richly illustrated, this book provides dramatic firsthand accounts, survivor stories, list of the passengers lost and period photographs that document the tragedy as the world learned of it in 1912.

Historical provenance & unique features include two light purple ex libris-style stamps reading "S.R. McLean," found above the title page and above a later chapter heading – possibly a former owner’s personal mark or a bookseller’s identifier. A rare intact bookseller’s packing certificate sticker inside both the front and back cover. The front shows who packed the book with their signature and the back reads:
"Kindly check goods carefully, as they have been doubly checked and found correct... RETURN THIS CERTIFICATE IMMEDIATELY... No claim recognized after 10 days."

This suggests to us that the book was originally sold through a mail-order distributor or bookseller rather than a typical bookstore—an unusual feature that provides extra provenance.

This historically significant edition would be a prized centerpiece in any maritime, Edwardian, or Titanic collection.

DIMENSIONS ☞ Approx. 8.25" x 6"

CONDITION ☞ This copy is in very good condition compared to most surviving early copies from 1912. The binding is certainly broken-in and a bit loose, but still attached. The leather spine has a tear, but also remains attached. There is some foxing and water damage on the bottom edge of the first few pages, but does not affect text or readability. A couple pages have very small dog-ears in the corner. Marbled page edges are well preserved. Two light purple, possible Ex Libris for "S.R. McLean," stamps inside the book, another name in the front cover on a sticker that says "packed by" and an original bookseller’s packing certificate sticker remains affixed inside the back cover. Please see photos. Color may differ slightly in real life from how it appears on your screen due to varying monitor settings. Have a question about this item or want to see more photos? Send us a message & we’ll get back to you ASAP!

ABOUT US ☞ Front Street Antiques is located in downtown historic Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada. We are a husband and wife team on the hunt for interesting items that inspire nostalgia and curiosity. As antique enthusiasts, we do our very best to describe any imperfections and quirks, as well as provide a general background on the item; however, we are not yet experts on every item in our store. If you have additional information about an item for us, please send us a message -- we are always grateful to learn more :)

PLEASE NOTE ☞ Item will be carefully packaged up and shipped within 3 business days of sale, often sooner. We combine shipping on multiple items -- please send us a message prior to purchase to give us a heads up & we will be happy to refund the difference upon shipping!

All our listings are considered collectible, retro/vintage (25+ years) or antique (100+ years) and are rarely brand new. The majority of our stock comes from auctions and private collections or estates. Items for sale may display some age related wear and/or minor flaws consistent with the date of manufacture. Photos are included as part of the description. Due to the age and nature of our stock, all items are sold "as is" and final sale unless damaged in transit and covered by insurance.

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