Antique c1870 Aristotle's Works Milner Halifax + Rare W J Griffiths Leaflet

An interesting and uncommon Victorian edition of Aristotle's Works, ending at page 352 with the printer's statement:

“MILNER AND CO., PRINTERS, HALIFAX.”

Despite the traditional attribution to Aristotle, this is not a collection of the classical philosopher's writings. Aristotle's Works / Aristotle's Masterpiece was the title used for a long-running popular work concerned principally with marriage, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, midwifery and associated medical advice.

A closely comparable 352-page edition has been bibliographically dated to approximately 1870, making a c.1870 Victorian date reasonable for this copy, although I would not claim an exact year without a dated title page.

Of particular interest is the original loose printed leaflet accompanying the book, associated with:

W. J. Griffiths, Bookseller
104 High Street, Islington

Our research into contemporary London records has identified the bookseller as William John Griffiths, documented in connection with 104 High Street, Islington, from approximately 1907–1922.

The 1910 electoral register is especially informative, recording his qualifying property at 104 High Street as “shop and parlour”, while a later 1921 directory describes William John Griffiths at the address as a miscellaneous dealer.

The leaflet can therefore reasonably be placed within Griffiths' documented c.1907–1922 period at the address, without attempting to assign a birth date to Griffiths from potentially unreliable census ages.

This creates an interesting history for the copy: an approximately c.1870 Victorian book which subsequently passed through or became associated with an Islington bookseller during the early 20th century, retaining the scarce accompanying printed ephemera.

Book and original Griffiths leaflet are offered together.

An unusual survival with interest for collectors of Victorian social history, medical history, popular literature, London bookselling history and ephemeral printing.

Antique condition with age-related wear.

The book shows rubbing and wear to the binding and covers, with age-related marks and handling wear. Internally there is expected age-toning, spotting/foxing and occasional marks consistent with a Victorian publication of this type and age.

The book extends to 352 pages, the final page reading “ARISTOTLE'S WORKS — THE END — MILNER AND CO., PRINTERS, HALIFAX.”

The accompanying W. J. Griffiths leaflet has age-toning, creasing, handling marks and edge wear commensurate with an original loose piece of early 20th-century ephemera.

Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition report. Book and leaflet will remain together.