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Identification

1885 The Works of Washington Irving Vol. I by P.F. Collier

Photo reference

5 uploaded photos

Overview

The title page explicitly identifies the publisher as P. F. Collier, New York, and the publication date as 1885, justifying high confidence. The binding is a typical late 19th-century Victorian pictorial cloth.

Story

P. F. Collier was a prolific New York publisher in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for producing affordable, mass-market subscription sets of classic literature. Washington Irving, one of America's first internationally successful authors, was a staple of these sets. The 1885 date places this edition during the height of Victorian pictorial cloth binding styles. Mass-produced Victorian publisher's bindings, such as the sets produced by P. F. Collier, are abundant on the secondary market.

Maker / Origin

P. F. Collier

Condition & Value

The book exhibits significant condition issues that severely impact its value. There is heavy wear to the spine at both the head and tail, typical of poorly handled 19th-century cloth bindings. Most critically, a massive, disfiguring crease across the title page relegates this from a collectible copy to a reading or reference copy.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

Mass-produced Victorian publisher's bindings, such as the sets produced by P. F. Collier, are abundant on the secondary market. While complete sets in excellent condition hold moderate decorative value, single, orphaned volumes are difficult to sell. Buyers for single volumes are typically either looking to replace a missing book in their own set or purchasing for 'books by the foot' interior decorating purposes.

Value Drivers

▲ 1885 publication date and Victorian pictorial cloth binding provide minor decorative appeal.

▲ Frontispiece illustration adds slight visual interest for collectors of 19th-century book arts.

Concerns

▼ Orphaned single volume — incomplete sets suffer a massive penalty in the antiquarian book market.

▼ Heavy spine wear at head and tail — degrades the shelf-appeal, which is the primary driver for orphaned volumes.

Best Venue

Given the low value and condition issues, this is not a strong candidate for individual online auction. Consider listing it as a fixed-price Buy-It-Now on platforms like eBay or Etsy for $10-$15, emphasizing the decorative Victorian binding. Alternatively, bundle it with other antique books to sell as a decorative 'vintage library' lot.

Upside Potential

There is virtually no upside potential for a heavily damaged, orphaned volume of a mass-produced 19th-century set; the high estimate of $20 represents an optimistic scenario where a buyer specifically needs this exact 1885 Volume I to complete their set and is willing to overlook the title page damage.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 10 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • eBay
    The Works Of Washington Irving A Life Of 3 Volume Set Collier 1885 Rare Books
    Three-volume set, whereas the subject is a single volume.
    $99
  • AbeBooks
    Life and Works of Washington Irving - Three Volumes (Hardcover)
    Three-volume set, whereas the subject is a single volume.
    $85
  • eBay
    1892 3 Book Set Works of Washington Irving - Collier Pu
    Three-volume set, whereas the subject is a single volume.
    $70
  • Auctions at Showplace
    "The Works of Washington Irving", 14 Vols., 1851
    14-volume set from 1851; different quantity and era.
    $50
  • eBay
    1893 The Life and Works of Washington Irving 3 volumes P. F. Collier NY
    Three-volume set, whereas the subject is a single volume.
    $20
  • AbeBooks
    Life and Works of Washington Irving - Three Volumes
    Three-volume set, whereas the subject is a single volume.
    $20
  • AbeBooks
    The Life and Works of Washington Irving volume II. Washington Irving. Published by P.F. Collier, 1885.
    Excerpt reveals this is a 1935 biography by Stanley T. Williams, not the subject book.
    $18
  • AbeBooks
    The Life and Works of Washington Irving volume II
    Excerpt reveals this is a 1935 biography by Stanley T. Williams.
    $18
  • eBay
    Irving's Life of Washington (illustr.), Volumes 2 , P F Collier 1881
    Different work ('Life of Washington' rather than 'Life and Works').
    $9
  • Heirloom Books Chicago
    Life and Works of Washington Irving, Vol 2. Washington Irving P.F. Collier, 1880 hardcover
    Excerpt shows completely different books being sold.
    $7