Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
A monumental Victorian-era history of the working class, bound in decorative cloth with striking gold-stamped iconography of the labor movement. This volume was published during the height of the American labor struggle, serving as both a historical record and a call to action for the common worker.
Story
Published in 1886, the same year as the Haymarket Affair, this book was a radical attempt to give workers a sense of their own historical power. It traces human effort from ancient slavery to the rise of modern trade unions.
Maker / Origin
Richard J. Hinton was a radical journalist, abolitionist, and soldier who served as a colonel in the Civil War. He was deeply embedded in the social reform movements of the 19th century, using his pen to advocate for the rights of the disenfranchised.
Condition & Value
The cover shows significant shelf wear, fading to the spine, and some fraying at the corners. The gold stamping remains remarkably bright, though the cloth has darkened with age; these signs of use are common for books intended for daily study. Condition reduces value by approximately 40%.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.