19th Century Textbook Appraisal

A History of the United States for Schools by Alexander Johnston (1886)

This item is an antique textbook titled "A History of the United States for Schools," authored by Alexander Johnston, LL.D., described as "Author of a 'History of American Politics,' Professor in Princeton College." The book was published in 1886 by Henry Holt and Company in New York. The visible page is the title page, made of aged, cream-colored paper that shows signs of discoloration and yellowing consistent with its age, particularly along the unexposed inner margin, which suggests general wear and possibly exposure to light over time. The text is printed in black ink, featuring various font sizes and styles to differentiate sections of the title and author information. A notable feature is a small, charming illustration of an owl perched atop a book, serving as a publisher's device or decorative element near the bottom center of the page. The overall condition of the paper suggests it is brittle, with minor dog-earing visible at the top right corner and a slight crease or fold near the bottom right. The book appears to be a hardcover, although only the inner page is visible, and the spine edge shows signs of wear where it meets the text block. The binding, not fully visible, seems to be intact enough to hold the pages, though some separation or stress might be present at the gutter. This textbook represents a historical artifact, providing insight into the educational materials used in the late 19th century. Its craftsmanship reflects typical book production methods of the period, likely featuring stitched binding and quality paper for durability in an educational setting.