The backstrip is only partially present, the corners are bumped, the hinges split and the text block, which incorporates 21 illustrations, is weak in places. In addition, the brown pictorial cloth binding with black and silver decoration is at variance with the usual grey/silver/black finish.
In November 2015, Swann of New York sold a well-preserved copy in that form of the binding for $1100 (then £728). With the preface dated November 1894 and 8pp of advertisements bound at the rear, this Chiswick copy easily outstripped a £100-200 estimate to sell for a record £1100.
