The Prose Writings of Bayard Taylor, in nine volumes, the Caxton Edition; Volume 1: At Home and Abroad: . . . ; Volume 2: Views A-Foot: . . . ; Volume 3: At Home and Abroad: a sketch-book of life, scenery and men . . . ; Volume 4: Eldorado; or, adventures in the path of Empire . . . ; Volume 5: A Journey to Central Africa: . . . ; Volume 6: A Visit to India, China, and Japan, in the year 1853; Volume 7: The Lands of the Saracen: . . . ; Volume 8: Northern Travel: . . . ; Volume 9: Greece and Russia by Taylor, Bayard - 1862

New York: G.P. Putnam, 1862. The Caxton Edition. Hardcover. Good. 8vo 8" - 9" tall. Scarce in the trade in this edition and condition, bound and published uniformly in 1862. Nice looking, structurally sound set of nine (9) volumes of the Revised, Caxton Edition of the prose works of a beloved 19th-century writer and poet, traveler and explorer, Bayard Taylor (1825-1878). Comprised of volumes of various edition, from unstated to Twentieth, some begun in 1846, others finished near their first publication in the middle of the American Civil War. Two titles were published in 1848 and 1850, respectively, in two-volume sets, having been sent into the rural hinterlands by publishers including Horace Greeley of the New York Herald Tribune. Bound handsomely in a heavily textured green cloth, blind-rule, woven, with fine gilt lettering to covers and spines, fine gilt floral wreath to each front cover, publisher's logo to each spine, rubbed there. Each volume top-stained in blue, and with fine marbled endpapers, still quite bright. Each volume with fine duotone engravings in copperplate at frontis, tissue-guarded, leading to some off-setting. Some dings to board edges, some light bubblings to, rubbings of cloth here and there, minor scuffings here and there, bumping to spine heads and feet, light soiling to endpapers, toning to interiors, ink-stamp of previous owner (N.H. Doegtly) verso of title page. Else generally clean, unmarked, and look handsome on the shelf. Volume 1: At Home and Abroad: a sketchbook of life, scenery and men (vi [1], 1-500 pp.); Volume 2: Views A-Foot; or, Europe seen with knapsack and staff (xviii [1], 18-506 pp., and with publisher's flaw to final page); Volume 3: At Home and Abroad: a sketch-book of life, scenery and men (iv, 1-504 pp.); Volume 4: Eldorado; or, adventures in the path of Empire, comprising a voyage to California, via Panama; Life in San Francisco and Monterey; pictures of the Gold Region, and experiences of Mexican travel (xiv, 1-444 pp.); Volume 5: A Journey to Central Africa; or, life and landscapes from Egypt to the Negro Kingdoms of the White Nile (prelims + 2-522 pp., with superficial tide-lines to two pages at end); Volume 6: A Visit to India, China, and Japan, in the year 1853 (xvii, [1], 14-539 pp.); Volume 7: The Lands of the Saracen: or, pictures of Palestine, Asia Minor, Sicily, and Spain (xv [1], 2-451 pp.; Volume 8: Northern Travel: Summer and Winter Pictures--Sweden, Denmark, and Lapland (xvi, 2-436 pp. plus a long range of publisher's ads regarding Bayard Taylor and other authors); Volume 9: Greece and Russia (vii [1], 2-426 pp.). The Wikipedia entry about him notes that Bayard Taylor was "an American poet, literary critic, translator, travel author, and diplomat." He was the fourth son born to Quaker parents and the only son to survive to maturity. Some of his poetry reading audiences numbered in the thousands, setting one attendance record that stood until 1861. His travelogues were popular and perhaps helped him to secure posts as a diplomat in the United States and Great Britain. Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.