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George Putnam and Co. used this brown, cloth-covered binding for their first illustrated edition of The Wide Wide World, released in 1853. The focus of the cover is the central theme of the gilt heart encased in a large diamond shape frame. Surrounding this focal point are flowers in each of the four corners. The spine is hollow backed and printed in gilt, reading the title and the word ILLUSTRATIONS, all in capital letters.

This is the spine of the 1853 George P. Putnam Illustrated Edition, Vol. 1, Issue 1. The cover is made of brown leather and decorated with gold gilt, reading the book's title and the word "illustrated" all in capital letters.

George Putnam and Co. used this brown, cloth-covered binding for their first illustrated edition of The Wide Wide World, released in 1853. The focus of the cover is the central theme of the gilt heart encased in a large diamond shape frame. Surrounding this focal point are flowers in each of the four corners. The spine is hollow backed and printed in gilt, reading the title and the word ILLUSTRATIONS, all in capital letters.

George Putnam and Co. used this brown, cloth-covered binding for their first illustrated edition of The Wide Wide World, released in 1853. The focus of the back cover is the central theme of the gilt heart encased in a large diamond shape frame. Surrounding this focal point are flowers in each of the four corners.

binding

This is the tail of George Palmer Putnam's 1853 Illustrated Edition of The Wide, Wide World. Note the gold leaf used on the pages.

binding

George Palmer Putnam used this title page for the completed works in one volume of the 1853 edition of The Wide, Wide World. This title page features the name of the novel, author, and publisher. This edition used Susan Warner's pen name Elizabeth Wetherell.  It contains the epigraph:

"Here at the portal thou dost stand,

      And with thy little hand

Though openest the mysterious gate,

      Into the future's undiscovered land

      I see its valves expand,

As at the touch of FATE!

Into those realms of Love and Hate.

                                     LONGFELLOW."

George Palmer Putnam used this as the copyright page of the 1853 second issue containing both volumes in one book. This page shows that this book was "entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, BY G. P. PUTNAM & Co., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York." It also credits the stereotyper and printer of the book.