When you're shopping for antiquarian collectible books, the first question isn't just which item is older or more ornate-it's which book matches the way you collect. One candidate is an 1848 leather-bound collection of Robert Southey's poetical works, finished with gilt decoration and steel engravings. The other is a 1986 softcover reference by Averil Mathis devoted to antique and collectible thimbles and sewing accessories. Both are marked as original books, and both are printed in English, but they serve very different collecting purposes. Southey's volume is a literary anthology with the trappings of a Victorian library binding. Mathis's guide is a focused tool for a specific collecting niche.
Quick Verdict
Choose the 1848 Southey volume if you want a dramatic 19th-century leather binding with gilt styling and period illustrations to display or explore. Choose the Averil Mathis guide if you want a compact, specialized reference for identifying and understanding thimbles and related sewing accessories. In short, one is a showpiece, and the other is a handbook.
At a Glance
| Consideration | 1848 Southey Poetical Works | 1986 Mathis Thimble Guide |
| Listed price | USD 74.99 | USD 9.99 |
| Author | Robert Southey | Averil Mathis |
| Binding | Leather | Softcover |
| Original/Facsimile | Original | Original |
| Place of Publication | New York / Philadelphia | Paducah, KY |
| Illustrations | Steel engravings | Illustrated |
| Primary Focus | Complete poetical works | Thimbles and accessories |
Where Each Book Wins
- For shelf presence: The Southey edition wins. It is an 1848 hardcover with black leather boards, gilt floral ornamentation, raised spine bands, gilt lettering, and gilt page edges, so it carries the visual weight of a period library volume.
- For reference value: The Mathis guide wins. Published by Collector Books, it is an original 1986 softcover covering thimbles and related accessories in an illustrated format, making it a practical companion for collectors and sewing enthusiasts.
1848 Complete Poetical Works Robert Southey Antique Leather Gilt Illustrated
This is the object-driven choice in this head-to-head. The 1848 new edition from D. Appleton & Company in New York presents Southey's collected poetry, including Oliver Newman and Other Poems, in a black leather binding with elaborate gilt floral ornamentation, decorative spine compartments, raised bands, and gilt page edges. Steel engravings supply period illustrations throughout. For anyone whose image of an antiquarian collectible book is an older volume with visible craft, this edition delivers that experience from the cover onward. The trade-off is that it is a literary anthology rather than a niche guide. If your collecting interest runs toward a specific hobby such as thimbles or sewing tools, this poetry volume will not help you research that subject. It is best for readers who want the complete poetical works of a former Poet Laureate in a period leather presentation.
Antique & Collectible Thimbles And Accessories by Averil Mathis 1986 Softcover
This is the reference-first alternative. Averil Mathis wrote this 1986 softcover for collectors, and Collector Books published it in Paducah, Kentucky. The illustrated format centers on thimbles and related sewing accessories, so it works well as a starting point for identification and collection. The book is in good collectible condition with some shelf wear to the covers, consistent with a volume from 1986. The trade-off is the opposite of the Southey edition: this is a working softcover guide rather than a decorative showpiece. It will not provide the leather-and-gilt presence that a 19th-century collector's book offers, but it gives you a specialized reference that speaks directly to antique thimbles and accessories.
Final Choice by Use Case
By use case, decide this way: If you are furnishing a library display with an older decorated binding, or studying British Romantic poetry, the 1848 Southey leather gilt edition is the more memorable object. If you are actively collecting thimbles, sewing tools, or small antique accessories, the Averil Mathis softcover is the more useful daily companion.
