Tabard Inn Library “Red Tape” Box with New Worlds for Old by H G Wells

Item Details

Macmillan, 1908

An interesting bibliophilic collectible from days gone by: A Tabard Inn Library book in its original “red tape” box! The Tabard Inn Library was a lending library system where subscribers could obtain various books in revolving bookcases in shops throughout the United States. One of their mottos was “With All the Red Tape on the Box”, referring to the black box slipcases with red cloth tape that the books were stored inside. The book is New Worlds for Old, a treatise on socialism by H. G. Wells (MacMillan, 1908).

This copy, #3300, still retains its original slipcase, which has some wear as shown. The book was offered at the P. O. Cigar Store in Jerome, Arizona. Overall in very good condition, with some toning opposite its Library lending slip. The slip shows two instances of being borrowed in 1908, while only returned once. The cover and some of the beginning leaves have bumping at the bottom corner, and the first three leaves are rough along the top edge.

For more, see this blog: https://libraryhistorybuff.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-tabard-inn-library-revolving.html