Lydia | Herman Geiger | Casterman 1866 | Fabiola Collection
Lydia | Herman Geiger | Casterman 1866 | Fabiola Collection
Lydia is a French-language historical novel by Canon Herman Geiger, published by H. Casterman in Tournai in 1866 as part of the Collection Fabiola. The work was translated from German and sets its story against the backdrop of Greco-Roman antiquity and the early history of Christianity.
The book leads the reader through diverse aspects of the ancient world, including the Roman army, slavery, Greek and Roman religious customs, daily life, and the rise of Christianity. Chapters cover, among other things, a sacrifice in the temple of Jupiter, the life of slaves, Justin, Athenagoras, Eleusis, and Corinth, after which the story culminates in a conversion.
The copy is bound in a characteristic 19th-century binding with marbled boards and a dark spine with gold-stamped title and lines. Inside is a historical property stamp from the Public Library of St. Norbert at the Rolwagenstraat in Antwerp, a tangible trace of the book's history of use.
After approximately 160 years, the age is clearly visible. The cover and spine are heavily worn and the binding is weakened. The text block is slightly skewed and the paper shows age-related discoloration and scattered foxing. An authentic antiquarian copy that clearly shows its long history of use.
Details:
- Title: Lydia
- Author: Le Chanoine Herman Geiger
- Publisher: H. Casterman
- Place of publication: Tournai, Belgium
- Year: 1866
- Series: Collection Fabiola
- Language: French
- Original language: German
- Genre: historical novel / Catholic historical literature
- Dimensions: approx. 18 × 12 cm
- Thickness: approx. 2.5 cm
- Binding: marbled boards with dark spine and gold stamping
- Provenance: stamp Public Library of St. Norbert, Rolwagenstraat 71, Antwerp
- Condition: antiquarian condition with clear traces of use and age
- Binding: weakened
- Text block: slightly skewed
- Spine: heavily worn and damaged
- Paper: age-related discoloration, foxing and scattered spots
- Other traces of use: library stamp and a few written/pencil markings