Lalla Rookh by Thomas Moore Value Guide

This antique edition of Lalla Rookh represents the 19th-century obsession with Orientalism, featuring the narrative poems that earned Thomas Moore a record-breaking 3,000 pounds. These cloth-bound volumes from 1860-1885 are highly collectible for their intricate gold leaf decorative motifs and historical significance in Victorian literature.

What Is Lalla Rookh by Thomas Moore Worth?

The typical price range for Lalla Rookh by Thomas Moore is $35 - $45 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The physical condition of the cloth binding and the clarity of the gold leaf gilding.
• Presence of period-accurate illustrations or engravings that often accompanied these decorative editions.
• Minimal foxing or yellowing of the internal paper pages from the 1860-1885 period.
• The specific aesthetic appeal of the cover design, as various publishers used different Orientalist motifs.

How to Identify Lalla Rookh by Thomas Moore?

• Check for the presence of elaborate gilded decorative motifs on the front cover and spine typical of the 1860-1885 era.
• Verify the publisher's imprint to confirm the United States origin and mid-to-late 19th-century printing date.
• Look for the structural combination of four narrative poems linked by a prose frame story.
• Inspect the binding for original cloth materials and period-specific gold leaf application.

History of Lalla Rookh by Thomas Moore

First published in 1817, Lalla Rookh is a series of four narrative poems connected by a prose tale. It was the most highly paid piece of poetry in history at its time, earning Thomas Moore 3,000 pounds before it was even finished. It became a global sensation, inspiring operas, ballets, and an enduring fascination with Orientalism in the 19th century.