HERVEY, Thomas KABAA
THE BOOK OF CHRISTMAS
1836Best.-Nr. 021959London: William Spooner 1836. First Edition. Hardcover. Spine darkened a bit so to top of front cover. Near Fine example of a scarce book beautifully bound. Robert Seymour . Small octavo 4" x 6-3/8" beautifully bound by Riviere and Son in full red morocco with triple gilt rules spine with five raised bands and gilt decorations and lettering gilt dentelles all edges gilt; original cloth spine and covers bound in at rear; iv viii 344 pages. Original endpapers and half-title present. Illustrated with numerous hand-colored plates by Robert Seymour. "Thomas Herveys THE BOOK OF CHRISTMAS is remembered today for the wonderful illustrations by Robert Seymour 1798-1836 one of the most successful caricaturists of his time. Herveys text gives an exhaustive historical account of old English Christmas customs: some -- like the feasting on roast beef and turkey plum pudding and mince pies -- still flourishing; others -- like waits carol singing at night and mumming -- almost forgotten. Seymours illustrations completed just a few months before his suicide as he was working on Dickenss PICKWICK PAPERS capture the spirit and joy of the season. From the coach load of Norfolk turkeys to the sleepy waits singers in the light of the street lantern to the merry old gentleman enjoying Christmas by his fire he provides a delightful selection of holiday scenes. THE BOOK OF CHRISTMAS first published in 1836 and reprinted the following year was an early attempt to record and preserve the old customs. As the Victorian revival of the holiday gathered pace during the 1840s many more histories of Christmas festivities and practices were published. They were often bound and illustrated as attractive gift books and so helped to establish a new tradition of the Christmas publishing season BRITISH LIBRARY. William Spooner hardcover books
Charles Agvent, ABAA · Vereinigte Staaten3.500,00 $≈ 3.126,96 €
