Pearls of American Poetry.
New York: Wiley & Putnam, [n.d., 1853?]. First edition of one of the highlights of American color printing, and one of the few American publications that is on a par with the works of Noel Humphreys and Owen Jones. The text consists of poetry by William Cullen Bryant, FitzGreene Halleck, and others, all with detailed historiated or decorative borders. The book is dedicated “To the Ladies of the United States.”. Lithographed in colors and gold by A. Brett, Philadelphia. Binding extremities slightly rubbed and worn. Spine and board edges a bit toned, light foxing to leaves and tissue guards. contemporary bookplate on front pastedown, contemporary ink signature on recto of front flyleaf. A very good copy. Publisher’s full brown morocco, ruled in blind and central gilt crest on front board, crest stamped in blind on rear cover, all edges gilt. Yellow coated endpapers. Quarto. [28] leaves, printed on heavy card stock. Item #16587
“This collection of poems is one of the most elaborate examples of mimicking illuminated manuscripts by way of chromolithography…Mapleson produced a string of similar books in the early 1850s, at the height of the gift book craze” (Reese, American Color Plate Books, 89).
Marzio, Chromolithography: The Democratic Art, p.192. Bennett, American Nineteenth Century Color Plate Books, p.71.
Price: $1,500.00