The Illuminated Calendar and Home Diary for 1845.
London: Longman & Co., [n.d., 1845?]. First edition. [27] leaves, printed on heavy card stock, including title-page in gilt and colors, printed on one side only; four introductory leaves, printed in Black Letter in red and black, on both sides, and [24] leaves of facsimiles from the Hours of Anne of Brittany, printed on one side only. Rebacked in tan canvas, covers toned and a bit worn. Ink donor's inscription, dated January 27, 1845, on a preliminary blank. Corners worn, a little light foxing. A good to very good copy of a fragile book. Publisher's white glazed paper over boards. Elaborate arabesque pattern with floral designs stamped in gilt, blue, and red, on front cover, back cover ruled in blue with gilt arabesque ornament in center. All edges gilt. Small folio. Item #16967
Noel Humphreys (1810-1879), master of Victorian illumination, produced several of these calendars in the 1840s, reproducing portions of various French manuscripts. All are scarce, and because of the fragility of the binding, many copies have been rebound.OCLC lists the present one in nine locations, six in North America (Bridgeport Public Library,Connecticut College, Delaware, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and the Free Library of Philadelphia). The DNB notes only the calendars for 1845 and 1846, though OCLC lists calendars for 1844 and 1848, as well.
Price: $950.00