Cover:  Morocco Leather, Heavy Decoration & Gilt

Size:  Height ~ 7 & 3/8 inches, Width ~ 5 & 1/8 in.

Publisher:  Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.
                No. 13 Astor Place, New York

Pages:  386

Quantity:  1

A really lovely antique book of poetry and songs, with memoir, by author Thomas Campbell, who was born in Scotland, although lived much of his life in England,  c. 1777 - 1844.

Inside cover features a charming Christmas day inscription (light pencil) reading:
Miss Lou Gibson, Dec. 25, 1889

While there is no publication date, web research of the publisher, Thomas Crowell, indicates that they occupied the Astor Place location from 1881- 1893, so we feel confident that this particular book dates to the 1880's Victorian era.

This issue contains Campbell's noted works; The Pleasures of Hope, Gertrude of Wyoming, The Lover To His Mistress, O'Conners Child, The Turkish Lady, Farewell To Love, The Cherubs and The Jilted Nymph, to list just a few.  A number of songs as well, with some patriotic poems and hymns.  I read an assorted selection and found it very entertaining.  The style and use of verbiage is interesting and rather humorous, as well as oftentimes quite poignant and touching.

This book is a particularly beautiful edition, featuring vibrant blue Moroccan leather, with extensive tooled decoration and heavy gold gilding to both spine and cover.   It may be hard to detect in the photographs, but within the ornate tooling on the front cover is an angel holding a musical instrument (or possibly a book and feather quill pen) and riding a beautiful swan.   The spine also features an angel, in beautiful gold gilt, next to with what appears to be a harp.

All exterior page edges are gold gilt.

Interior is just as elaborate, with protective tissue, beautiful engravings and red bordered pages.  There are a number of full page illustrations that I believe are steel engravings.   My favorite is just inside the cover.  It shows a charming vignette of a small child kneeling at his seated mothers feet, apparently saying his nightly prayers, with a cradle in the foreground and a steaming pitcher and wash bowl in the back ground.

The book is in exceptionally nice antique estate condition.  We find no rips, tears, folds, creases, etc., to pages and with exception to first page inscription noted above and shown third image, we find no pencil or pen notations, underlines or any other marks.  All pages present; some light tanning to edges, with an occasional rare foxing speck.  Very minor rubbing to spine head, foot and cover corners.  Binding is tight and straight.  No dust jacket.

Really a very fine antique book, by a noteworthy, quite revered author, buried with honors in Poet's corner, Westminster Abbey.

In my humble opinion this lovely old book remains nice enough to be given as a gift to a special friend or family member, as it was likely originally gifted on December 25th, 1889, almost 110 years ago.
We have several similar volumes with Christmas inscriptions, from the same estate, listed separately in this same category.

Antique Book ~ Campbell's Poems, Complete Political Works & Memoir ~ Vibrant Blue Leather & Gilt, Christmas 1889

$ 64.99

SOLD