Fine Books & Manuscripts

BRYANT, William Cullen, editor (1794–1878). Picturesque America; Or, the Land we Live in: A Delineation by Pen and of the Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, Forests, Water-Falls, Shores, Canyons, Valleys, Cities, and Other Picturesque Features of our Country. New York: D. Appleton & Company, [1872-1874]. 2 volumes, large 4to. 49 full-page steel-engraved plates, including additional titles and frontispiece engravings, and numerous in–text wood engravings (some pale marginal browning). Original full brown morocco over heavy boards, covers lettered and ruled in gilt, raised bands, compartments gilt, all edges gilt, gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, binding by Zaehnsdorf (spines sunned with some rubbing at ends, corners also rubbed). Mixed edition (according to BAL) with Bryant’s name appearing on the title and the preface but with the original address appearing in both volumes’ imprints. One of the great books of American illustrations. BAL 1732. –– [TOGETHER WITH:] Picturesque American Scenery. Boston: Estes and Lauriat, 1883. 4to. 25 steel engravings after Bartlett, Brown and Moran. Original decorative green cloth stamped in black and gilt, all edges gilt. –– [ALSO:] Forest, Rock, and Stream. Troy, New York: H. B. Nims, 1886. 4to. 20 steel line engravings after W. H. Bartlett and others. Original decorative mustard cloth stamped in black and gilt, all edge gilt (some staining to lower cover). –– Together, 3 works in 4 volumes, condition generally very good.