Fine Books & Manuscripts, including Americana

[BINDING]. HERVEY, Thomas K. (1799–1859). The Book of Christmas. London: William Spooner, 1836. 8vo. Half–title, engraved title–page, frontispiece and numerous engraved plates by Robert Seymour (frontispiece partially separated). Full red levant gilt ruled and twice framed in green morocco inlays, cornerpieces gilt with sprays of holly with berries of red morocco inlays, a central sprig of mistletoe on both covers gilt with berries of orange morocco inlays, spine in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands gilt, alternating sprigs of both hollies and mistletoes gilt with morocco inlays in 4 compartments, gilt–lettering in remainder, all edges gilt, broad morocco turn ins with sprigs of holly and mistletoe cornerpieces, twice framed with a single frame of green morocco inlay, olive silk moiré doublure and front free endpaper, gilt stamp–signed by Riviere (spine ever so slightly darkened, a tiny spot of rubbing to front joint); original cloth bound in at end; folding box. FIRST EDITION in a sumptuous binding, illustrated by one of the most successful caricaturists of his time who shortly after this publication was selected by Dickens to illustrate the author’s Pickwick Papers. “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).