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[FRASER, W.] THE BIJOU; OR ANNUAL OF LITERATURE AND THE ARTS
London, William Pickering [1828], Hardcover. Very Good+ with no dust jacket. ΒΆ A copy of the gift annual The Bijou, beautifully bound in embossed leather by the medal-winning London binding firm of Francis Westley, and embossed with "Westley London" on the front and rear boards. Illustrated with 9 engravings: 7 Plates, one head piece, and one title page vignette. The Bijou was one of the "annuals" that were very popular in England in the 19th Century -- anthologies of literature and art published once a year, often around the Christmas holidays for gift-giving. Edited by William Fraser, The Bijou was published in 1828, 1829 and 1830. Although the copy we have has no date, its contents are that of the 1828 edition. The Westley binding on this copy is particularly desirable. The firm of Francis Westley becam famous for the elegant bindings of many annuals, such as The Amulet, The Literary Souvenir, The Gem, and The Keepsake. It was one of four bookbinders who won medals for excellence at the 1851 Great Exhibition. Annuals became a significant part of their business, and their factory contained a special "Annual" shop on an upper floor. There are some discrepancies between this copy and copies found online and dated 1828. This copy has no date on the title page, and it lacks the Preface, table of contents and table of illustrations, but all remaining text is present. The pagination is also different. A copy held by the New York Public Library and available online through Google Books contains several errors in pagination, and as a result, the final page is numbered "319," whereas our copy has all page numbers running correctly in consecutive order, and ends with numbered page "335." It seems that the copy we have may be a corrected later printing. However, this copy lacks three full-page engravings and three head pieces found in the first edition. Missing are the plates titled "Sans Souci," "Oriental Love-Letter," and "Haddon Hall," and the head pieces "The Warriors," "Poet's Invocation," and "Humble Lovers." This copy was clearly published without those plates and head pieces. It may be that in this later corrected edition, the publisher did not have the rights of publication for those illustrations. A gift inscription on the second free endpaper of this copy may be helpful in dating it: "Huntley 1Jany 1836 From Captain Charles Gordon to W. W. Pherson." Contents include several works not previously published by Coleridge, including "The Wanderings of Cain: A Fragment," as well as a letter by Sir Walter Scott, and works by Miss Mitford, James Hogg, and Southey. Among the illustrations are engravings of works by Sir Thomas Lawrence, David Wilkie, Worthington, and others. Bound in maroon leather, intricately embossed with a design of Oriental flavor; gilt spine lettering; all edges gilt; 335 pp.; 9 engravings, including frontis; tissue guards for all plates; 6 1/4 in. x 4 in. Leather faded to tan on front board and spine; mild wear to spine ends and edges, board edges and corners; gilt on edges has a few scratches, but still brilliant; inscription on second free endpaper; very occasional light foxing. Hinges fine, binding tight, engravings bright, pages very crisp and clean.
Offered for US$ 279.00 by: Basset Books LLC - Book number: 49951
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