History of the Book from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers
History of the Book from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers.
By Michael Stillman
Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers' latest catalogue, number 121, is entitled "History of the Book." This catalogue focuses on the physical aspects of books more than the reading material within. The books have qualified for this list either by being specimens of such subjects as early photography, fine bindings, special papers or typefaces, or because they discuss these fields. Of course some are interesting for the unrelated material within, but still represent something notable about the art of book production.
Item 17 is the first book printed from machine-set type. The preface describes the publication of this book as a beginning of "an epoch in the history of typography, from which it is possible to conceive, a new era in the history of literature may be dated." If so, the epoch began in 1842 with the publication of Edward Binns' The Anatomy of Sleep, or, the Art of Procuring Sound and Refreshing Slumber at Will. If the book actually did all it said, providing the means to "slumber at will," that would also have been an achievement of epoch proportions. This copy of the rare book is a first edition. Priced at $550.
G.S. Peters has been referred to as America's first color printer. In 1837, Peters, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, printed a children's book about the story of Joseph for the German community, entitled Die Geschichte Joseph's und seiner Bruder. Iene bibliche Erzahlung. It is a crude job, with the illustrations first printed in black, and then overprinted in blue, green, red and yellow. Wood notes that the register is less than perfect, but anyone who has seen color photographs in their local newspaper will certainly be forgiving of such shortcomings by a printer of almost 170 years ago. Item 117. $700. There is also an undated English translation of this book, The life of Joseph, a Scripture narrative, probably published a short time later. Wood notes that some of the items in the pictures have been colored differently from the German version. Item 118. $500.
For those interested in illustration from children's books, item 156 is 1,000 Quaint Cuts from books of other days including amusing illustrations from Children's story books, fables, chap-books, etc. This was published by the Leadenhall Press of London, circa 1890-95. This book provides a large collection of samples of illustrations from pre-20th century children's books. Item 156. $200.
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History of the Book from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers
One of James Harding's tree drawings.
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The Book of Gracious Promises, by J.B. Bunyard, rests on that fine line between children's and adult books. Wood describes it as "a coloring book for grown-ups." It contains 11 plates with quotes from scriptures and floral borders that are meant to be colored by the owner. Perhaps this is why our grade schools spend so much time teaching kids to color. This copy has four of the plates "expertly" colored, though the artist is unknown. That leaves seven left for whoever purchases the book. Item 24. $350.
Twenty lessons of British mosses...by William Gardiner is an example of natural illustration. "Natural illustration" is when the item itself is used as the illustration, rather than an image of it. Naturally, you aren't going to use natural illustration to show the Taj Mahal or Abraham Lincoln, but you could use it for something like moss. Not easily, mind you, but it can be done. This is what Gardiner used in this 1852 fourth edition (together with the 1849 second series) of his book on British mosses. Between these there are 50 samples of moss mounted to the pages. Wood tells us there was a vogue at the time for books with specimens of flower and other plants attached, but that they were difficult to make and not many survived intact. These copies are in unusually good shape. Item 54. $550.
Item 144 is another example of using vegetation for literary purposes. Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce with the Premiums Offered in the Year 1788 tells of a contest held to find alternate resources for making paper. The prize went to one Thomas Greaves who submitted paper made from the bark of withins. Wood explains that "withins" was some sort of woody plant also used for basketmaking, but its obscurity makes one wonder whether this was a practical source of material for papermaking. $500.
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History of the Book from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers
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Wouldn't a more common vegetable, such as corn, be a better new source for making paper? Well, what do you know! Here is William Cobbett's A Treatise on Cobbett's Corn... This 1828 self-published book evidently has lots of information on corn, including making paper from it. The title and contents page of this book were actually made from cornhusks Cobbett had grown. Of course, if this was such a good idea, I wonder why he used regular paper to print the rest of the book. Perhaps if Congress mandated that 15% of paper be made from corn, as they did with ethanol and gasoline, this process would catch on. Item 30. $575.
Item 32 is an unusual book. It is Abrege du Dictionnaire des Cas de de Conscience, de M. pontas by M. Collet, published in Paris in 1771. Actually, it doesn't matter what it is, nor does it matter that this is only volume 1. What makes it special is that the book has been hollowed out to create a safe inside. A music box has also been placed inside, perhaps to tell criminals in which book the safe is hidden. The book isn't much good for reading, not only because its middle has been carved away, but because what remains of its pages were glued together to create the space. Still, it creates a wonderful surprise when you open the cover and the music box begins to play. As Wood notes, "On one level it's kitsch and it is certainly book mutilation, but it is also a delightful surprise when you lift the cover!" Be thankful this owner didn't possess a copy of the Gutenberg Bible. While the book is from the 18th century, the modifications were likely made in the late 19th or early 20th. $250.
Item 67 is an artist's instruction book that is a work of art itself. Originally published in 1834, this is an 1846 third edition of Elementary Art, or the Use of the Chalk and Lead Pencil Advocated and Explained, by James Harding. This book is almost entirely devoted to the drawing of trees, and the images Harding has provided are stunning (see the sample picture on this page). If this book can teach you to draw the way Harding does, it will be worth many times its price. $600.
You may find Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers online at www.cbwoodbooks.com or reach them by phone at 617-868-1711.
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