Exceptional ornate romantic cartonnage binding. N.d., circa 1840s. Slightly oblong, 7 by 5.75 inches, 17 by 14 cm. With sixteen hand-colored plates of children mostly playing. Gumuchian 291 indicates 18 plates, so two are apparently missing, although there is no sign of removal or cannibalization in this copy. Depicted are games of blind man's bluff, shooting out with fingers, sledding, marching military-style, crab hunting, hide-and-seek, etc. with a few scenes of juvenile apprehension, quisitiveness or seriousness. As if to underscore the universality of childhood experience, the caption... View More...
Very scarce, with no copies located on OCLC. 12mo. 12.5 by 8 cm, 5 by 3.25 inches. [5], 137, xvi pp. Seven hand-colored plates, plus color vignette on title page. No author given, although a preface credits Giulio Ferrario as the source for the fourth and last part of the work (it isn't clear what exactly constitutes this). Survey goes back to the classical world of Ancient Greece and Rome. The misconceptions and stereotyping are part of the interest. A final section, separate from the primary work, is an almanack of sorts. Elaborate blindstamping to boards, with gilt Greek key decorat... View More...
The bookcase cabinet is elegant and striking, with its ornate carved wood floral ornamented pediment and floral and foliate border framing the glass door. This small piece of furniture stands 33 cm to the top of the pediment, and if we measure to the top of the "box" or case itself, 26.5 cm, and the case is 11 cm deep. The glass door can be secured with the original metal key. The legs holding up the case about 4 cm from the ground are black metal and have typical Baroque detailing. The titles are almost beside the point, but they are all titles intended for a young adult readership... View More...
