Title: The Book of Common Prayer, and ...
Publisher: New York: H.W.Hewet, engraver and publisher.
Publication Date: 1843
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Very Good
Edition: 1st Edition
xxv, 671 + 104 (last page Table, uncut and unnumbered) printed pages. Engraved title page with original offset tissue protective sheet. 663 engraved vignette illustrations. Mrs S.G.Linney's ownership signature on front free endpaper. All edges gilt. Inner gilt dentelles. Endpapers and last blank leaves slightly age-toned. 18 x 26.5 cm. Original, black morocco, elaborate, cathedral binding produced initially with individual tools and then with block:- with a superb representation of an Elevation of Trinity Church New York signed at foot of panel by J.Bale Sc. on the upper cover and a view of a gothic window and altar on the lower cover (some minor edge wear and very slight rubbing). Spine blindstamped with gilt title above image of the font and gothic windows. Gilt stamped "Illustrated edition" and "Hewet's Edition" below (slightly worn at head and tail). An identical copy was previously owned by Raphael Esmerian (the mid 20th century's most sophisticated collector of book bindings of all ages) had been exhibited at the Baltimore 1957 Book binding Exhibition, offered as lot 45 of Sale 3088, Parke-Bernet Galleries in 1970 & reappeared in the fourth part of the rich posthumous sale of Esmerian's collection in Paris that took place on December 11th, 1973. Its present location is unknown but another example was located and listed as item 33 in "From Gothic Windows to Peacocks: American Embossed Leather Bindings, 1825-1855" by Edwin Wolf. It is rare to find any copy in such well preserved overall condition. Seller Inventory # 5103