Gift Book Mania: Last Part

Today was bittersweet as I completed cataloging the gift books. There were around 150, and as I poured over reference material, I felt I only previewed a tiny fraction of the material produced. I saw many beautiful engravings, lithographs, typefaces, and bindings. I was charmed by sweet inscriptions and fragments of pressed flowers, and I read obscure poems and tidbits of stories by many beloved authors. Overall, this was a very enjoyable project to call work. So, here is the last of my photos from this project. Stay tuned, there is much more to come!

Wonderful example of binding for, "The Rainbow"

Anonther fine example of binding from the period.

Creepy baby.

Title page from "The Pearl."

I enjoyed these vignettes, especially, "The Bat."

Many engravings depict a woman reading. 

This was meant to depict a "Spanish maiden."

This binding is likely a contemporary binding done by whomever purchased this at the time.

Elaborate title page from "The Gem."

One of the more elaborate gold-block designs.

Not a gift book, but pretty cool. 

Wonderful example of illuminated plates.

Not from a gift book, but I thought it was appropriately grouped here, it's ephemera from the 20th century.

My favorite.

A close up of one of the gold-block designs.

I have no idea what this is, but I thought it was bizarre.

This is from a book I brought home to keep! Not a gift book, but full of great illustrations.

A lithograph.

I also cataloged a few of these  pocket sized "Lady's Almanac's," Very cute.


I wish we still made such lovely little objects in this modern age!