We were challenged by the American Antiquarian Society to post seven days of #bookcovers without explanation or review. 

Day 3:

Beecher, Lyman. Views in theology. Cincinnati : Truman and Smith. 1836.

We were challenged by the American Antiquarian Society to post seven days of #bookcovers without explanation or review.

Day 2:

Preston, Harriet Waters. Boston : Roberts Brothers. 1876

The cherub and snail duo on our copy of George Allen’s The Life of Philidor (New York, 1865) is bringing some joy to our #PublishersBindingThursday. We love the appropriately tiny scale of this whimsical gold-stamped decoration.

Allen, George. The life of Philidor, musician and chess-player. New York : F. Leypoldt. 1865.

Aristotle’s Masterpiece was the most popular book about women’s bodies, sex, pregnancy, and childbirth in Britain and America from its first appearance in 1684 up to at least the 1870s. More than 250 editions are known, but all are very rare, and the Library Company’s 55 editions amount to perhaps the largest collection in America.  

Aristotle’s Masterpiece was not written by Aristotle the ancient Greek philosopher; it was assembled from a number of popular medical works by an unknown writer. It is a bizarre assortment of superstition, folklore, and sex facts and fancies, all mixed in with the sort of common-sense medical advice that had been passed down by midwives for centuries. The text changed very little over the years, but it was often rearranged, as historian Mary Fissell has noted, like a reshuffled deck of cards. 

We love the ribbon-embossed cloth binding and simple gold-blocked title on our copy of this 1830 edition of Aristotle’s Masterpiece. #PublishersBindingThursday

Read more about Aristotle’s Masterpiece here.

Aristotle’s Master-piece. [United States?] G. Davis. 1830.

We never tire of finding small books in our collection, and this palm-sized beauty is no exception #MiniatureMonday

Sacred gift of devout and useful sayings. Boston: G.W. Cottrell., [between 1856 and 1870?]

Our copy of The Token and Atlantic Souvenir (New York, circa 1856) features decorative paper onlays and intricate gold blocking on its covers and spine. Known as gift books or literary annuals, The Token and many other titles in the 19th century were marketed as Christmas and New Year’s gifts. #PublishersBindingThursday

The token and Atlantic souvenir: a Christmas and New Year’s gift. New York : Leavitt & Allen [1856]

The sinking sun on our copy of John Burroughs’ Winter Sunshine (New York, 1876) is a #mood

 #PublishersBindingThursday

Winter sunshine. Burroughs, John. New York : Hurd and Houghton. 1876.

We’re back from the holiday break and feeling ready for something small after a weekend of indulgence. Our copy of The Lily of the Valley (Buffalo, 1861) is the perfect morsel on this #MiniatureMonday

The Lily of the valley; or, Cousin Lill’s stories for her pets. Buffalo: Breed, Butler & Co., 1861.

With its all-over decoration, overlapping design elements, and gold and black blocking, the binding on our copy of William H. Parker’s The Science of Life (Boston, 1881) is truly a product of its time. #PublishersBindingThursday

Parker, William H. The Science of Life or Self-Preservation. Boston : The Peabody Medical Institute. 1881.       

With its bevelled edge boards and intricate gilt decoration, this binding is making our Autumn Dreams come true! 

#PublishersBindingThursday #GreenPublishersBindingThursday

Castlen, Eppie Bowdre. Autumn dreams. New York : D. Appleton & Company. 1870.