Library Company of Philadelphia
Okay everyone, stop what you’re doing. This dog wants to play and we cannot say no. Look at that face that is staring into your soul. It is saying, “This ball is the most special ball. If you throw it, I will always return it to you. Also, maybe buy an organ because I am so cute, and playing an organ is almost as much fun as playing with me.”
In his first exhibition at the London Society of Artists in 1775, Birch styled himself “Enamel Painter,” and he continued to do so for the rest of his career. Miniature painting was a valued specialization in Birch’s time, and enamel miniatures were especially prized because their colors were clear, brilliant, and permanent. They were often incorporated into jeweled settings or snuff boxes, which could sell for the equivalent of thousands of dollars in today’s money.
William Birch, Triumph of America, 1826. Enamel on copper. Courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art. Purchased with the Joseph E. Temple Fund, 1912.
This small enamel was copied from the right hand part of the engraving, Peace of Ghent 1814 and the Triumph of America shown in the exhibition, and was set as a pin.
William Birch, Ingenious Artist is on display through October 19, 2018. To learn more visit : http://librarycompany.org/birch2018/
This detail of marbled endpapers decorates our copy of Observations on certain documents … in which the charge of speculation against Alexander Hamilton (1797). Yeah, that Hamilton.
It’s time for our final #PrideMonth #LibraryLoveisLoveisLove feature! We have enjoyed participating in this challenge over the last week and seeing all the colorful publishers’ bindings!
Our copy of Tennessee Claflin’s Constitutional Equality a Right of Woman (New York, circa 1871) features a gorgeous gilt-stamped title on its violet cloth. We peaked inside and found this line from the introduction: “We feel that we are in duty bound to advocate the perfect equality of all human beings, which may, without assumption, be called the cause of humanity.”
Day 6 of the #PrideMonth #LibraryLoveisLoveisLove challenge brings us this beautiful indigo publishers’ binding on our copy of Rambosson’s Astronomy (New York, circa 1870). We especially love the gilt decoration on the spine.
Day five of the #PrideMonth #LibraryLoveisLoveisLove challenge brings us this highly-decorated publishers’ binding on our copy of The Poetical Works and Remains of Henry Kirke White (Philadelphia, 1855).
The poetical works and remains of Henry Kirke White.
Philadelphia : E. H. Butler & Co.
1855
We’re throwing it back to 1832 for day 4 of the #PrideMonth #LibraryLoveisLoveisLove challenge! Our copy of The Child’s Own Book of Tales and Anecdotes About Dogs (Boston, 1832) features a lovely printed paper label on its moss-green binding.
We are getting closer to summer and with that we are seeing a lot of adorable doggos walking their owners lately. The cute aggression is real.
This photograph of a young girl holding a puppy is double the cuteness!
It is day three of the #PrideMonth #LibraryLoveisLoveisLove challenge and this stunning gilt-stamped yellow publishers’ binding on our copy of The First Violin (New York, 1896) invokes the glow of warm summer nights and that mellow yellow feeling.
The First Violin.
Fothergill, Jessie.
New York : Brentano’s 1896
June 4-10 is the #LibraryLoveisLoveisLove social media challenge to highlight a spectrum of colorful publisher’s bindings for #PrideWeek. We are kicking off the week with a beautiful red binding featuring a lovely goddess-like gilted pair, one holding a quill, the other a painter’s palette.
The Poetical Works of Fitz-Greene Halleck.
New York : D. Appleton & Company. 1847.