#LCPrarebooks

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This week our #publishersbindingThursday post goes #outofthisworld with three delightfully star-studded covers. Because we couldn’t pick just one. 

Proctor, R.A. The Expanse of Heaven: a Series of Essays on the Wonders of the Firmament. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1889.

Raymond, Rossiter W. The Man in the Moon, and Other People. New York : The American News Company, 1874.

Rambosson, J. Astronomy. New York: D. Appleton & Co., [187-?].

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Happy #publishersbindingThursday, #feathursday edition! We love the gold stamping almost as much as we love the marbled cloth! Swoon!

C.W. Webber. Wild Scenes and Song-Birds. New York: George P. Putnam & Co., 1854. 

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"Certainely there are yet many things left to discovery, and it cannot be any inconvenience for us, to maintaine a new truth or rectifie and ancient errour."

Wilkins may have been wrong about the possibility of life on the moon, but he was definitely on to something. 

A Jacobean clergyman, founder of the Royal Society, and brother-in-law to Oliver Cromwell, Wilkins's writings not only helped to bring the science of astronomy to the general public, he also arguably started the space race. 

Wilkins, John. The discovery of a vvorld in the moone. Or, A discourse tending, to prove, that 'tis probable there may be another habitable world in that planet. London: Printed by E.G. for Michael Sparke and Edward Forrest, 1638.

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Tag yourself. Today, we're the Igel (hedgehog). 

Hoch-deutsches lutherisches A B C und Namen Büchlein. Germantaun [Pa.]: Gedruckt und zu haben von Michael Billmeyer, 1802.

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We are very much enchanted with this painted vellum binding (and those block printed pastedowns!)

Binding on: Neu-vermehrt-und vollstandiges Gesang-buch. Marburg; Frankfurt: Bey Henrich Ludwig Bronner,1785

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These pressed flowers were sewn onto a page and surrounded with lines of verse as a New Years gift to Sarah from her mother in 1843

Found in: Pleasant memories of pleasant lands. By Mrs. L. H. Sigourney. Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1842.

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Some lovely nonpareil papers to usher in the weekend.  May it be without equal!

Marbled endpapers from: López de Segura, Ruy. Libro De La Invencion Liberal Y Arte del juego del Axedrez...Alcala, En casa de Andres de Angulo, 1561.

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Jane Aitken was a Philadelphia printer, publisher, and bookbinder.  The daughter of Robert Aitken, publisher of the first English bible to be printed in the United States (1782), Jane inherited her father’s business after his death in 1802. Jane's imprint can be found on nearly 60 published works, including the notable 4 volume Thomson Bible, published in 1808.  However, in addition to the print shop and bindery, Aitken also inherited nearly $3,000 of debt and despite her best efforts (and the efforts of John Vaughan, Librarian at the American Philosophical Society) she lost the business in 1814. She was sent to debtor’s prison, and remained virtually unheard of until her death in 1832. A historical marker at 11 Market Street commemorates Robert, but makes no mention of Jane.

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We couldn't have said it better.  

#FinisFriday finispiece from: Academia Litteraria de Humanidad, que Presentan al Publico, y dedican Al Principe Nuestro Senor Don Carlos Borbon. Madrid: Antonio Marin, 1765.

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"Quarantine day 11...I never thought I would say this but if I see one more box of pasta I might scream..." 

 Sydney Whiting. Memoirs of a stomach, written by himself, that all who eat may read. [London]: Published by W.E. Painter, 342 Strand, [1854?]

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Last week our friends over at the American Antiquarian Society posted about their love of variants, so we thought we would, too. We think this clutch of binding variants (all embossed leather!) for the 1842 Rose of Sharon is *chef  kiss* 

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This stylish fella certainly has something to sing about - it's #feathursday! And wherever he's perched looks much warmer than it is here.

C.W. Webber. Wild Scenes and Song-Birds. New York: George P. Putnam & Co., 1854.

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This week's #BindingAppreciationPost is brought to you by these floral printed paste papers. 

Also, #36DaysuntilSpring! 

Ein christlicher send-brief, an geistliche personen geschrieben. Allentown: Gedruckt fur die Verleger von A. und W. Blumer, 1835.

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We were delighted to learn that it's not just us, but that squirrels have been mocking gardeners for centuries.   In early America, almanacs such as this one were issued yearly in each major city, and were second only to the Bible in the number of copies printed and sold. But as they were only good for the year issued, they were usually discarded despite their sometimes delightful and elaborate covers. 

John Tobler. The Pennsilvania [sic] town and country-man's almanack, for the year of our lord 1762. Germantown: Christopher Sower, 1761.

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This weeks #LibraryWonderland comes from Cloud Crystals, an album dedicated to snow-flakes by Mrs. Frances E. Chickering, with illustrations by J.F. RIchardson. Part scientific explanation and part literary expression, this volume sings the praises of all the unique stellated forms of snow.

Mrs. Frances E. Chickering. Cloud Crystals. New York: Appleton and Companyy, 1883.

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A small selection of the recently-digitized Pattison Patterned Cloth Binding Collection is now on display at 1314 Locust. Stop by and check it out! All 600+ bindings in this collection will soon be added to the 19th Century Cloth Binding Database, so stay tuned! Until then, we invite you to explore the 4000+ bindings already in the database here: http://ow.ly/g5G850xMwSX