Old Christmas.
London: Macmillan and Co., 1882. Full Morocco, 7 inches tall. A beautiful 'Kelliegram' binding by the great English firm of Kelly & Sons in a style they introduced that has since been much imitated. With gilt raised bands, delightful floral gilt tooling to the panels and on the boards, framing the Old Stage Coach man recreated in crushed morocco onlays. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Illustrated by Randolph Caldecott throughout. Original cloth covers bound in. With the gilt stamps of Kelly & Sons and that of Brentano's New York (booksellers). Washington Irving, the great American short story writer, published 'Old Christmas' in 1876 with its wonderful nostalgic view of an English Victorian Christmas. One evocative image being that of the stage coach man on the York coach in a snowy December, here represented.. A lovely book in pristine condition.