The New Table Book, or Pictures for Young and Old Parties, with “A Copy of Verses” to Each Picture, and a Page for “Everybody’s Favourite”
London: Bradbury, Evans & Co., 1867. Single volume, measuring 12 x 9.5 inches: [152]. Original blue morocco-grain cloth elaborately titled and decorated in gilt and blind with figures of bats, moths, fairies, and a gargoyle; beveled edges; blue coated endpapers; all edges gilt. Hand-colored wood-engraved frontispiece and title page; 24 wood-engraved plates; decorated chapter heads and vignettes throughout text; color-printed borders to the “favourites” surveys. Hundreds of handwritten responses by party guests; ink gift inscription to front pastedown; bookplate of Anthony Estill. Lightest shelfwear. Housed in a custom clamshell box.
Lavishly illustrated gift book, featuring two dozen surveys inviting party guests to record their “favourites” of all kinds: kings, queens, statesmen, heroes, authors, artists, songs, virtues, dishes, books, mottos, flowers, and more. The result is a fascinating crowd-sourced glimpse into Victorian tastes and jokes. The replies to the survey of “my favourite colour” include “Your eyes – fair Reader!,” “Water Colour,” and “Blue, but not for stockings.” Provenance: Anthony David Estill, collector of Victorian illustrated books and bindings; purchased from his estate by Ellen Morris and Edward Levin for their own collection of publishers’ bindings. A near-fine copy, completed in manuscript as intended, in a decorative cloth binding by Edmonds & Remnants.
Price: $850.00