IRVING, Washington.

£1,000 · Offered by Peter Harrington · No longer available

Old Christmas from the Sketch Book of Washington Irving; [together with] -- Bracebridge Hall. First editions illustrated by Caldecott, either first or second printings; the Macmillan bibliography lists two printings for Old Christmas dated 1876 and two for Bracebridge Hall dated 1877, both indistinguishable. It also the first separate edition of Old Christmas, which was originally published as part of Irving's Sketch Book in 1819. This attractive set is an early example of the illustrated gift book market. Caldecott, for whom the medal is named, found his first professional success with these illustrations.On the front pastedown of Bracebridge Hall is a bookplate by Charles William Sherborn, known as "The Little Master", "the greatest Victorian copper-engraver of bookplates, and inspirer of the revival of armorial bookplate design" (Lee, p. 100). It is dated 1890 and was produced for R. E. Brandt, who collected book engravings.

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