Spine and Cover for Heman's Poetical Works

7 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches

1851

Gold-stamped paper boards

[A page from this volume]

This American edition of an extremely popular poet exemplifies the elaborate decoration of low-cost materials for book bindings made possible by mechanical presses. Perhaps intended as a gift or presentation book, it represents a middle-class emulation of aristocratic leather bindings. Compare the less elaborately decorated edition of Tupper's Poetical Works by the same publisher [GPL].

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