1856 Cyclopaedia American Literature 2 Vols Full Morocco Gilt Fine Binding For Sale

Cyclopaedia of American Literature
New York: Charles Scribner, 1856
Complete in Two Volumes
Large Octavo • Full Black Morocco • Elaborately Gilt • All Edges Gilt

A striking complete two-volume set of Evert A. Duyckinck and George L. Duyckinck’s Cyclopaedia of American Literature, New York, Charles Scribner, 1856, containing biographical and critical notices and selections relating to major American writers and historical figures including Benjamin Franklin, Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, William Cullen Bryant, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Jonathan Edwards, Alexander Hamilton, Catharine Maria Sedgwick, James Kirke Paulding, George Ticknor, John Lothrop Motley, and many others.The work is subtitled:

“Embracing Personal and Critical Notices of Authors, and Selections from Their Writings, from the Earliest Period to the Present Day; with Portraits, Autographs, and Other Illustrations.”

This substantial mid-nineteenth-century survey of American letters gathers biographical and critical accounts of American authors together with selections from their writings, portraits, facsimile signatures, and other illustrations.

Cyclopaedia of American Literature; Embracing Personal and Critical Notices of Authors, and Selections from Their Writings, from the Earliest Period to the Present Day; with Portraits, Autographs, and Other Illustrations.

By Evert A. Duyckinck and George L. Duyckinck

New York: Charles Scribner, 1856

Complete in two volumes.

Large octavo, approximately 27 x 18 cm.

Volume I: pp. [2], xvi, 676, [2]
Volume II: pp. xiv, 781, [3]

With engraved frontispiece to each volume and numerous engraved illustrations in the text throughout.

The copyright leaf records the work as entered according to Act of Congress in 1855 by Charles Scribner.

Both volumes are uniformly bound in full black morocco leather, with:

• elaborate gilt decoration to the spines
• five raised bands
• gilt-lettered title and volume compartments
• richly tooled floral and foliate gilt panels
• multiple gilt-rule borders to both covers
• ornamental gilt cornerpieces
• finely gilt board edges
• broad and elaborately gilt inner dentelles
• marbled endpapers
• all edges gilt

The spines are especially impressive, with repeated gilt floral devices framed by scrolling ornament and fine gilt detailing.

The covers are more restrained, with elegant multiple gilt fillets surrounding elaborate corner ornaments. The broad gilt dentelles and marbled endpapers add considerably to the presentation.

Among the writers and historical figures represented are Benjamin Franklin, Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, William Cullen Bryant, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Catharine Maria Sedgwick, Fitz-Greene Halleck, James Kirke Paulding, Joseph Story, George Ticknor, John Lothrop Motley, Eliza Leslie, Orestes A. Brownson, John Gorham Palfrey, Lewis Cass, Nicholas Murray, Jacob Abbott, John S. C. Abbott, John G. Saxe, Richard Henry Stoddard, Charles Sprague, James A. Hillhouse, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, William A. Muhlenberg, Parke Godwin, John W. Francis, and Charles F. G. Gayarré, together with many others.

The earlier portion of the work reaches back into colonial American literary and religious history, including figures and subjects such as George Sandys, Thomas Harriot, Alexander Whitaker, John Cotton, John Norton, Thomas Morton, Cotton Mather, John Josselyn, John Clarke, Jonathan Edwards, Jeremy Belknap, Lindley Murray, Myles Cooper, James Rivington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Bay Psalm Book.

The result is not simply a literary encyclopedia but a broad illustrated panorama of American intellectual and cultural history from the colonial period through the middle of the nineteenth century.

Very good condition overall, particularly attractive externally.

The full black morocco bindings remain strong and handsome, with light rubbing and scattered small marks to the boards and extremities. The gilt tooling remains bright and well preserved.

All edges gilt, with the gilding still strong.

Marbled endpapers and broad gilt dentelles remain attractive.

Internally, the books show expected age toning, scattered foxing and spotting, and occasional staining. The title page of Volume I has some visible discoloration and spotting, as photographed. The text blocks otherwise appear generally sound.

Please examine all photographs closely, as they form an important part of the condition description.

A particularly handsome complete set, notable for its full black morocco bindings, extensive gilt tooling, broad gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, all-edges-gilt finish, and substantial illustrated contents.