Spine and Cover for Heman's Poetical Works

Spine and Cover for Heman's Poetical Works

1851

Gold-stamped paper boards

7 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches

[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.