Cloth binding gilt for Barham’s collection of fantastical tales, The Ingoldsby Legends, by John Leighton, 1864. 172 x 235 mm. This extravagant design exemplifies the format of gift books which were usually published in time for the Christmas trade. The practice flourished in the 1860s, giving rise to many issues bound in elaborate gilt patterns and several colours. Barham’s book first appeared in three volumes in the 1840s, and was reissued several times with impressive bindings to maintain its appeal. [Click on image to enlarge it.]
Photograph © Trustees of the British Museum, reproduced with permission, and text by Simon Cooke.
Bibliography
Barham, R. H. The Ingoldsby Legends. London: Richard Bentley, 1864.
Created 28 March 2023