Cloth binding for Bunyan’s ‘The Children’s Pilgrim’s Progress’
1860
Cloth gilt
6¾ x 5 inches
A simplified version of Bunyan’s Christian allegory. The binding may be by E. H. Wehnert, who designed the illustrations. The bouquet on the front cover is both naturalistic and emblematic, with the lower part of the panel using brambles to represent the difficulties of life and the upper part salvation in God, with what appear to be beech leaves symbolizing a good life; the shell at the apex is a traditional sign of pilgrimage.
Scan and text by Simon Cooke [Click on image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]