first edition Hardcover
1845 · London
by London. Joseph Cundall
London: Joseph Cundall, 1845. First edition. Hardcover. Orig. publisher decorated boards, front cover paper label. Aeg. Very good. 32 pages. 18.5 x 13 cm. First edition of the first of Joseph Cundall's illuminated gift books, with decoration by John Brandard printed in chromolithography by Hanhart. Purportedly the first Christmas book printed in chromolithography. The borders in the book were copied from Harleian MS 2936 and MS 3469, Royal MS.19.C.3 and 19.C.8, the DeCroy MS, and Henry VIII's Missal, all in the British Library; also used was a Book of Hours in the possession of the publisher. Cundall was also the first commercially printed Christmas (truncated)