Der Kleinen freunde Album. For Our Young Friends. Des Petits Amis. Dei Piccoli Amici. De Los Amiguitos. van de kleinen Vrienden

1845. Romantic Cartonnage. Near Fine. Exceptional ornate romantic cartonnage binding. N.d., circa 1840s. Slightly oblong, 7 by 5.75 inches, 17 by 14 cm. With sixteen hand-colored plates of children mostly playing. Gumuchian 291 indicates 18 plates, so two are apparently missing, although there is no sign of removal or cannibalization in this copy. Depicted are games of blind man's bluff, shooting out with fingers, sledding, marching military-style, crab hunting, hide-and-seek, etc. with a few scenes of juvenile apprehension, quisitiveness or seriousness. As if to underscore the universality of childhood experience, the captions are rendered in four languages: French, German, Italian and English. Perhaps the most special element of this charmer, though, is the exquisite cover that exudes a cross between Second Empire ormulo and a fine doily (or doilie), and features a color illustrated cameo on the rear board. No title, as almost certainly so issued, with front board serving as title. Scarce. Gumuchian 291.