Mid 19th Century Illustrated Book, The Book of Gems: The Modern Poets and Artists of Great Britian

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Title: The Book of Gems. The Modern Poets and Artists of Great Britian.
Author: Anthology. S.C. Hall (edited by).
Publisher: … Read more Title: The Book of Gems. The Modern Poets and Artists of Great Britian.
Author: Anthology. S.C. Hall (edited by).
Publisher: Whitaker and Co.
Place: London.
Publication date: 1838.

Description: 304 p. 8vo. Full black calf hardcover, 5 banded spine gilt decorated with red and brown title labels, gilt bordered covers, gilt and blind dentelle edges, marble leaf edges and endpapers, text illustrated with tissue guarded wood and steel engravings.

Measures: 1.75 W x 6 D x 8.5 H inches.

Provenance: "The White House" (TWH) retail label adhered to the rear endpapers offers a historical reference. TWH was the first department store in San Francisco; it opened in 1854 and closed in 1965, located at Post and Grant. In the 19th century, most bookshop sales in the US took place in departments of major department stores like TWH. Wholly plausible the book was acquired in the mid 19th century by a previous owner on a pleasure trip downtown SF which meant dressing up--hats, gloves and stockings required. TWH was a place to be seen, like its competitor The City of Paris, and was known for its French atmosphere. Raphael Weill, one of SF's merchant princes, built a grand store for a booming city with an eager clientele. The purveyor defined good taste and satisfied desires for anything French. Certainly paints a colorful picture of the TWH shopping experience when this fine book was acquired at TWH's book department located on the main selling floor of the grand store. See less