Early 19th Century Illustrated Book, Michael Russell's Nubia and Abyssinia

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Title: Nubia and Abyssinia: Comprehending their Civil History, Antiquities, Arts, Religion, Literature, and Natural History.
Author: Rev. Michael Russell, LL. … Read more Title: Nubia and Abyssinia: Comprehending their Civil History, Antiquities, Arts, Religion, Literature, and Natural History.
Author: Rev. Michael Russell, LL. D.
Illustrator: Jackson.
Publisher: Oliver & Boyd.
Place: Edinburgh.
Publication date: 1833.
Edition: 2nd edition.

Description: 440 p. 16mo. Full stamped brown leather, 4 raised banded gilt decorated spine cover with black title, tinted leaf edges, text illustrated with a folding map and 12 wood and steel engravings.

Measures: 1.25 W x 4.25 D x 6.5 H inches.

About the author and work: Rev. Michael Russell was a 19th-century historian who was well-versed in a variety of subjects, including Biblical and Holy Land history. This historical and geographical book, ‘Nubia and Abyssinia’ covers the history of Nubia, Egypt, Barbary, Ethiopia, and Abyssinia. Russell focuses on religion, culture, and natural history of the North African region.

Provenance: Aldenham School, stamped at heel of title page, was founded in 1597 by Richard Platt, owner of a City of London brewery and Master of the Worshipful Company of Brewers in 1576 and 1581. In 1596, Queen Elizabeth I granted him letters patent to build "the Free Grammar School and Almshouses" at Aldenham, the foundation stone was laid in 1597. The boarding school is steeped in history with 423 years of academic excellence, embodying both the best of timeless traditions and universal values. The White House" (TWH) retail label adhered to the rear endpapers offers a historical reference.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