American Pictures Drawn with Pen and Pencil. [Fore-Edge Painting].

MANNING, Samuel.

Item Number: 131283

London: The Religious Tract Society, n.d..

Finely bound example of this elaborately illustrated 19th century folio of American landscapes. Quarto, bound in full pebbled morocco richly decorated in gilt with gilt turn ins and inner dentelles, ribbon bound in, all edges gilt, illustrated with numerous engravings, many full page. Embellished with three four-edge paintings which reveal a portrait of George Washington flanked by The San Francisco City Hall and White House on the vertical edge, Niagra Falls on the top edge, and Baltimore on the tail edge. In near fine condition. An elegant presentation.

The first known example of a disappearing fore-edge painting (where the painting is not visible when the book is closed) dates back to 1649. In the mid 18th century, the subject matter of fore-edge paintings evolved from simply decorative or heraldic designs to landscapes, portraits and religious scenes, usually painted in full color. The technique was popularized by John Brindley (1732-1756), publisher and bookbinder to the Prince of Wales and Edwards of Halifax, a distinguished family of bookbinders and booksellers. The majority of extant examples of fore-edge paintings date to the late 19th and early 20th century on reproductions of books originally published in the early 19th century, including the present volume.