Mid 1800's Antique Little Book: "NIGHT THOUGHTS," Edward Young

Books : Poetry : Romantic : Miniature : Edward Young

 

In Excellent Condition, this small publication of Edward Young's Poem: "Night Thoughts," is also known as "The Complaint" . It is one long work of poetry that was originally published in 1742 which was mid-career for Edward Young. The book was considered a large success and was translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and Magyar first. The book is considered a Romantic Classic work of Literature. This edition is just wonderful!

The printer's name, William Van Norden, printed on one of the first few pages helps to date this book's printing to a time period between the 1830's to 1850's. Likewise the attribution to the publishing company: D. Appleton, at their Broadway Address in New York would time the publication between 1848-1881. Apparently then the book was published between 1848 and 1850 while the publisher was at that address and the printer was alive.

The hard board cover is deeply embossed with a pattern of birds. The decorative gilt spine is in excellent Condition without fraying at either end. The gilded page edges still shine. The hard board corners are slightly turned inward--only one bumped. Inside, there is one small stain on the front end papers and a few "age stains" on the blank outer leaves front and back. There is light discoloration around the edges of the lithograph where the shorter tissue paper page has laid and likewise on the facing page is an imprint of the shorter tissue page. Otherwise, no foxing, no water stains or dog earred pages. No pen or pencil marks. The pages appear to be stitched. The single lithograph illustration that is covered with the thin tissue page in the beginning of the book is the sole illustration.

This book measures slightly smaller than 4 1/4" x 2 3/4." I have pictured the book with one "regular sized book" to show perspective of the size.

*I was advised by a customer that this book is larger than books considered to be "miniature" and in the definition given by the Miniature Book Society; this book is 1" taller than generally collected as "miniature" within the U.S., so perhaps the book is best described as small or little. According to the Miniature Book Society's Web Site I have found this information: " In the United States, a miniature book is usually considered to be one which is no more than three inches in size--height, width or thickness. Some collectors do occasionally acquire slightly larger books. Outside of the United States, books up to four inches are collected as miniature books."

Item ID: BKYNGNT