GOTHIC ALBUM FOR CABINET MAKERS

 

(GUILMARD, Desire).  GOTHIC ALBUM FOR CABINET MAKERS.           

Philadelphia: Henry Carey Baird, 1868. Oblong 8vo. Publisher's cloth. (iv) pages, 23 plates. First (American) edition.

Originally written by Desire Guilmard in France under the title, Album gothique de meubles et siges, the first American edition was translated and published by Henry Carey Baird (1825-1912).  This American pattern book of Gothic furniture is quite rare.  Its extreme rarity is probably explained by the fact that it did not sell well when published and such copies as did circulate were probably used to pieces.  While OCLC lists sixteen sites in American libraries, we could find only two copies selling at auction during the past fifty years.  This is a very bright and attractive copy with the publisher's pebble cloth binding and gilt floral endpapers.  Front hinge strenghthened, else very good.

 

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