Extra, Extra…. See All About it!
Sandys, William. CHRISTMASTIDE,
Its History, Festivities, and Carols. London: John Russell Smith, c.1870.
8vo. [8] + 327pp + [1]. Polished caramel calf by Morrell of London. Floral
motifs within spine compartments, inner dentelles, contrasting labels. Fine.
AN EXTRA ILLUSTRATED CHRISTMAS BOOK: Whereas the
original list of illustrations calls for 9 coloured lithographic plates, this
copy has 63 extra plates (lithographic, steel and copper engravings) carefully
inserted, several of which are tinted.
17 wood engraved vignettes populate the text. The engravings and lithographs added to the
volume consist of 17th to 19th engravings “culled” from
other sources. Includes the musical
notations and words for 12 carols.
William Sandys was an English
solicitor, member of the Percy Society, fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of
London, and remembered for his publication Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern
(London, Richard Beckley, 1833), a collection of seasonal carols that Sandys
gathere and also apparently improvised.