In December 1862 you could get the newest edition of A Visit from St.Nicholas with beautiful illustrations by Felix Octavius Carr Darley for 50 cents. "An elegante Christmas trifle for the entire household," as described by Manhattan publisher James G. Gregory in the New York Evening Post on December 22, 1862.
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| New York Evening Post - December 22, 1862 via Genealogy Bank |
"A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS." The famous poem, " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," etc. Illustrated in tints, from drawings by DARLEY, with an illuminated cover. An elegante Christmas trifle for the entire household. Price 50 cents.
Darley's joke on the front cover is explained in the New York World notice of December 26th, the day after Christmas:
"The title page is in richly illuminated letter, a carte de visite of Santa Claus having fallen on the first page."
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| New York World - December 26, 1862 via Genealogy Bank |
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS. Illustrated from drawings by F.O.C. DARLEY. James G. Gregory.
This is an elegantly illustrated and printed quarto pamphlet edition of Clement C. Moore's famous Christmas song, " 'Twas the Night before Christmas." The title page is in richly illuminated letter, a carte de visite of Santa Claus having fallen on the first page. The drawings are all by Darley, and are in his happiest style.
In verse, the poet Clement Clarke Moore reported St. Nick's Visit, and now Darley the artist gives us the picture of his carte de visite. Look, Santa Claus left his calling card!
Related posts:
- Melville's Santa Claus
https://melvilliana.blogspot.com/2016/12/melvilles-santa-claus.html
- Happy Independence Day
https://melvilliana.blogspot.com/2021/07/happy-independence-day.html
Your blog has become my virtual mentor, and I'm thankful for that.
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