Fine binding. 1887 Congregational Church Hymnal

$449.00

A beautiful binding decorates this 19th century hymnal, with the rays of the rising sun bursting forth from hills (onlays) as a dove rises in the sky. The binding is signed by a J.A. in 1902, but I was unsuccessful in identifying the binder. If you have more information, please share; I love attributing bindings to their creators.

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 15.5 x 10.5 x 3 cm. Leather binding. Front board with onlays at the bottom representing hills. Fillets of gilt emanate from the hills, as the sun's rays, and a gilt dove tool is found near the top of the board. Spine with five raised bands. The sun is tooled in the bottom compartment, with fillet gilt rays continuing through the bottom three compartments. Two compartments with "Congregational" and "Church Hymnal" in gilt" and the dove tool at the top compartment. Double endbands. Board edges with gilt fillet. Head and base of spine with five dots in gilt. All edges with a green wash. Turn-ins with a gilt fillet border. Rear turn in with "1902 JA".

Signed in eights (octavo). Pages not numbered, 775 hymns. Collation 1-42 in eight. signature 43 with two leaves (so 676 pages).

Condition -

See pictures. A little wear at corners and edges. Front joint has a few starts, possibly repaired; it doesn't feel weak. One tiny hole in the top compartment of the spine. There's some evidence of polish, especially on the rear board. Endpapers are a little clunky at the hinges, with a bump. There's a few spots and a few thumbs in the text block. There are some initials next to hymns, and one page has a little fore-edge fold/chip (Hymn 756); nice to see, it makes me believe this hymnal may have actually been used and didn't just sit in a corner.

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