Ballou’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion, November 15, 1856 (Springfield,Illinois)

Maturin Murray Ballou, Boston, 1856; 11"x 15", 16 pages. Ballou’s Pictorial Drawing Companion for Saturday, November 15, 1856, with a full two-page feature article on Springfield, Illinois. Beautifully illustrated with detailed wood engravings by Boston engraver Samuel Smith Killburn showing the Springfield State House, Railroad Station, Courthouse, Bank, and a view of Washington Street. Other items of note include a richly illustrated two-page story on the newly erected Cosmopolitan Art Association Gallery in New York, with a lengthy description of the building’s features by its architect, Karl Gildemeister (1820-1869); a lyrical poem by noted Irish poet Felicia Hemans entitled "Bernardo del Carpio" illustrated with five engravings of dramatic scenes from the story; a report on early female explorer Ida Laura Pfeiffer (1797-1858), accompanied by an engraved portrait; and a large full-page engraving on the back page picturing Shakespearean actor Edwin Forrest dressed for five great character roles: Macbeth, Jack Cade, Sparticus, Virginius, and Metamora. Very Good condition, some transparent staining at three corners, single miniscule edge chip (3/16") on the last page in the blank right margin, not affecting text. Paper supple, not brittle. From the library of James S. Copley (1916-1973), pre-eminent collector of Americana who was owner and C.E.O. of Copley News Service. Inserted in a special custom-made protective folder bearing Copley’s bookplate.