Lotus-Eating: A Summer Book by Curtis, George William - 1852

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1852. First Edition. Octavo. 206 pages, illustrated by John Frederick Kensett. As an afffluent class arose who wanted summer vacations with both literary, artisitic and other cultural benefits, Curtis wrote about the North Shore and asked John Frederick Kensett to design the illustrations for this work. Artists often did this but what was unusual is he did the illustraitons for the entire book. Kennett was thirty-six years old and becoming famous as a painter of the American landscape. His originals which measured only 4 1/2" high illustrate also an innovative design in American design versus those book carelessly printed. The Hudson and the Rhine.--Catskill.--Catskill Falls.--Trenton.--Niagara.--Niagara again.--Saratoga.--Lake George.--Nahant.--Newport.--Newport again. Bound in 3/4 brown morocco over marbled paper copvered boards, raised bands gilt with title gilt, upper joint rubbed, ocassional scattered foxing, mostly to title page. A very good copy. [Blanck 4263].