The Complaint of Christmas
by Taylor, John; Anderson, Victor R. (Illustrator)
- Used
- Fine
- Condition
- Fine
- Seller
-
Walnut Creek, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Berkeley, California: The Hart Press, 1974. Limited Edition. Wraps. Fine. Anderson, Victor R.. Limitation not stated (140 copies printed), quarto size, [8] pp., with a presentation card from the publisher. The annual Christmas publication issued by Ruth and James D. Hart, to friends in a limited edition. James D. Hart (1911-1990) was an American literary scholar and professor at UC Berkeley for fifty-four years; he is perhaps best known for his work "The Oxford Companion to American Literature".
This work is an excerpt from a 1642 publication by John Taylor, a Thames ferryman apparently referred to as "the Water Poet"; the first English Civil War had just begun and the Puritans had outlawed celebrations on December the twenty-fifth. Our poetical ferryman "wrote and had printed 'The Complaint of Christmas' " to decry the lack of entertainment. "Christmas" himself is complaining, with the lack of feasts and pleasantries, "with guifts, offerings, and other worthy gratuities and encouragements...all cast off". A humorous look at what must have been at the time an oppression to many, being forbidden to celetrate the feast day of Christmas.
With a small presentation card from the publisher which reads "May your Christmas leave no Complaints, Ruth & Jim Hart".
___DESCRIPTION: Original pictorial green wrappers, front fore-edge uncut, pictorial title and three illustrations in text (one full-page), each in black and white, printers device at colophon; laid paper, quarto size (10" by 6.5"), [8] pp., limited edition of 140 copies (per the prior owner), with a presentation card from the publisher/printer slipped in.
___CONDITION: A fine copy, the green colour of the wrap deep and unfaded (other than perhaps some extremely light sunning around the edges of the wrap), the corners straight, the string binding strong and tight, internally bright and clean, and free of prior owner markings. The small card from the publisher also fine, clean and utterly without wear or blemish; overall a lovely example.
___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
This work is an excerpt from a 1642 publication by John Taylor, a Thames ferryman apparently referred to as "the Water Poet"; the first English Civil War had just begun and the Puritans had outlawed celebrations on December the twenty-fifth. Our poetical ferryman "wrote and had printed 'The Complaint of Christmas' " to decry the lack of entertainment. "Christmas" himself is complaining, with the lack of feasts and pleasantries, "with guifts, offerings, and other worthy gratuities and encouragements...all cast off". A humorous look at what must have been at the time an oppression to many, being forbidden to celetrate the feast day of Christmas.
With a small presentation card from the publisher which reads "May your Christmas leave no Complaints, Ruth & Jim Hart".
___DESCRIPTION: Original pictorial green wrappers, front fore-edge uncut, pictorial title and three illustrations in text (one full-page), each in black and white, printers device at colophon; laid paper, quarto size (10" by 6.5"), [8] pp., limited edition of 140 copies (per the prior owner), with a presentation card from the publisher/printer slipped in.
___CONDITION: A fine copy, the green colour of the wrap deep and unfaded (other than perhaps some extremely light sunning around the edges of the wrap), the corners straight, the string binding strong and tight, internally bright and clean, and free of prior owner markings. The small card from the publisher also fine, clean and utterly without wear or blemish; overall a lovely example.
___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.
___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Swan's Fine Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 18120201
- Title
- The Complaint of Christmas
- Author
- Taylor, John; Anderson, Victor R. (Illustrator)
- Illustrator
- Anderson, Victor R.
- Format/Binding
- Wraps
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- Limited Edition
- Publisher
- The Hart Press
- Place of Publication
- Berkeley, California
- Date Published
- 1974
- Keywords
- Fine Press, Hart Press, Christmas, California Printers, Bay Area Printers, Christmas Chapbooks
Terms of Sale
Swan's Fine Books
We cheerfully accept returns for any reason within 30 days, so long as the book(s) is/are returned in the same condition as when sent. We will refund the price you paid for the book, plus shipping if the book was misdescribed.
About the Seller
Swan's Fine Books
Biblio member since 2017
Walnut Creek, California
About Swan's Fine Books
Swan's Fine Books specializes in Fine Press, Illustrated Books, and Books About Books. We also carry a wide array of general antiquarian stock and recently acquired a very nice collection of modern lit. Enjoy browsing our web site and visit our brick-and-mortar shop if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- ABAA
- ...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- ILAB
- ...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
- Device
- Especially for older books, a printer's device refers to an identifying mark, also sometimes called a printer's mark, on the...
- Quarto
- The term quarto is used to describe a page or book size. A printed sheet is made with four pages of text on each side, and the...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- IOBA
- ...