Happy Christmas
New York: Sunday-School Union, 200 Mulberry Street, No date [c. 1857-1868]. cloth. [HOLIDAY] [CHRISTMAS]. 32mo (4 3/8” x 2 7/8”); 47pp; blind-stamped design to faded red cloth; ownership in light pencil on ffep; engraved frontispiece; 5 historiated caps; fading and shelf-wear to boards, light staining, offsetting of fp to title-page; very good minus. OCLC lists holdings in 3 libraries. Very good. Item #1805
The frontispiece of this book may have the very first illustration of Mrs. Santa Claus. The charming story tells of a visit from Mrs. Claus, most likely the children’s Aunt Kitty dressed to play the part. Santa Claus in his modern American form first appeared on the scene in the 1821 illustrated book A New-Year’s Present to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve, The Children’s Friend III, published by William B. Gilley, New York in 1821. Two years later, A Visit From St. Nicholas was published anonymously and claimed by Clement Clarke Moore in 1837. But, the first mention of Mrs. Claus seems to be in “A Christmas Legend,” one of the stories in James Rees’ 1849 publication Mysteries of City Life; or, Stray Leaves from the World’s Book, Being a Series of Tales, Sketches, Incidents, and Scenes founded upon the Notes of a Home Missionary, published by J.W. Moore, Philadelphia. None of these earlier publications include a picture of Mrs. Claus. The frontispiece in this book shows Mrs. Claus’ hair swept high on her head and toys tied to her waist with strings. A lively story with lovely illustrations.
The Methodist Episcopal Church published titles through the Sunday-School Union at the 200 Mulberry Street address from about 1836 through 1869.
Price: $225.00