English Bijou Almanac for 1839. Poetically illustrated by L.E.L. [i.e. Letitia Elizabeth Landon]. Schloss, A. [London]. 1838

English Bijou Almanac for 1839. Poetically illustrated by L.E.L. [i.e. Author: Letitia Elizabeth Landon]. Schloss, Albert. [London]. 1838. [53] printed pages. Portraits of Duke of Wellington, Lady Blessington, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Beethoven & Giuditta Pasta, soprano. Contains dedicated laudatory poems by Letitia Elizabeth Landon, a historical calendar and information on royal and noble families. All edges gilt. Original dark green endpapers. With matching leather slipcase and tortoiseshell miniature magnifying glass, with oval blue onlay, gilt date and hand-tooled floral decoration (slightly chipped). Complete with original straight-grained burgundy velvet covered presentation case, lined with cream satin (slightly worn). 13 x 20 mm. Original burgundy morocco, with gilt spine titling,  blue oval central onlays within elaborate gilt scrolling borders on the covers. Engraved entirely with the burin (but not signed) by Benjamin Rees Davies on a single steel plate measuring about 223 x 147 mm; Davies engraved all the vertical parallel strokes throughout a line before turning the plate to complete the horizontal and joining curves of the letters. Each steel plate took at least 13 weeks of unremitting labour. The type is less than 3-point and the sheets were probably printed by McQueen.   Joffe, 43. Spielmann, 447. Welsh, 2658. OCLC, 34961632. WorldCat locates 13 copies worldwide. 69 firsts2024