Santa Claus Souvenir

Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle & Co, 1882. [JUVENILE] [SHAPE BOOK] [HOLIDAY] [POETRY]. Small 4to (9 3/8” x 5”); 12pp; chromolithographed embossed stiff pictorial wrapper, die-cut in the shape of Santa with a pack of toys on his back; pale blue silk fringe around Santa shape fore edge, silk tasseled ties, and a silk bow through all layers on spine fold; small creases on wrapper, tear to upper hole at spine, lightly age toned paper, a few internal spots; very good plus. OCLC locates 8 copies. A wonderful, color-printed, embossed cover of this shape book features a brown fur wearing Santa Claus emerging from a chimney with a large pack of toys on his back. The rear wrapper shows clearly all the wonderful toys he is carrying and “A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year” is featured on the rim of the chimney.

The contents feature Christmas poems by various authors, including Sarah Orne Jewett, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Sir Walter Scott, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Julia Dorr, the editor.

This edition is scarce with its silk fringe and ties.