The Book of Common Prayer

Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co, 1850. Color lithographed plates in the style of illuminated manuscript leaves, lithographed by P. S. Duval. Text within color printed borders. 680pp. 8vo. Contemporary cloth backed japanned papier maché covers, the upper cover with a painted and gilded biblical scene, titled The Golden Gate, Jerusalem, gilt edges, wear to the spine. Housed in a cloth clamshell box. Color lithographed plates in the style of illuminated manuscript leaves, lithographed by P. S. Duval. Text within color printed borders. 680pp. 8vo. A lovely example of a hand-painted japanned, or lacquered binding. The covers, referred to as papier maché, are more accurately comprised of many sheets of paper pressed with glue and starch between the layers and then oven-dried to form boards which could be sanded or otherwise treated as wood. After painting, multuple layers of varnish are applied, with the gilt added to the wet varnish.