Sep 29, 2022 - Sale 2615

Sale 2615 - Lot 43

Price Realized: $ 688
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600
(CHILDREN'S BOOKS.) The Cabinet of Nature, or, Animal World Displayed. [12] hand-colored illustrated leaves with text. Tall 12mo, original illustrated wrappers, toned, moderate wear, crudely re-stitched at an early date; only minor foxing to contents; early owner's signature on verso of first leaf. New York: Illman & Pilbrow, circa 1834

Additional Details

A scarce illustrated bestiary, with an introductory leaf and then illustrated poems abut the lion, fox, bear, elephant, tiger, ass, sheep, horse, ox, dog, and cat. The firm of Illman & Pilbrow was active from about 1829 to 1855. The owner's signature, "Smith A. Steere," might help estimate the date with more precision. The only boy we find with this name in early 19th century was Smith Asa Steere (1826-1915) of Glocester, RI. Assuming he was about 8 or 10 when he inscribed the book, it could not have been published much later than 1836. One example in OCLC, at the American Antiquarian Society; none traced at auction.