[Christmas]

32mo, woodcut frontispiece, woodcut vignette on title-page, numerous woodcut illustrations within text, 1 page publisher's advertisement on inside lower wrapper, original publisher's wrappers decorated with hand-coloured woodcut scenes of a river, worn and soiled, extremities rather worn with some tears, lacking spine

ESTC T147617

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

THE EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT OF 'THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS'.

The ESTC records only four copies: three in the U.K. (Birmingham Central Libraries, British Library and Bodleian Library) and one in the U.S. (Lilly Library, Indiana University). Only one copy has appeared at auction in the past 40 years (Sotheby's New York, 2 December 2014) and that copy appears to have been a later issue.

The text of the present copy matches the British Library copy. The first and final leaves are laid-down to the wrappers. The collation comprises five gatherings of eight leaves.

The copy sold at Sotheby's New York last year had blue printed wrappers with the imprint of G. Thompson and an advert from Thompson on the lower wrapper. It was assumed that this was an issue from 1807-1809. The present copy includes no reference to Thompson.

The full title of the famous cumulative song, as printed here, reveals the song's French origin: 'The Twelve Days of Christmas. Sung at King Pepin's Ball'. The word "On" is omitted from the beginning of each verse and the gift for the fourth day is "four colly birds". The Oxford English Dictionary notes that Colly is a dialect word from Somersetshire and dates an early use of it to 1798. The more familiar "four calling birds" date from a much later version. Each day is printed with a separate woodcut illustration.

The volume also includes 'The Art of Talking with the Fingers' and shows, with woodcuts, an eighteenth century system of sign language.