The Oriental Album: Twenty illustrations in oil colors of the people and scenery of Turkey, with an explanatory and descriptive text
by VAN LENNEP, Henry John (1815-1889)
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
New York, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York: Anson D.F. Randolph, 1862. Folio. (18 x 13 1/2 inches). 20 chromolithographic plates by Parsons after van Lennep, all printed by Endicott & Co. of New York. Tinted lithographic additional title by Charles Parsons, printed by Endicott & Co. Bound to style in half-black morocco with publisher's gilt-pictorial cloth boards
A rare and important American color-plate book.
One of the relatively few American costume books, and certainly the best such created in 19th-century America. This is a notable and unusual instance of the taste for the Ottoman or "Turkish" which manifested itself in the furniture of the period but seldom in books. In terms of American color-plate books, this is one of the only large projects from the 1860s, when the Civil War seems to have curtailed production of such lavish enterprises. "The one really big chromolithographic book of this decade ... the art is simple, but [Charles] Parson's hand is obvious in the good lithography, and Endicott's printing is well done for its time" (McGrath). "Endicott achieved a rich variety of color which demonstrated the increased technical ability of American printers in the medium" (Reese). Henry Van Lennep was born in Smyrna, the son of European merchants. Educated, on the advice of American missionaries, in the United States, he returned to Turkey as a missionary in 1840, and spent most of the next twenty years in various parts of the Ottoman Empire. Returning to the United States in 1861, he turned his superb original drawings of Middle Eastern life into the Oriental Album. The plates include two scenes of Jewish life in the Ottoman Empire. Included are plates of "A Turkish Effendi", "Armenian Lady (at home)", "Turkish and Armenian Ladies (abroad)", "Turkish Scribe", "Turkish Lady of Rank (at home)", "Turkish Cavass (police officer)", "Turkish Lady (unveiled)", "Armenian Piper", "Armenian Ladies (at home)", "Armenian Marriage Procession", "Armenian Bride", "Albanian Guard", "Armenian Peasant Woman", "Bagdad Merchant (travelling)", "Jewish Marriage", "Jewish Merchant", "Gypsy Fortune Telling", "Bandit Chief", "Circassian Warrior", "Druse Girl."
Bennett, p.108; Blackmer Catalogue 1715; Blackmer Sale 1500; DAB XIX, 200; McGrath, pp.38, 115, 162; Reese, Stamped with a National Character 97; Atabey 1274.
A rare and important American color-plate book.
One of the relatively few American costume books, and certainly the best such created in 19th-century America. This is a notable and unusual instance of the taste for the Ottoman or "Turkish" which manifested itself in the furniture of the period but seldom in books. In terms of American color-plate books, this is one of the only large projects from the 1860s, when the Civil War seems to have curtailed production of such lavish enterprises. "The one really big chromolithographic book of this decade ... the art is simple, but [Charles] Parson's hand is obvious in the good lithography, and Endicott's printing is well done for its time" (McGrath). "Endicott achieved a rich variety of color which demonstrated the increased technical ability of American printers in the medium" (Reese). Henry Van Lennep was born in Smyrna, the son of European merchants. Educated, on the advice of American missionaries, in the United States, he returned to Turkey as a missionary in 1840, and spent most of the next twenty years in various parts of the Ottoman Empire. Returning to the United States in 1861, he turned his superb original drawings of Middle Eastern life into the Oriental Album. The plates include two scenes of Jewish life in the Ottoman Empire. Included are plates of "A Turkish Effendi", "Armenian Lady (at home)", "Turkish and Armenian Ladies (abroad)", "Turkish Scribe", "Turkish Lady of Rank (at home)", "Turkish Cavass (police officer)", "Turkish Lady (unveiled)", "Armenian Piper", "Armenian Ladies (at home)", "Armenian Marriage Procession", "Armenian Bride", "Albanian Guard", "Armenian Peasant Woman", "Bagdad Merchant (travelling)", "Jewish Marriage", "Jewish Merchant", "Gypsy Fortune Telling", "Bandit Chief", "Circassian Warrior", "Druse Girl."
Bennett, p.108; Blackmer Catalogue 1715; Blackmer Sale 1500; DAB XIX, 200; McGrath, pp.38, 115, 162; Reese, Stamped with a National Character 97; Atabey 1274.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Donald Heald Rare Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 40490
- Title
- The Oriental Album: Twenty illustrations in oil colors of the people and scenery of Turkey, with an explanatory and descriptive text
- Author
- VAN LENNEP, Henry John (1815-1889)
- Format/Binding
- Folio
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Anson D.F. Randolph
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 1862
Terms of Sale
Donald Heald Rare Books
All items are guaranteed as described. Any purchase may be returned for a full refund within 10 working days as long as it is returned in the same condition and is packed and shipped correctly.
About the Seller
Donald Heald Rare Books
Biblio member since 2006
New York, New York
About Donald Heald Rare Books
Donald Heald Rare Books, Prints, and Maps offers the finest examples of antiquarian books and prints in the areas of botany, ornithology, natural history, Americana and Canadiana, Native American, voyage and travel, maps and atlases, photography, and more. We are open by appointment only.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...