I like all different sorts of books for all different sorts of reasons, but in the case of this one it is completely about its formal properties--most immediately that hand printed paper cover, making it seem like a wall paper box of the very early and most beautiful variety. (It looks almost like wax resist printing in appearance, with the natural cream of the paper revealed as circles through the applied golden honey color of the cover.) And then stripes to the edges of the pages, on all sides, and a brown leather spine. Just a glorious looking thing, feeling very Pennsylvania German, which it is, printed in 1830 in Philadelphia.
It is the juvenile edition of the Heidelberg Catechism of the German Reformed Church. Title page translated into English "Catechism, or: Short lessons in Christian doctrine, to be used by the aspiring youth in the Electoral Palatinate and other Reformed places... All for the glory and praise of God". Published by Conrad Zentler, Philadelphia, text in German, fraktur type lettering, with a pretty terrific engraving opposite the title page.
5 13/16” x 3 5/8” x 1/2 and in beautiful antique condition. Some general toning to pages and light general wear, tightly bound and very lovely.
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