"Madame Cluck and Her Family" in OLD MERRY'S ANNUAL [or] MERRY AND WISE, Edited by Old Merry [Edwin Hodder] Alcott, Louisa May Literature

The first appearance in book form of this short story, which was later collected in Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag (1872-82). Thick 12mo: viii, 664 pp. with the frontispiece with tissue guard, a color wood engraving by F. Mellish, as well as the illuminated extra title page, a color wood engraving printed in purple and tan, and numerous textual vignettes and full-page plates, all wood engravings. In the publisher's green sand-grain cloth binding, with beveled boards; gilt-stamped floral ornamental borders, and arabesque decorations with blind-stamped highlighting and shamrock field, and gilt-stamped central cartouche with titling on the front panel; gilt-stamped ornamental borders, shamrock field, decorative titling surrounds, and titling on the spine; and a repetition of the front panel on the rear, except in blind stamp. All edges gilt, with brown coated endpapers. One signature is a tiny bit proud. Period previous owner's ink signature to the verso of the half-title. The front hinge is just starting and still quite sound. The binding is exceptionally fresh and bright. Provenance: from the Publishers' Bookbindings collection of Ellen K. Morris and Edward S. Levin.