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Clement Moore :
Man of Letters, Biblical Scholar
And Author of
A Visit from St. Nicholas
 
We are pleased to offer this collection of books by Clement Moore who is best known as the author of the Christmas classic "A Visit from St. Nicholas."  Included are some of his lesser known but important works such as the first American Hebrew Lexicon, a pamphlet which attacked Jefferson as president (his earliest work), and other literary and historical works.  In addition to his academic contributions this catalogue presents a good collection of his famous poem better know to us as "Twas the Night before Christmas," with the earliest published example as well as first illustrated editions which give us our modern image of Santa Claus.  In addition it includes specialty private printings, miniatures and novelty editions.

  
To order or for more details contact:  [email protected] or (757) 229-1260.
   



(JEFFERSON , Thomas)  OBSERVATIONS UPON CERTAIN PASSAGES IN MR. JEFFERSON'S NOTES ON VIRGINIA.       

New York : N.P., 1804. 8vo. Original unprinted wrappers. 32 pages. First edition. [Howes, F-416; Tompkins, 219.]
  
This attack on Jefferson and his Notes on Virginia "Which appear(s) to have a tendency to subvert religion, and establish a false philosophy" is generally ascribed to Clement C. Moore, but Howes incorrectly lists the work as possibly written by Nicholas Rogers.  This is the first published work by the man who wrote "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  Moore wrote the pamphlet in an effort to defeat Thomas Jefferson's bid for the presidency.  An attractive, uncut copy in its original state.  Scarce thus.  Marginal stain on last two leaves.



$500.00
 




          
MOORE, Clement C.  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.  
    

Philadelphia : Porter & Coats, 1883. Square 8vo.  Green cloth, and gilt decorated stamped binding, all edges gilt. (22) leaves, (1) leaf. First edition, thus. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 97].


A richly illustrated edition of Moore 's classic Christmas poem.  A collection of twenty-two engravings by four artists illustrate this elegant Victorian edition.  The woodcuts are engraved by William T. Smedley, Frederic B. Schell, Alfred Fredericks, and Henry R. Poore under the supervision of James W. Lauerbach.  "The Night Before Christmas" is the first of five poems in the "Bells" series.  Each poem in the series had five different issues, ranging from the least expensive described as "cloth extra, beveled boards, gilt edges," to the most expensive issue which was described simply as "plush, nickel lettering."  This copy is the most expensive of the five.  Brightly gilt and stamped publisher's green cloth binding with Santa and his sleigh and reindeers across the top.  Owner's ink inscription on front blank leaf.  Some foxing, else good.


$225.00




    
      
MOORE, Clement C.   MOORE, Clement C.  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

           
New York : Charles E. Graham & Co., (circa 1900). Tall 8vo. (9 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches). Paper covered colored boards. (12) unnumbered pages. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 135].

Uncommon work whose first edition was printed about 1870.  OCLC records seven copies of this early edition all in American libraries.  This exquisite Victorian edition is "illustrated with six color plates and numerous black and white drawings."  "The use of berried holly-leaf border on the title page is the first known association of this foliage with the Christmas motif and this poem.  Likewise, here is the first representation of Santa Claus in a red cloth coat and cap trimmed with white fur."  Brightly colored illustrations with brightly colored paper covered boards including Santa Claus coming out of a fireplace in his red cloth coat and cap with white fur trim.  Very good.

 
$85.00
 

  
MOORE, Clement C.  A COMPENDIOUS LEXICON OF THE HEBREW LANGUAGE.  Two Volumes.
   
New York : Collins & Perkins, 1809. 8vo. Later quarter-calf, marble papered boards. xiv, 474, (21); (ii), 541 pages. First edition.

Clement Moore , better known as the author of the Christmas story, Twas the Night Before Christmas, was a noted writer and American professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, as well as divinity and Biblical learning at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York City .  His Hebrew lexicon was one of his earliest contributions to the field in America , "being a lexicon and grammar of the whole language."  It "contains an explanation of every word which occurs in the Psalms; with notes." He dedicated the work to his father "The Right Reverend Benjamin Moore,. as a tribute of respect and gratitude, by his affectionate son."  Some early ink notations, else very good.


$750.00





KEESE, John.   THE POETS OF AMERICA : ILLUSTRATED BY ONE OF HER PAINTERS.

New York : S. Colman, 1840. 8vo. Publisher's green blind-stamped and gilt leather, all edges gilt. Frontispiece plate, 284 pages. First edition.

A collection of ninety literary works compiled in this volume.  This anthology of American poetry contains the first illustrated appearance of Clement Moore's famous poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, in a book (pages 102-104).  Santa is depicted in a delicate line drawing by William Croome, as engraver-illustrator of the period.  In his preface the editor describes Croome as "one of our most distinguished artists."  Many of the poems contain an illustration by him with the best example being The American Flag, by J.R. Drake (pages 48-49) with several patriotic images surrounding the poem.  Engraved armorial bookplate and early signature on half-title.  Very good.
   
$350.00
 



 

MOORE, Clement C.  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
         
New York: Cupples & Leon Co., (1907). 8vo. Colored paper covered boards. (16) pages. [Marshall,  Night Before Christmas, # 188].


Scarce edition with only three copies recorded on OCLC.  This brightly colored edition with gold leaf highlights on the corner is a composite of illustrations from unknown artists.  Several are from the 1870 Charles Graham edition.  The early illustrations are combined in this edition with two color plates plus cover by another artist, who gives a more modern rendition of Santa in short jacket, leggings and boots.  Cupples & Leon became a successful specialty house by tapping the market for comic books, series books, children's books and dictionaries.  This being an excellent example of their work.  Very good.



$40.00   


 



(MOORE, Clement C.). JUVENALIS.   A NEW TRANSLATION WITH NOTES, OF THE THIRD SATIRE OF JUVENAL. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, ORIGINAL AND TRANSLATED.
                   
New York : E. Sergeant, 1806. 12mo. Original boards, later morocco-backed, cloth clam shell box. xxvi, (191), (1) errata, (2) additional errata, uncut. First edition.
 
Moore 's first publication if one omits the 1804 pamphlet Observations upon certain passages in Mr. Jefferson's Notes on Virginia .   The inserted Contents leaf follows the front matter.  The unsigned prefactory prose Letter from a Friend, pp. (vii)-xxvi is by Moore, author of Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, as are six poems which remained uncollected until 1844.  The Duer translation of Junvenal's Third Satire is printed with one page in Latin and the opposite page in English whose copy owned by Duer, bound in leather, we once owned.  Some scattered foxing, but a fine unsophisticated copy.  With an 1818 gift inscription to a school, with their label removed.


$385.00

 






HOFFMAN, Charles Feno, Editor.  THE NEW-YORK BOOK OF POETRY.     

New York : George Dearborn, 1837. 8vo. Publisher's blind-stamped, gilt brown cloth, all edges gilt. Frontispiece plate, x, 253 pages. First edition.

"The work here presented to the public is compiled from the poetical writings of natives of the state of New York ."  An anthology of 53 New York poets.  In this anthology, Moore is identified for the first time as the author of his most famous poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, which appears on pages 217-219.  he also published another poem in this anthology, From a Father to His Children, after having had his Portrait taken for Them, found on pages 215 and 216.  Early owner's signature on front blank leaves.  Binding worn and stained. 


$1,000.00
                            










                              
 
MOORE , Clement C. (RACKHAM, Arthur) THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
 
London : George C. Harrap & Co., (1939). 8vo. Printed decorated color wrappers. Color plate frontispiece, (32) pages. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 344].
 
A colorful interpretation of Moore 's classic Christmas poem.  The illustrations are by Arthur Ra ckham the foremost English artist of the Edwardian era - a masterful combination of whimsy and fantasy - have been used in countless reproductions including miniature books marketed as tree ornaments.  Ra ckham illustrated some of the most famous books of the first half of the 20th century, this pamphlet being one of his last works.  His illustrations include a colored frontispiece plate and many black-and-white text drawings.  It is interesting to note that the elderly figure of the father is thought to be a self-portrait.  Very good.


$225.00



                                              
MOORE, Clement C. (RACKHAM, Arthur) THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.   
 

Philadelphia : J.B. Lippencott & Co., (circa 1931). 8vo. Cloth boards with Printed decorated front panel. (36) pages, plus 4 colored plates. First American edition, first issue. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 298].

 
Ra re edition.  OCLC records three Philadelphia editions of later dates, but none dated so early.  A colorful interpretation of Moore's classic Christmas poem illustrated by this foremost English artist of the Edwardian era - a masterful combination of whimsy and fantasy - have been used in countless reproductions including miniature books marketed as tree ornaments.  Arthur Ra ckham illustrated this American classic towards the end of his life, and it is interesting to note that the elderly figure of the father is thought to be a self-portrait.  His illustrations include a colored frontispiece and three colored text plates and many black-and-white text drawings.  With personal inscription on front blank leaf dated "Christmas 1931."  Very good.


$450.00


                     
 

 MOORE, Clement C.  GEORGE CAST RIO T, SURNAMED SCANDERBEG, KING OF ALBANIA .
                                                                                                                                  
New York : D. Appleton , 1850. 8vo. Publisher's blind-stamped brown cloth. 367, 36 pages. First edition.

   
This is one of Moore 's scholarly works, written after he became immersed in and fascinated with,..."the story of Scanderbeg, the heroic fifteenth-century prince of Epira, and great enemy and scourge of the Turks."  He was an Albanian nobleman and military commander, who first served the Ottoman Empire from 1423 to 1443, the Republic of Venice from 1443 to 1447, and lastly the Kingdom of Naples until his death in 1468.  After leaving the Ottoman service, he led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in what is today Albania and Macedonia which kept at bay the Ottomans from regaining their authority over the region for years.  With a 36-page of Appleton 's book stock in back.  Very good.

 
$150.00






MOORE , Clement C. (BISHOFF, Ilse) THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
 
New York : Holiday House, (circa 1937). 12mo. (5 x 3 1/2 inches). Printed decorated boards. (37) pages. First edition, thus. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 333].

   
A colorful and charming copy of Moore 's classic Christmas poem "The Night Before Christmas."  Designed for children with colored illustrations by Ilse Bishoff in a book designed by Helen Gentry and printed by William E. Rudge.  The eight color woodcuts in red, green and black are beautifully scaled to harmonize with the small format, and enliven this well-printed, designed and elegantly bound little version.  The poem is preceded by six pages of historical text by Vernon Ives.  Very good.


$85.00



                                                        
                                               
MOORE , Clement C. (BISHOFF, Ilse) THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.


New York : Holiday House, (circa 1937). 12mo. (5 x 3 1/2 inches). Disbound, green plain wrappers. (37) pages. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 333].

A colorful and charming copy of Moore 's classic Christmas poem "The Night Before Christmas."  Designed for children with colored illustrations by Ilse Bishoff in a book designed by Helen Gentry and printed by William E. Rudge.  The eight colored woodcuts in red, green and black are beautifully scaled to harmonize with the small format.  The poem is preceded by six pages of historical text by Vernon Ives.  The original circa 1937 work but without its decorated printed paper boards.  Spine chipped and worn, else very good.



$40.00
                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                     



MOORE , Clement C. (BISHOFF, Ilse) THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

   
(Pittsburgh: Walleck's Department Store, circa 1950). 12mo. (5 1/4 x 4 inches). Red printed illustrated wrappers. (28) pages. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 454].


A holiday giveaway.  A colorful and charming copy of Moore 's classic Christmas poem "The Night Before Christmas."  A paper bound reprint in the 1950s of the original 1937 work, a holiday promotion by Walleck's Department Store in Pittsburgh .  Designed for children with the same colored illustrations by Ilse Bishoff.  The eight color woodcuts in red, green and black are beautifully scaled to harmonize with the small format, and enliven this well-printed little version.  The poem is preceded by five pages of historical text.  The red wrappers illustration includes Santa in his sleigh and reindeers.  Lower right tip of free end pages chipped, else very good.

 

$25.00
  
                                                                                                                      




MOORE, Clement C.  THE EARLY HISTORY OF COLU MBI A  COLLEGE : AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE ALUMNI ON MAY 4, 1825 . 

        New York: Columbia University Press, 1940. 8vo;. Green cloth. XXI, 41 pages.


A facsimile copy of Clement C. Moore's original Address on May 4, 1825 to the alumni of Columbia College .  With an introduction by Milton Halsey Thomas.  Owners library stamp on inside of front board, else very good.



$35.00
  
                                                                                                                      



NAST, Thomas.   A THOMAS NAST COMPENDIUM.

   
New York : Society of Typographic Arts, 1961. 8vo. Red decorated wrappers. (16) pages.


A limited edition work of 150 copies printed by the Acorn Press in Forest Park , Illinois for the Society of Typographic Arts.  A collection of Thomas Nast's best known illustrations about Christmas and Santa Claus by the man who created our modern image of Santa Claus.  The drawings were taken from his 1890 Christmas book.  Very good.



$50.00
  
                                                                                                                      




MOORE , Clement C. (TUDOR, Tasha)  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

   
Worcester : Achille J. St. Onge, (circa 1962). 32mo. (3 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches). Red calf, illustrated dust jacket, all edges gilt. (28) pages. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 549].


A colorful edition of Moore 's classic poem illustrated by Tasha Tudor.  It was printed by Joh. Enschede en Zonen at Haarlem , Holland .  This edition was issued in several bindings including burgundy calf with two different weights of end papers, full red calf as seen in this copy, red cloth, and white.  Signed by Tasha Tudor as well as the previous owner.  Fine.


$100.00
  
                                                                                                                      



MOORE , Clement C. (TUDOR, Tasha)  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

   
Worcester : Achille J. St. Ong 2 3/4 inches). Red calf, edges gilt. (28) pages. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 549].


A colorful edition of Moore 's classic poem illustrated by Tasha Tudor.  It was printed by Joh. Enschede en Zonen at Haarlem , Holland .  This edition was issued in several bindings including burgundy calf with two different weights of end papers, full red calf as seen in this copy, red cloth, and white.  Lacks dust jacket, else fine.


$65.00
  
                                                                                                   


                  


NEWMAN, Alyse.  MERRY CHRISTMAS; ANIMATED PICTURE BOOK.

   
(New York: Merrimack Publishing Co., 1983). Oblong 32mo. (2 x 3 inches). Red decorated stiff wrappers. Unpaginated. 



Animated motion picture flip book for juveniles.  Created by Alyse Newman and printed in Hong Kong .  "As pages are flipped, Santa goes down the chimney, leaves a present, then exits up the chimney, calling 'Ho, Ho, Ho.'"  Intended for use as a Christmas tree ornament and gift. Fitted with a gold string.  Fine.

 

$35.00

                                                                                                                      



(MINIATURE BOOK - CHRISTMAS)   MOORE , Clement C. (CHENY, William) ACCOUNT OF A VISIT OF ST. NICHOLAS.

   
Pasadena : Karen Dawson, 1962. Oblong 64 mo. (1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches). Green pigskin, gold-stamped borders over boards. 11 pages. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 547].


Ra re special printing limited to 200 copies printed and illustrated by William Cheney of Moores classic Christmas poem.  Vignette illustrations on each page on hand-made paper.  Fine.


$85.00

  
                                                                                                                      


(MINIATURE BOOK - CHRISTMAS)  MOORE, Clement C.  (RA HEB , Barbara) THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

   
Agoura Hills ,  California : Pennywright Press, 1992. (1992). (1 x 3/4 inches). Boards. 31 pages. { Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 858].


Barbara Ra heb designed and illustrated this specialty printing with only two copies recorded on OCLC.  It was limited to 300 copies of which this one is 81 and signed by Barbara Ra heb.  A special miniature printing of Moore 's classic Christmas poem with illustrations.  Fine.
 

$85.00

  
                                                                                                                       





(MINIATURE BOOK - CHRISTMAS)   MOORE , Clement C. (ANDERSON, Frank) A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.

   
Spartanburg, South Carolina: Kitemaug Press, 1981. 64 mo. (2 1/8 x 2 inches). Red wrappers with paper slip-on. (10) unnumbered pages, with foldout illustration. [Marshall, Night Before Christmas, # 689]. 



Ra re specialty printing with only six copies recorded on OCLC.  Printed in green ink telling of Moore's ' classic Christmas poem and illustrated by Frank Anderson.   The tongue -in-cheek colophon reads: "Frank J. Anderson handset this book in six point type...It was printed on an antique Pearl treadle press during numerous hours...The job was done poco a poco, rather than in Ho-Ho-Ho fashion."  This edition is a smaller version of the earlier 1973 printing.  Fine.


$40.00

  
                                                                                                                      


( MOORE - EXHIBITION)   GROSFILS, Catherine H., and Nancy H. Marshall.  TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS; AN EXHIBITION CATALOGUE.

  
Williamsburg: Earl Gregg Swem Library, 1995. 8vo. Illustrated wrappers. xv, (1), 40 pages, plus four pages of color plates.


An exhibition in the Swem Library at William and Mary College from November 6, 1995 to January 12, 1996 of examples from the collections of Catherine H. Grosfils and Nancy H. Marshall of Clement Moore's classic Christmas poem, Twas the Night before Christmas.  The exhibition includes 217 items with numerous editions and printed versions of Moore 's poem as well as a collection of Clement Moore's other publications.  With index.  Signed by the authors.  Fine.

 
$25.00

  
                                                                                                                      



( MOORE - EXHIBITION)   LAWRENCE, George, H.M.  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS; AN EXHIBITION CATALOGUE.

   
Pittsburgh : Pittsburgh Bibliophiles, 1964. 8vo. Red illustrated wrappers. xxi, 54, (4) pages.

An exhibition catalogue compiled by George H.M. Lawrence on all works and editions of Clement Moore's classic Christmas poem from the first edition in 1823 to the most recent edition in 1963, with a forward on Moore's life by Anne Lyon Haight.  In all 148 works, scattered with black-and-white facsimile illustrations, with index.  Personally inscribed letter from Tom Ross, dated May 1991 to Cathy Grosfils about the catalogue loosely laid-in.  Very good.

 
$25.00

                                                                                                                      

( MOORE - EXHIBITION)   ADAMS, Harriet Dyer, and Marion P. Munzer.  A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS; A CATLAOGUE.

   
Albany : State  University of New York at Albany , 1976. 8vo. Printed wrappers. 40 pages.

An exhibition presented by the State University of New York at Albany by Marion P. Munzer, Curator of Special Collections, and Harriet D. Adams, Ra re Book Librarian of Special Collections, with a forward by Anne L. Haight, who is known as a specialist on Clement Moore's classic Christmas poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas.  The exhibition displays various old and new versions of the famous poem in a variety of printings, and they take Moore 's poem through an evolution of presentations and thematic changes over the years.  Very good.

 
$25.00

  
                                                                                                                      


( MOORE - EXHIBITION)   UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HIL L.  A CHRISTMAS EXHI BITI ON OF THE KELLAM COLLECTION; PRESENTING CLEMENT C. MOORE 'S "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS."

   
(Chapel Hill, North Carolina: 1979.) 8vo. Printed wrappers. (8) pages.



A scarce exhibition catalogue with only nine copies recorded on OCLC.  The exhibition of the Kellam Collection ran from December 1, 1979 to January 15, 1980 in the University library of forty-five examples from the mid-19th century to contemporary works.  The exhibition was divided into three sections: Publishing History, Illustrators, and Varied Formats.  Very good.

 
$15.00

  
                                                                                                                      


(MOORE - EXHIBITION)  BOOKSTALL.  MOORE'S CHRISTMAS CLASSIC.


   San Francisco: The Bookstall, 1981. 8vo. Printed wrappers. (36) pages.



A scarce book dealer's catalogue with only four copies recorded on OCLC.  A catalogue of over 330 items related to Moore 's classic Christmas poem chronologically listed from 1823 to 1974.  In addition to the catalogue and chronology, it includes an introduction, and a history, "...from the shelves of the Bookstall - San Francisco ."  Very good.

 
$25.00

  
                                                                                                                      


MOORE , Clement C., (HOSKING, Arthur N.) THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS; THE TRUE STORY OF A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.         

   
(Mount Vernon, New York: Privately printed for Junis Fishburn, 1933). 12mo. (5 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches). Red paper-covered boards. (viii), (16), 33 pages, with 7 pages of plates. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 305].


Privately printed book done by Rudge Printing Company in Mount Vernon , New York with typography by Frederic Warde for a series of customers, each of whom has their name printed in the book.  This one is for Junius Fishburn who also personally inscribed it on the front end leaf dated "Christmas 1933."  Identical editions were also privately printed in 1933 for various other individuals.  This lovely edition contains a facsimile of the poem published by Henry M. Onderdonk in New York City in 1848.  Included are thirty-four pages of biography and history compiled by Arthur N. Hosking.  The 1848 edition was the first separate publication of Moore 's poem in book form.  Both illustrations and borders are by T.C. Boyd.  Edges chipped, else very good.
  
 
$25.00

  
                                                                                                                      


MOORE , Clement C. (KNIGHT, Hilary)  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

   
( New York ): Harper & Row, 1963. 32mo. (3 3/4 x 2 1/2 inches). Light red cloth. 32 pages. First edition, first printing. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 559].


One of four color-illustrated volumes in the Christmas Nutshell Library.  Illustrations are in black-and-white with red-green border and were done by Hilary Knight who is better known for her illustrations of the Eliose series.  Very good.

 

$65.00

  
                                                                                                                      


MOORE, Clement C. (ANDERSON, Frank)  A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.


   
Spartanburg , South Carolina : Kitemaug Press, 1973. 32mo. (3 x 2 1/4 inches). Self-wrappers. (14) unnumbered pages. [ Marshall , Night Before Christmas, # 624].


Ra re specialty printing.  OCLC records six copies of the later 1981 edition, but none for this earlier 1973 edition.  Printed in green ink telling of Moore = s classic Christmas poem and illustrated by Frank Anderson.  "About 400 copies were printed on the Pearl by Frank J. Anderson at the Kitemaug Press."  Fine.  


$40.00

  

The Bookpress Ltd.
John R. Curtis
1304 Jamestown Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Phone: 1-757-229-1260