The product is a leather-bound hardcover first bound semi-annual book titled "Ballou’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion, Volume VIII" published in Boston in 1855. It features wood engravings and illustrations, making it a visually engaging read. The book contains various contributions from authors in the United States, focusing on historical and Americana topics. With its original print year, this collectible item offers a glimpse into the literary and artistic landscape of the mid-19th century.
Leather Front 1855 Vol VIII Jan-June First Bound Semi-annual Book Ballou’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion
Size 11.5” x 15.25” 416 pages
Nice condition being over 170+ years old
Some pages are yellowing as seen in pictures, some tears on pages and leather front is as seen in pictures.
Leather front has tape supporting front cover.
1855 Ballou's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion Newspaper ...
1855 Ballou's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion Newspaper VIII Jan–June 1855), is a 19th-century American illustrated weekly containing detailed woodcut engravings of mid-19th-century life, including cityscapes, and western expansion. It features original fiction, poetry, and news.
Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion was a 19th-century illustrated periodical published in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1851 to 1859. The magazine was founded by Frederick Gleason in 1851.[1] The publication name was changed to Ballou's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion for 1855, after managing editor Maturin Murray Ballou bought out the interest of Gleason. The first issue as Ballou's was 6 January 1855. The magazine absorbed the Illustrated News of New York in 1853. It ceased publication in 1859.[1]
The Pictorial featured artists such as Winslow Homer, and authors such as Giddings H. Ballou, Susan H. Blaisdell, Alice Carey, Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., Sophronia Currier, Mrs. S. P. Doughty, Francis A. Durivage, Aglaus Forrester, Mrs. H. C. Gardner, Joseph Holt Ingraham, Grace Lee, Mary A. Lowell, Mary L. Meany, Ellen Alice Moriarty, Arthur Morton, Frances P. Pepperell, Mary E. Robinson, M. V. St. Leon, Frederick Ward Saunders, Sue M. Scott, Maurice Silingsby, Frederick Stanhope, Horace B. Staniford, John Thornberry, Winnie Woodfern, and Joseph Wolf.
Key Noteworthy Content in 1855, Volume 8:
Maritime & Naval Illustrations: A major highlight is the two-page spread, "Comprehensive Representation of all the Sailing Vessels and Steamships in the United States Navy," featuring key vessels such as the Mississippi, Susquehanna, Powhatan, and Macedonian.
International Scenes & Current Events:
Crimean War: Map of the Crimea, sketches of the war, and views of Russia.
Japan: Early, detailed illustrations of Japan (before full opening) including Mount Me Take, Simoneseki, and temples at Miako.
Global Views: Views of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bahia, Brazil; Algeria; and the Niagara Suspension Bridge.
American Scenes & Technology:
Boston/New England: Scenes of Boston including Beacon Street, Roxbury suburban residences, Alger's Foundry in South Boston, and a skating scene on Jamaica Pond.
Industry: Detailed illustrations of paper-making, the Panama Railroad, and various, industrial, and architectural views.
Portraits & Culture:
Portraits of notable figures, including operatic soprano Madame Anna De LaGrange and tragedian Edwin Forrest.
"Boston Street Characters" sketches.
"A Domestic Party in Boston in 1776".
Literature & Fiction:
Serialized tales, such as Steel and Gold: The Heir of Glenville. A Domestic Tale of Revolutionary Days.
Ruth Hall, A Domestic Tale of the Present Time by Fanny Fern.
Special Supplements: The volume includes an 8-page Valentine supplement bound at the back.
This volume captures a "wide panorama of American culture" in the early 1850s
See our other Gleason's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion Newspapers
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