1852 Meyers Universum Vols 1 2 Complete Steel Engravings Charles Dana Americana
đź“Š Item Specifics
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Binding | Leather (Full Morocco / Deluxe Period Binding) |
| Language | English |
| Year Printed | 1852 |
| Author | Herrmann J. Meyer / Charles A. Dana (Ed.) |
| Publisher | Herrmann J. Meyer, 164 William Street |
| Subject | Americana, Exploration & Travel |
| Original/Facsimile | Original |
| Special Attributes | Illustrated, 1st Edition Thus, Inscribed / Provenance |
| Place of Publication | New York, USA |
| Region | North America |
| Topic | Historical Topography, World Landscapes & Views |
| Format | Oblong Quarto (approx. 10 3/8" x 7 1/2") |
đź“ť Detailed Description
Item Description
- Title: Meyer’s Universum, or Views of the Most Remarkable Places and Objects of All Countries (Vols. I & II)
- Publisher: Herrmann J. Meyer (New York, 1852–1853)
- Editor: Charles A. Dana
- Format: Oblong Quarto (approx. 10 3/8" x 7 1/2")
- Pagination: Vol. I (294 pages) / Vol. II (226 pages)
Historical Importance & Rarity
First established in Germany by Joseph Meyer, Meyer’s Universum was a monumental 19th-century topographical undertaking designed to bring stunningly precise visual records of the world's most breathtaking sites directly to the public. This rare New York edition features English descriptions edited by the esteemed Charles A. Dana.
What makes this specific set highly collectible is its brilliant inclusion of landmark American views alongside European wonders. It boasts masterfully detailed steel engravings of historic American treasures, including The White House (Washington), Niagara Falls, Wall Street, and a majestic, full-page view of The Monument on Bunker's Hill (near Boston). Complete, uniform 2-volume sets bound in deluxe publisher's leather are increasingly difficult to locate on the market today.
🖋️ Intimate Family Provenance & Markings
- Historic Inscription: The flyleaf features a beautiful, elegant 19th-century ink inscription reading: "My Father. Harrison (?) Lewis. His Book", adding a wonderful layer of personalized historical charm and generational custody.
- Collector Marks: Includes a clean, vintage ink ownership stamp for Charles M. Lewis, alongside neat pencil cataloging notation on the title page upper margins.
Condition & Physical Attributes
- Binding: Exquisite deluxe period binding. Bound in uniform full deep-red/brown morocco leather. The spines feature rich, raised bands accented with intricate gilt geometric paneling, bright gilt titles ("MEYER'S UNIVERSUM"), and distinct volume designations ("VOL. I" & "VOL. II"). The hardcover boards are finished with elaborate gilt-ruled borders and ornamental corner flourishes. Covers show a slight, natural storage warp and minor edge shelf wear consistent with their 170+ year age.
- Endpapers: Features vibrant, high-contrast historic marbled endpapers showcasing a striking green, yellow, and black pebble/stone motif.
- Interior: Complete 2-volume set containing the full complement of 96 magnificent steel-plate engravings. The text leaves and plates display typical, light-to-moderate age-toning and foxing characteristic of mid-19th-century paper stocks. Vol. II remains noticeably brighter and cleaner. Plates feature their original, delicate tissue guards still intact to maximize presentation quality. Spines are firm, bindings are tight, and all pages remain securely attached.
Charles Anderson Dana (1819–1897) was one of the most prominent, powerful, and influential American journalists, editors, and government figures of the 19th century.
Because he was an elite literary intellectual in New York during the 1850s, Herrmann J. Meyer hired him to edit the English text for the American edition of Meyer’s Universum to make the world travel volumes appeal to sophisticated American readers.
His notable historical achievements include:
đź“° Pioneer of American Journalism
- The New-York Tribune: Dana served as the managing editor under the legendary Horace Greeley during the 1850s (the exact era your book was published). Under his guidance, it became the nation's foremost anti-slavery newspaper. He notably published the very first review of Walt Whitman’s masterpiece, Leaves of Grass, in 1855.
- The New York Sun: In 1868, he became the editor and part-owner of The New York Sun. He spent nearly 30 years transforming it into a legendary "newspaperman's newspaper" by introducing a crisp, witty style and pioneering the modern human interest story.
🏛️ Lincoln’s Civil War "Eyes and Ears"
- When the Civil War broke out, President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton appointed Dana as a special investigating agent.
- He was sent directly to the front lines to observe military operations and evaluate commanders. He spent extensive time alongside General Ulysses S. Grant, sending back crucial reports that secured Grant the presidency and command of the Union Army.
- He proved so indispensable that he was promoted to Assistant Secretary of War from 1864 to 1865.
đź“š Literary & Art Scholar
- Aside from editing Meyer's Universum, Dana was a massive force in literature. He co-edited the monumental New American Cyclopaedia and put together The Household Book of Poetry, which became a staple in 19th-century households
For complete list of engravings please see photos. Both Volumes have foxing however Volume 2 has cleaner engravings. Many of engravings have tissue guard. These books are 170+ years old.
Keep in mind the shipping price also covers handling fees, packaging materials & time, not just postage.
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