Santa Claus and His Works

George P. Webster

Published by McLoughlin Bros., 1872

About this Item

This is a rare, early copy of "SANTA CLAUS AND HIS WORKS" by George P. Webster. Circa 1872 (there is no date of publication stated, though titles of "New Picture Books" on the book's back cover were found within a McLoughlin Bros. catalog from 1872); McLoughlin Bros.; New York. The book features wonderful color chromolithographs by THOMAS NAST - there are six full-page color illustrations, and seven in-text black & white drawings. Uncommon front cover variant. There are publisher's advertisements on the back cover. Softcover with 24 pages, including the covers (unpaginated). The book measures 10 3/4" tall x 9" wide. A spin-off of Clement C. Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," "Santa Claus and His Works" was written to reveal what Santa did in the off-season. It further elaborated the mythology behind the figure who had emerged from Moore s poem, such as locating his home at the North Pole. Seeing the commercial potential, in 1869 McLoughlin Brothers contracted Nast to illustrate a book alongside a poem of the same name written by George P. Webster. Condition: Light soiling to the covers. There is a horizontal tear across the bottom edge of the front cover that has been repaired with old stitches. Old repair tape has been applied along the length of the spine. Large pieces missing at the bottom-right of the front cover. Worn cover and page corners with creases and bits of paper missing. There are tears at the outer edges of both covers and all pages (some tears are small, while other are larger - up to 3" long). Overall in Poor condition due to the numerous tears, though still rare and desirable - the six color Nast illustrations still present well with vibrant coloring.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1737149173700

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Santa Claus and His Works
• Publisher: McLoughlin Bros.
• Publication Date: 1872
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: Illustrated Edition
• Condition: Poor