"Book of the World" Edited by Dr. Gaspey. Philadelphia: Weik & Wieck, 1852. Volume 1. Illustrated with 48 full-page steel engravings.
The somewhat faded gilt-embossed image on the front cover is the American Crystal Palace built in Bryant Park, New York for the 1853 World’s Fair.
The “Book of the World: A Family Miscellany for Instruction and Amusement” was edited by Dr. [Thomas] Gaspey [1788-1871]. John Weik and Charles Wieck published the first volume in 1852 and John Weik alone published the second volume in 1853 (not shown here). The first volume contains 48 full-page engravings, 35 of which are colored. Colored engravings of that period were virtually always colored by hand with water colors. This took time and great skill as the color was applied to the plate itself.
"Book of the World" Edited by Dr. Gaspey. Philadelphia: Weik & Wieck, 1852. Volume 1. Illustrated with 48 full-page steel engravings.
The somewhat faded gilt-embossed image on the front cover is the American Crystal Palace built in Bryant Park, New York for the 1853 World’s Fair.
The “Book of the World: A Family Miscellany for Instruction and Amusement” was edited by Dr. [Thomas] Gaspey [1788-1871]. John Weik and Charles Wieck published the first volume in 1852 and John Weik alone published the second volume in 1853 (not shown here). The first volume contains 48 full-page engravings, 35 of which are colored. Colored engravings of that period were virtually always colored by hand with water colors. This took time and great skill as the color was applied to the plate itself.