1938 Rare Book Bound by Sangorski - The NIGHT Before CHRISTMAS illustrated by Arthur Rackham.

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Author: Clement C Moore. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Title: The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore Lld. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott Co, no date (1938). 
Language: Text in English.
Size : 8 " X 6 ".
Pages: Unpaginated (27 pages).
Binding: Attractive and very good, near fine, gilt decorated quarter morocco leather binding, finely bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown). Upper edge gilt.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, light foxing - as shown). 
Illustrations: Complete with the 4 wonderful color plates and numerous beautiful figurative vignettes by Arthur Rackham.

The book: Rare in such a nice binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe bindery, a beautifully illustrated edition by Rackham of The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore. A Visit from St. Nicholas, more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas from its first line, is a poem first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed authorship in 1837. The poem has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American" and is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. It has had a massive effect on the history of Christmas gift-giving. Before the poem gained wide popularity, American ideas had varied considerably about Saint Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors. A Visit from St. Nicholas eventually was set to music and has been recorded by many artists.

The illustrator: Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was a prolific British artist and illustrator, best known for his deluxe editions of popular children's books. Artistically inclined since childhood, Rackham started illustrating for newspapers, but it was not until he began drawing for children's literature that he received critical acclaim.

The author: Clement Clarke Moore (July 15, 1779 – July 10, 1863) was an American writer and 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. He is credited and is most widely known as the author of the Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", first published anonymously in 1823. It later became widely known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and has been published in numerous illustrated versions in various languages.

The binder: Sangorski & Sutcliffe is a firm of bookbinders established in London in 1901. It is considered to be one of the most important bookbinding companies of the 20th century, famous for its luxurious jeweled bindings that used real gold and precious stones in their book covers.