1901 Scarce Signed - The First Christmas Tree by Henry van Dyke and Howard Pyle
Author: Henry van Dyke. Illustrated by Howard Pyle.
Title: The First Christmas Tree.
Publisher: New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1901. Signed by the author on the second blank.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8.5 x 6 inches.
Pages: 76 pages.
Binding: Very good and attractive publisher’s olive-green cloth binding, featuring an elegant Art Nouveau–Gothic panel stamped in dark green and gilt on the front cover, with gilt titles and a gilt cross on the spine (hinges fine, spine gently faded with light edge wear on the lower part - as shown) under a protective, removable mylar cover. Top edge gilt.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, small stain is present at the upper inner hinge of the first endpaper - as shown, the second blank leaf bears the author’s signature, “Henry van Dyke,” in ink - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with four full-page photogravure plates by Howard Pyle, each with caption tissue guard, as well as Pyle’s ornamental oak-and-acorn decorative borders printed throughout the text — some of the richest and most recognizable examples of his book design work.
Estimate: (USD 200 – 250).
The book: A beautifully preserved and scarce author-signed 1901 Scribner’s edition of The First Christmas Tree, Henry van Dyke’s poetic retelling of the Christian legend of St. Winfred (Boniface) and the transformation of the pagan thunder-oak into the first “tree of Christ.”
Rendered with solemnity and winter atmosphere, van Dyke’s tale blends myth, devotion, and northern landscape into a moving meditation on the origins of the Christmas tree tradition. This edition is especially prized for its Howard Pyle illustrations, which bring gravity, medieval texture, and quiet radiance to the narrative. Pyle’s full-page plates — snow-bound pilgrims, torchlit processions, and monastic heroism — are complemented by his magnificent decorative borders that frame nearly every page with swirling acanthus, oak leaves, and holly.
The combination of Pyle’s artistry, the high-quality Scribner’s printing, and the author’s signature makes this a collector-level example of one of the most beautiful American Christmas gift books of the early 20th century.
The author: Henry van Dyke (1852–1933) was an American clergyman, professor, diplomat, and beloved writer of devotional literature. Author of The Story of the Other Wise Man, The Blue Flower, and many seasonal meditations, van Dyke wrote with a moral clarity and gentle lyricism that connected deeply with American readers. His Christmas works in particular became classics of illustrated gift-book publishing during the golden age of American book arts.
The illustrator: Howard Pyle (1853–1911) was one of America’s greatest illustrators and the founder of the Brandywine School. Celebrated for his historical authenticity, dramatic composition, and mastery of the pen line, Pyle shaped the visual imagination of a generation. His work for The First Christmas Tree showcases his gift for combining medieval religious themes with powerful emotional storytelling. The decorative borders throughout the book — intricate with oak, acorns, and winter foliage — are among his most iconic ornamental designs.