H. Noel Humphreys - Parables of Our Lord in Black papier-mâché - 1847

A very RARE and very well preserved copy of "Parables of our Lord" by H. Noel Humphreys!!! Ornate embossed "papier maché" boards in a high Victorian gothic style to give the effect of carved ebony, rebacked to style in plain black morocco with blind rules, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Each of the four corners has a wreath containing the head of an angel, a lion, an eagle or an ox, representing Gospel authors Matthew, Mark, John and Luke. Stylized oak leaves occupy the top and bottom central rectangles. The central figure is a sower within a wreath around which two ribbons are wrapped on a staff. “Scripture Parables” appears on the ribbons in raised Gothic letters. Each page elaborately illustrated in gold or bright colours in the style of illuminated manuscripts.An increasingly rare & sought-after memory of the Victorian enthusiasm for the Middle Ages, Humphry's Miracles of our Lord combines Gothic-style chromolithographic illumination with the weighty book art of papier mâché covers to create a Neo-Gothic gift book of biblical passages describing the miracles of Christ. In the same way that sumptuous medieval manuscripts in the High and Late Middle Ages demonstrated the conspicuous consumption of their lay patronage, this nearly-overwrought package of color and texture was intended to be on display in the home of the affluent Victorian socialite who owned it.
Book in very good to fine condition. Quite impossible to find the boards in such beautiful condition, very often the book is disbound!! Inside light foxing especially on margins but overall clean and complete. RARITY. PERFECT Christmas gift!!!