The Celestial Country; Illustrated Hymns & Poems on the Joys and Glories of Paradise (c.1890); First Edition

A striking late-Victorian devotional volume, The Celestial Country, brings together ancient hymns and sacred poems that celebrate the spiritual and heavenly realms.

Published circa 1890 by Seeley & Co. of London, this first edition presents a carefully curated selection of hymns translated from the Greek and Latin alongside original devotional poetry by various authors. The text is accompanied by a distinguished series of full-page engraved illustrations reproduced after renowned artists including Fra Angelico, Ghirlandajo, Botticelli, Filippo Lippi, Bernardino Luini, and Benozzo Gozzoli. Each engraved plate is protected by tissue guards, with a frontispiece plus nine additional full-page engravings.

The book is bound in its original dark green cloth, featuring an ornate gilt scenic and angelic design to the front board, gilt lettering to the spine, beveled board edges, and a gilt top edge. The quality of the paper and the careful presentation of the bordered engravings reflect the book’s original intention as a deluxe illustrated gift volume. With its refined Victorian craftsmanship this was clearly intended as both a devotional and decorative object.

Binding tight/ sound. Bright gilt. Interior pages clean. 96pp.

Condition: Near Fine

Scarce

Size: 7½” × 10½” 

Printed at the Gresham Press, this volume reflects the late 19th-century tradition of presenting sacred poetry as a visual and spiritual experience. A particularly desirable copy for collectors of illustrated religious books, Victorian devotional poetry, or finely bound art-and-text volumes.