1979 The Great Book of Currier & Ive’s America First Edition Oversized Folio | 487 Illustrated Pages

A beautifully produced first edition of The Great Book of Currier & Ives’ America (Abbeville Press, 1979), an extraordinary oversized folio presenting one of the most iconic visual records of 19th-century American life. This substantial 487-page volume features hundreds of brilliantly reproduced lithographs from the legendary firm Currier & Ives—celebrated for their vivid depictions of American landscapes, city scenes, historical events, leisure pursuits, fashion, and domestic life.

The book provides a sweeping visual narrative of the United States during a century of rapid change, pairing full-color plates with insightful commentary by Walton Rawls. Scenes of winter homesteads, bustling city streets, naval battles, horse racing, frontier exploration, and American holiday traditions appear in exceptional clarity. With its generous size and outstanding print quality, this is one of the finest modern collections of Currier & Ives imagery ever published.

Bound in gray buckram cloth with a large oval illustrated paste-down framed in gilt, this edition makes a striking display piece for collectors of Americana, illustration, and 19th-century visual culture. Crisp, clean pages; sharp corners; tight binding; no markings. Light wear to dust jacket.

Size: 12” × 15¼” × 2¼”

A very beautifully produced volume— an wonderful addition for collectors of Americana and historical illustration.