Clement C. Moore wrote "A Visit from Saint Nicholas," better known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," as a gift for his children. If an enthusiastic houseguest had not sent the poem to a local newspaper editor, the jolly old elf who traveled by reindeer-drawn sleigh might have enlivened only one family's traditions. The Huntington Library's special edition of A Visit from Saint Nicholas is the first to include replicas of the poem written in Moore's own hand and a facsimile of the original 1869 four-color edition, Visit of St. Nicholas, one of the first American children's books printed in color. This modern reproduction of the two items, both in the Huntington's collections, uses state-of-the-art methods to match the character of the original McLoughlin Brothers edition as closely as possible. Whimsical illustrations by an anonymous 19th-century artist show St. Nick delivering a toy drum, a rocking horse, and Union soldier figurines to the cherubic children asleep in their beds.
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Book Description
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From the Publisher
Both the poem written out by the author in 1856 and one of the first American color illustrated childrens books have been hidden for years in museums and private collections. The Huntingtons facsimile edition now makes them available for all to enjoy. Readers and collectors will cherish and appreciate the books colorful, quaint illustrations and fine quality printing.
About the Author
Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) was a professor of Oriental and Greek literature at the General Theological Seminary, where he published biblical and historical studies. He was the first writer to portray St. Nicholas as a jolly, benevolent figure, and he invented many of the attributes we associate with Santa Claus today. Curiously, he never intended to publish the poem.
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More About the Author
Clement Clarke Moore was a professor of religion and the author of several scholarly works. What he is most remembered for, however, is his poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," later called "The Night Before Christmas," and written as a Christmas gift for his six children.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of 2 of the best version ever.,
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This review is from: A Visit from Saint Nicholas (Huntington Library Children's Classics) (Hardcover)
I know there are many books on the famous poem,but this one has illustrations from way back in 1869. Like old Victorian Christmas cards,this captures the artwork of it's time. Along with a copy of the handwritten poem and the first class artwork,makes this an awesome gift to treasure,and to pass down the generations.The other fantastic version is again a reproduction of the poem, (Philomel Books)McLoughlin Bros.,but from 1888,with Santa in a green coat. These are the two books you will ever need to partner the classic old poem.Both hardback,and from Amazon.com
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Visit from St Nicholas Evokes Old Christmas,
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This review is from: A Visit from Saint Nicholas (Huntington Library Children's Classics) (Hardcover)
A lovely reproduction at a good price. Just be aware that there is a long introduction which is very good and informative, and it takes away from the illusion the entire book is a fascimile of the original. The introduction was not written for kids--in most cases you would probably have to be a teenager or older to appreciate it fully. And I suspect the audience most interested in the Night Before Christmas are kids, or adults who are kids.
In any case its well worth having as there arent that many available reproductions of earlier Christmas books that are hard cover and good value.
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