Angry Birds

Back cover of The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present (Philadelphia, 1839). [Gift of Michael Zinman]

This book cover has such interesting gold stamping. The unusual design of the four corner brasses incorporates images of animals in the swirls and curlicues.

 

The birds look so determined as they fly under the ornaments!

 

I particularly love the roaring lion with his tongue sticking out.  If you look closely, his tail has become one of the swirls of the corner piece, although it’s in the wrong place to attach to his body properly.

Jennifer Rosner

Chief of Conservation