The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-24
LITERATURE.
A RUN THROUGH OUR PHILADEL
PHIA BOOK STORES.

10 the utmost to determine what will be most
acceptable to the donee. As general rule,
after considering pro and con all the articles
which suggest themselves, the selector of
present falls behind the bulwarks OF assumed
literary taste, and avoids committing himself
by sending-a book. Now in this selection
there is sound stroke of policy. In the first
place, almost every one welcomes good
book as most acceptable addition, and really
is more pleased with it than he would have
been with any of the other articles exposed
Sor sale; and, in the second place, however
much dissatisfied he may be, sense OF his
own reputation as a Htterdteur prevents him
exposinp, even to his nearest friend, disap-
pointment. A consideration Of these two
advantages may account for the universal
demand for books as presents. But whatever
the cause, the fact remains, that an immense
number of our citizens give and receive books
during the holiday season,
When the donor decides to give book,
it must not be thought that his difficulties
are all over; they have but begun. We will
not venture to express an opinion as to the
number of volumes presented for his choice
HOf the making of books there is no end"
Fiction for the young, poetry Tor the romantic,
history and philosophy for the grave,
classics for the student, and so on through
the thousand miner departments OF the litera'
ture of our country-a world in itself
with principalities and powers as distinct and
rs potent as those of the outer physica
universe. Now, in order to save our
readers the trouble of making tour OF all
the various book stores with which our city
abounds, and seeking among all the various
publishers what can only be secured from
one of them, we have gone over the goods for
the public, and will give, in a running arti-
Gle, our experience of where the particular
wants of the searchers for presents can best
be supplied. The field is wide one. The
stores abound with every variety of litera-
ture, from "Macaulay" to "Mother Goose"
and side by side will be found 'Plutarch" and
the Learned Pig.m Out of this motley
throng the reader must Gull the one which
pleases him best; and that all tastes can be
satisfied we feel assured, from the quantity and
variety OF the literature exposed for sale.
The grand emporium for all foreign works,
whether they be issued in our sister cities or
imported from abroad, is the establishment of
j. B. Lippincott & Co., Nos 715 and III
Market street. By years OF careful enter
prise they have won for themselves a reputa-
ton as publishers only OF STANDARD works of
real merit, so that to-day for book to bear
the imprint of this house is a sufficient guar
antee that it will repay peIusal. They have
r. Of NTyI1io oh
would make most acceptable present The
edition of "Waverly Novels" as issued by
them. is noted tor the extreme beauty of it's
Typography and the unique and chaste bind
ing. But it would be useless to enumerate
all OF the long lines of shelves, which we can
only count by the squares of books. Every
variety is found within this colossal esta-
blishment. ..
The special work issued by this house in
commemoration OF this season is Touches
of Nature"-one hundred drawings executed
by our most accomplished artists, and en-
graved in a manner which would do credit to
any publisher in the world. They are Of all
devices, and were executed under the especial
supervision of the Dalzel Brothers Of London
To this vrey valuable work is added selec-
tions from our best authors. The whole is
set in golden borders, in the highest style o1
art. No house can surpass Lppincott's in
these testimonials to the season. We recon-
mend to all who desire to make a selection q
visit to the marble palace on Market street
The firm CT Z. B Peterson & Brothers, No
800 Chestnut street, for many years have
been issuing from time to time, and frequently
as often as once week, some new work from
their ever-teeming presses. The consequence
is that they have vast supply Of works OF
their owD. Early in the fame OF the immor-
tai Dickens, they selected his works as a
specially, and commenced their publication
in various uniform editions, suited for the
length OF every purse. They have now nc
less than tloenty editions OF the great novel
ist, comprising all the plain and substan,
tial bindings in cloth to the rich antique half
calf, with full gilt edges and backs. We can
imagine no more appropriate and welcome
gift than full set Of these works. While
however, the works OF Dickens are the
speciality Of the Petersons, yet the othel
authors are not neglected. Lever, Col
lins, Marryatt. Dumas. Mrs. Henry Wood
Scott, Lippard Mrs. Stephens, Mrs South
worth, Caroline Lee Hentz, in fact, ali oul
native authors, are found upon their shelves
They also have choice selection OF children's
books, illustrated and printed in a style which
must delight the young; while a well-chose1
collection OF all the works of the other pub