The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-27
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
SOME HOLIDAY BOOKS.

We suppose people scW buy Christmas books and
New Year gifts, even though it is not settled
whether Tilden or Hayes is to be President, or
whether General Hampton or Governor Chamber
lain keeps the chair of state at Columbia, or
whether the depression in the money market is
still to continue For the guidance of such readers
then, let US mention few of the latest novelties
and literary and artistic elegancies of the season.
It is claimed that the most exquisite Of the illus
trsted books for the holidays is The SKELETON IN
ARMoR published by the 05good firm, at Boston
Everybody is familiar with Mr.. Longfellow'S de
Eehtful ballad of that name, which well deserves
the rich setting here given to it. To begin with
the exterior there is something very original about
the beautiful black-and gray Illuminated binding ;
and every thick, glossy, creamy leaf in the book is
study for an artists eye. The designer of the
sepia borders of the black letter verses is Swedish
artist Qpsen), chosen with proper regard for the
fitness of things; for all readers will remember
that the ballad is a Scandinavian one. There is in
describable grace about the varied iutertwinngs of
these borderings. Miss Hallock designs all the H.
Illustrations proper and finer oDes-nay, we willsay
as fine ones-we have never seen from an Ameri
can hand. They are all marked by masculine
force and power quite beyond what we look for in
woman's work. What mans pencil could draw q
better " King than this woman s has given Was
the scene illustrating 81 wooed blue eyed maid p
But where all is so uncommonly excellent, it is
hard to select There is not one picture between
these rich covers that has hint OF weak drawing
about it; and when We say that it fifty sets forth
the poems fuest ponts-what more need be said
Price, S.
OF all the publishers, this House of the 0sgoods
is this year the richest in magnificent Volumes
BIZ a process which is designated "the heliotype"
(which all visitors to the Centennial Exposition
NAV have witnessed in Machinery Hall) they are
able to reproduce the largest and finest engrsvings
at mere fraction of their cost; and so reproduce
that they cannot be distinguished from the engrav-
er's work. Several superb folio volumes of such
reproductions have been issued as holiday books,
though they have value that all the days in the
year will not exhaust.
GEMS FROM THE DRESDEN GALLERY. The Tt
TIAN GALLERY, ENGRAvINGs FROM LANDsEER,
RAPHAEL PICTURES, are some of these splendid
foios. We have only had the chance of exsmin.
ing The TITAN GALLERY but if the other Hell
otvpes are as fine as these what an exhaustive col
lection of many of the most famous art works in
the world Here we have for $40 facsimiles of
the costly engravings of all the most celebrated
pictures of the great Venitiau master. We cannot
say too much in praise of WhatJ. r. OsgOod & &c.
have done in putting within reach of people of or.
binary means such scores Of fac-similes of engrav
ings which would cost hundreds of dollars, if ex-
pended on the engravingS themselves. We have
not space to linger over this SubjeCt-Tltian No
doubt our readers who are in search of what will