Gift Books edited by T. S. Arthur
What is a gift book?
Ralph Thompson in "American Literary Annuals & Gift Books,
1825-1865" (H. W. Wilson Company, 1936) discussed gift books/annuals at
length. These volumes were beautifully bound compilations of the works
of various authors. Frequently they were released at Christmas. Well
designed plates, a vignette title page, and a presentation page were
the rule not the exception. A number of these books were subject
related (e.g. temperance, religion), while some featured work done by
authors from a particular locale.
Most of the work within a gift book was not original, but rather had
been previously published. In addition, some publishers reprinted the
same book with a new cover year after year.
T. S. Arthur edited as well as contributed pieces to quite a number of
gift books/annuals. The volumes that he only contributed work to but
was not an editor, can be found in another section.
Details about these gift books are sometimes hard to come by.
Frequently there is no title page date or copyright date.
Determining precisely which gift book Arthur edited can be challenging
since the volumes do not always note the editor. Of course, in some
instances, a volume without a named editor may include mostly the same
content as another book which noted Arthur as the editor. In these
cases, an assumption of Arthur's editorship can be made.
Here are the titles of the T. S. Arthur gift books. Details are below.
The Baltimore Book
The Brilliant
Buds and Blossoms from our Own Garden
The Crystal Fount, for 1851
The Crystal Fount for All Seasons
Friendship's Token
The Gift of Affection: A Christmas and New-Year's Present
The Moss Rose
The Snow Flake, A Gift for Innocence and Beauty
The Sons of Temperance Offering, for 1850
The Sons of Temperance Offering, for 1851
The Sons of Temperance Offering, for All Seasons
String of Pearls, for Boys and Girls
The Temperance Gift
The Temperance Keepsake
The Temperance Offering
The Temperance Offering for 1851
The Temperance Offering for 1853
The Temperance Offering, for All Seasons
Wheat-Sheaf, Gathered From Our Own Fields
Wreaths of Friendship