Pulitzer Author

Gale, Zona (1874–1938)

Christmas: A Story [Color Plates by Leon V. Solon]

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1912.
A STUNNING, NEAR-FINE EXAMPLE OF ZONA GALE'S HOLIDAY NARRATIVE, PRESENTED IN AN ELABORATE GIFT-BINDING.
This volume is a triumph of early 20th-century book design, featuring a striking holly-patterned cloth binding and six vibrant color plates by Leon V. Solon, each framed by a decorative holly border. Zona Gale, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, brings her characteristic 'Friendship Village' warmth to this seasonal tale, making it a cornerstone for holiday literature collectors.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Cream cloth with elegant gilt-stamped titles and an all-over patterned holly design in green and red. Gilt-stamped spine with matching holly motifs. Six full-page color plates by Leon V. Solon, each bordered by a decorative holly border. Includes the frontispiece 'Mary filled her arms with hay'.
+++ Content: A sentimental and culturally rich Christmas story set against Gale's quintessential Midwestern backdrop.
+++ Imprint: New York; The Macmillan Company, October 1912. First Edition.
+++ Specs: 7.5 inches tall / v, 243 pages followed by 6 pages of publisher's advertisements.

CONDITION: Near Fine. The bindings are tight, square, and exceptionally bright. The cream cloth remains remarkably clean, which is scarce for this specific title. Internally, the text block is clean with light, even age-toning. Some minor offsetting is present on the pages facing the color plates, typical of the heavy inks used in 1912. Minimal shelf handling wear to the extremities.

SIGNIFICANCE ----- 
Zona Gale was a major literary voice of the early 20th century, best known for her 'Friendship Village' series and her Pulitzer-winning play 'Miss Lulu Bett'. This work reflects the 'sentimental realism' movement of the era, focusing on local color and the moral dimensions of small-town American life.

The illustrator, Leon Solon, was a distinguished artist and ceramicist who brought a unique Arts and Crafts sensibility to book illustration. His work here, combined with the publisher's decision to produce a high-concept patterned binding, marks this as a premium 'Gift Book' production from the Macmillan Company's golden era.

SUBJECTS: Christmas Stories, Midwestern Literature, American Fiction, Leon V. Solon, Holiday Gift Books, Pulitzer Authors, Decorative Bindings, Woman Writers.

Item #21695

Price: $175.00