English Bijou Almanac for 1839. Poetically illustrated by L.E.L. Schloss, A. [London]. 1838. [53] printed pages. Portraits of Duke of Wellington, Lady Blessington, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Beethoven & Giuditta Pasta, soprano. Contains dedicated laudatory poems by Letitia Elizabeth Landon, a historical calendar and information on royal and noble families. Engraved entirely with the burin (but not signed) by Benjamin Rees Davies on a single steel plate measuring about 223 x 147 mm; Davies engraved all the vertical parallel strokes throughout a line before turning the plate to complete the horizontal and joining curves of the letters. The type is less than 3-point and probably printed by McQueen. Each steel plate took at least 13 weeks of unremitting labour. All edges gilt. Original salmon endpapers. 13 x 20 mm. Original red morocco with black diamond onlays within elaborate gilt decorative borders. Slightly rubbed. Joffe, 43. Spielmann, 447. Welsh, 2658. OCLC, 15214467. WorldCat locates 6 copies worldwide. 68 firsts2024