Title page
Most of us heard, and some memorized, the famous Christmas poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, often called ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, when we were children. First published anonymously on December 23, 1823 in the Troy, NY Sentinel, it was first attributed to its author, Clement Clarke Moore, in 1837, and Moore acknowledged himself as the poet in an 1844 anthology of his poems. Moore, a professor of Oriental & Greek Literature, and of Bible Learning at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in NYC, had originally written the poem for his children, but had not wanted to be associated with what he considered “unscholarly” verse. Years after his death, however, he is much better known for being the author of one of our best loved Christmas verses, than for his scholarship. In fact, much of the general public’s conception of Santa Claus comes from Moore’s poem, including Santa’s little round belly, his red suit, his named reindeer pulling a sleigh, and his delivery of toys to children.
The Rare Book Room is lucky to have a copy of A Visit from St. Nicholas in its Bruce Rogers collection. The 1921 copy from the Atlantic Monthly Press was designed by Bruce Rogers, with the text from the original 1837 edition, and with colored woodcuts by Florence Wyman Ivins. Ivins, an American artist, whose works include water color drawings, black and white drawings, and woodcuts, illustrated the experience of childhood. She was the first woman to have a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (July 15, 1921 – Nov. 19, 1921).
In the words of Santa Claus (through Moore) “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!”
Speak Your Mind