[AMERICANA]. [BRYANT, William Cullen (1794-1878), editor].?Picturesque?America; or, The Land We Live In. A Delineation by Pen and Pencil of The Mountains, Rivers... New York: D.?Appleton?and Company, 1872-74. Large 4tos. Profusely illustrated with 900 wood engravings and 50 steel engravings after William Hart, A. C. Warren, and others. 568; 576 pp. Publisher?s full dark brown morocco over beveled boards, front boards stamped in gilt and black, spines ruled and lettered in gilt in compartments, five raised bands, all edges gilt, marbled endleaves (binding somewhat worn, soiled, sunned, some repair, free endleaves with short tears, some minor toning, soiling in text). Very good. FIRST EDITIONS IN THE RARE FULL MOROCCO. ??Picturesque?America? was a conspicuous presence in the popular culture of the United States in the post-Civil War years. First published as a magazine series in?Appleton?s Journal, then as a subscription book, in parts, from 1872 to 1874 it reached a huge audience. Its voluminous text and over 900 pictures represented the first comprehensive celebration of the entire continental nation. By testifying to the variety, uniqueness and potential wealth of the?American landscape and the advanced civilization of its cities, ?Picturesque?America? laid the foundation for a resurgence of nationalism rooted in the homeland itself, rather than in institutions of democracy as would have been the case earlier in the century? (Sue Rainey, Creating?Picturesque?America: Monument to the Natural and Cultural Landscape, 1994). Measurements: 14 x 14 x 4?.