VBM 4: The Discovery of Plum-pudding

December’s Victorian Book of the Month is a recent acquisition, Punch’s Snapdragons for Christmas. Published in 1845 by the proprietors of the famed Victorian humor magazine Punch, this book contains lighthearted tales, poems, and illustrations for the season. From satirical “Monetary Hints for the Season” and advice on “How to Provide a Christmas Dinner,” to touching sketches of Christmas on the streets and in the poorhouse, to fanciful tales of “Plum Pudding Island and How it was Discovered,” this little book provides a glimpse into Victorian Christmas traditions. Punch’s Snapdragons for Christmas was probably intended for gift-giving. It was priced at a half crown (2.5 shillings), making it an affordable purchase for Punch’s middle-class readers.

This book is on display during the month of December — with many other Christmas-themed items from Special Collections — in our new lobby exhibit, “Christmas in the Collections.”