Banbury Chap Books and Nursery Toy Book Literature: [of the XVIII. and Early XIX. Centuries]Pearson, Edwin
History
Banbury Chap Books and Nursery Toy Book Literature: [of the XVIII. and Early XIX. Centuries]
Pearson, Edwin
Chapbooks, English -- Illustrations; Children's literature, English -- Illustrations
That this interesting idea may not be considered unworthy of
adoption--which by the way the few large paper copies of this book are
admirably adopted--we give a short list of those who have collected and
treasured with care these little brochures. In the South Kensington
Museum on exhibition, is a collection of Horn Books and Battledores,
exhibited by Kenneth, R. H. Mackenzie, Esq., _F.S.A.,_ who read a paper
on this subject before the Society of Antiquaries. There is another
collection which includes many curious Horn Books or Battledores, from
circa 1750, 1784, 1800 to 1810, including photo and facsimiles of one of
the Middleton Horn Books now in the Bateman Museum. There is also a
curious poem on the Horn Book by a Gent. suffering from the gout,
printed at Dublin by T. Cowan, 1728, small 4to, only a few leaves.
Another very neat Horn Book with the Horn in front, hence its name, is
also on view. The scarcity of these quaint early educational books may
be understood from the fact that Mr. Hone, author of the Every Day Book,
etc., sought for an original Horn Book for years without success. Mr.
Coleridge had one or two cases on exhibition, with numerous examples of
Newbury and Marshall's little books, but we believe these are withdrawn.
There is also a selection of early educational books; but the largest
collection formed is still on exhibition. In conclusion, it may be said
that the present volume contains many precious relics of the Bewick,
Newbury, Goldsmith, Newcastle York, Banbury, Coventry, and Catnach
presses, and a representative collection of the stock of workable
woodcuts of a provincial printer in the latter part of the 18th century,
and to those who would like to inspect the rentable copies of those
valuable and interesting little books, and some of the original Horn
Books, etc., let them see the Coleridge, Kenneth Mackenzie, and Pearson
collections in the South Kensington Museum.
[Illustrations: 62_1, 62_2
_Rustic Cottages near Banbury._]
Since writing the above, there appeared in the catalogue of books
belonging to William Bell Scott, Esq., recently sold at Messrs. Sotheby,
a small 4to Album containing a collection of wood engravings by Bewick,
Clennell, and others, which with some newspaper cuttings made quite a
dainty extra illustrated volume.
If so eminent an artist could find pleasure and recreation in this
pursuit, others may certainly rely upon finding it equally attractive,
but he would have found his task much easier if he had had a large paper
copy of this work interleaved. This is recommended to any person
desiring to take up this charming recreation.
[Illustrations: 62_3, 62_4]
_Illustrations of Children's Books, used by Rusher at Banbury._
[Illustrations: 63_1 - 63_15]
_All used by Rusher in his Children's Books, Banbury._
[Illustrations: 64_1 - 64_11]
_All used in Rusher's Banbury Books._
[Illustrations: 65_1 - 65_10]
_Used by Rusher._
[Illustrations: 66_1 - 66_12]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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