A Picture Book for Little Children

Philadelphia: Kimber & Conrad, [1812]? Original Wrappers. Very Good+ binding. Item #8168

Slim 24mo. [24] pp., illus. In original plain, stiff wrappers. An exceptionally nice copy. Inking is irregular meaning some pages are darker than others.

Laid out in this unusually tall, slim format with two illustrations per page, one atop the other, each captioned. They are arranged for the young reader in a rather ad hoc methodology, some are of a moral nature: "Children obey your mother," "Do not rob the poor farmer," "Do not drink too much," and "Do be kind to the poor black boy." Others offer advice: "A kite should never be raised in the street," "Little boys should not meddle with guns," and "Always look at a person when you speak to him." One caption shows the publisher were not above self promotion: "The bible is the best of all books. Children who can read in the bible may go to Kimber & Conrad's Store and buy one from themselves." Welch notes that some of these engravings are reworkings of illustrations that appeared previously (i.e. in The Wonderful Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Albany, 1810; Mother Goose's Melody, Worchester, 1794), others are entirely original. Rosenbach 466; Welch 993; Shaw & Shoemaker 26465; Cotsen 4642.

Price: $100.00