CHAPBOOKS            
A-J   •   K-Z

[ ]

The “Pelew Prince” & His Voyage to London

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•  Chapbook adaptation of a portion of Keate's Account of the Pelew Islands, Situated in the Western Part of the Pacific Ocean, recounting the true story of one of the earliest Pacific Islanders to visit Great Britain. Captain Henry Wilson, shipwrecked on Palau, brought Prince Lee Boo with him on his return to England; sadly, after just a few months in London, the attractive and engaging 20-year-old died of smallpox.

The present episode from the wildly popular History, which first appeared in 1789, is illustrated withthree copper-engraved, hand-colored plates: the frontispiece depiction of the prince's grave, Wilson's ship setting sail from the island, and Lee Boo's first sight of himself in a mirror. The front cover and frontispiece are dated 1823, while the title-page gives 1824.

Searches of WorldCat find no copy of this chapbook.

Provenance:  Front free endpaper with inked gift inscription dated 1828, “Margaret [?] . . . from her affec. friend Miss [?]; possibly a prize treat given by a teacher to a pupil.  Later in the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.

•  Osborne Collection, p. 166 (for first ed.).   Publisher's printed wrappers, darkened and with spine and corners chipped; spine unsuccessfully reinforced some time ago and front wrapper (with free endpaper and title-page) now separated, back attachment very fragile. Endpapers with remnants of red wax. Pages age-toned and lightly foxed, with first few corners chipped and offsetting to pages surrounding plates. A sad and absorbing story with well-produced illustrations, now uncommon.  (41444)

All Ends Well!

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•  Two verse narratives: Sir Alfred reluctantly gives up his low-born love to marry the king's daughter. When he tells the king he cannot go through with the marriage, the king's daughter lifts her veil, revealing that she is in fact his beloved Rosalie. In the second ballad, the Laird of Lamington turns up on the day his lover is to be wed against her will to an English gentleman, and carries her off.

The title-page of this chapbook bears a woodcut vignette of a young woman in a low-cut dress, holding a flower in each hand, with “[No.] 77” printed at the foot of the title.

•  This ed. not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume. Dust-soilng.  (37137)

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OH, How I HATE to Get Up . . .

•  Four Scots songs, including one lamenting the horrors of having to rise early on a cold winter morning. The first song is set to the tune of “The Auuld Wife ayont the fire”; the others have no tunes described.

A crudely but vigorously executed (and LARGE) woodcut vignette on the title-page depicts the king (or at least a man wearing a crown).

•  NSTC 2K5308.   Removed from a nonce volume. Pages slightly age-toned, with edges untrimmed.  (38502)

Another Happy Ending . . .

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a young man in a cloak and tunic, with one hand extended. In this ballad with a happy ending, the Knight of Elle abducts his beloved Emmeline from her father's house after she sends word that he plans to marry her off to “carlish knight” Sir John from the north country. After Sir John pursues them and is killed by the Knight of Elle, Emmeline's father is moved to give his daughter to the Knight, thus healing the family feud begun by their two fathers. Scarce. “[No.] 38" is printed at the foot of the title.

OCLC locates only 1 copy.  

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (removed from a nonce volume).  (17551)

Conspiracy!  Murder!  Kissing Fair Maidens on the Cheek!
(A Gothic Novelist Turns His Eyes to Venice)

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•  Scarlet Pimpernel–style derring-do from the author of the classic gothic novel The Monk. Lewis first published this story — inspired by Abällino der grosse Bandit by Zschokke — in 1804, before reworking it into a play which premiered in 1805. The present Durham printing offers an abridged rendition witha dramatic wood-engraved title-page vignette of a mustachioed swordsman,  and it is uncommon. Searches of WorldCat find only two U.S. institutions (Harvard, Haverford) reporting ownership.

Provenance:  From the chapbook collection of Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  NCBEL, III, 743 (for earlier eds.); NSTC 2L14132.   Removed from a nonce volume in printed self-wrappers, sewing loosened. Front wrapper/title-page with short tear from upper margin not reaching print. Pages age-toned, with some edges slightly ragged.  (41173)

A Good Little Girl RESCUED from
Captivity in NEW ZEALAND

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•  First edition of this surprising American chapbook: What starts out as a typical Babes in the Wood–style plot takes an unusual turn when wealthy English orphan Mary, in danger from her greedy uncle, isconveyed to New Zealand by Duaterra, “the son of a Chief.” All's well that ends well, and once restored to polite London society, Mary hides the Maori tattoos on her temple with a cluster of curls.

The work opens with an alphabet page, and features a version of the E Pluribus Unum eagle and shield device on the front wrapper as well as moose and monkey vignettes (M for Mary?) on the back wrapper.

•  American Imprints 32632. Not in Osborne; not in Gumuchian.   Publisher's yellow printed paper wrappers, lightly worn. Title-page with early inked inscription (first name Mary, the rest difficult to decipher). Pages foxed. An intriguing item for sure, in solid, minimally worn condition. (41440)

EDIFYING STORIES for French Youths

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•  Scarce chapbook presentation of two moral tales, printed without attribution but taken from Marmontel's Contes moraux, a multivolume production originally published from 1755 through 1759. While the titles of both stories imply a focus on parenting (and both pieces emphasize the dangers of bad mothering), the major lessons here are that sons should avoid gambling, partying, and expensive mistresses — while taking care to fall in love with women who are virtuous and wealthy.

A woodcut headpiece opens each story in this printing, which is now uncommon: WorldCat findsonly one U.S. institution reporting a copy (Princeton) and just a handful of other locations, all in France.

Provenance:  From the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  Gumuchian 2337.   Appropriate plain lilac paper wrappers not original to the chapbook, these a little worn and chipped; old stitching holes in gutter margins and one signature separated. A clean, pleasing copy of a seldom-seen item. (40712)

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Chapbook Biography — Commercial/Business Division

Moir, David Macbeth. 

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a gentleman with a large paunch, leaning on a cane. Extracted from Chapter 9 of a fictional work by David Macbeth Moir, published in Blackwood's Magazine from 1827. The contents consist of episodes from the life of Mansie Wauch. Among them are a vividly described childhood memory of a visit to a fair, Wauch's meeting with his wife in the course of his apprenticeship and his subsequent marriage, a visit to the theatre in which the inhabitants of the cheap seats cause the gallery to fall down on the rest of the audience, and an incident in which the tailor discovers a French soldier hiding in his coal cellar.

“[No.] 79" printed at foot of title.

•  Original self-wrappers (unbound; removed). The bottom corner of the second leaf is creased, else very good.  (17646)

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She Died — or was Killed — for Her Loyal Love

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a young man in a broad-brimmed hat and a kilt, reclining on a rock. Annie falls in love with the trumpeter Andrew Lammie, a servant of the Lord of Fyvie. When Andrew leaves for Edinburgh for a while to appease the anger of her father Mill of Tifty, the Lord of Fyvie comes to persuade Mill to let his daughter marry, promising her a better match than the trumpeter. When Annie refuses, her family beat her brutally and she dies of a broken heart.

“No. 6" printed in the top left corner of the title.

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17574)

Cheap Repository — Quirky Copy

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•  A parable of travellers, some of whom focus on “the things above” and others on “the things below.” Following the first piece are four additional brief “Cheap Repository” items, with a shared title-page — “Dan and Jane; or, Faith and Works,” “The Execution of Wild Robert; Being a Warning to All Parents,” and “The Gin-Shop; or, a Peep into a Prison.” These are all complete, but jumbled together with pages curiously intermingled.

Each title-page features a wood-engraved vignette. All six pieces are signed “Z,” for Hannah More, the creator of and primary contributor to the “Cheap Repository.”

Provenance: From the chapbook collection of American collector Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Latter portion misbound as above. Slightly age-toned, with scattered mild foxing. Each title-page vignette with a few dark spots apparently resulting from printer's over-inking; an interesting copy.  (41161)

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“No Plan, No Pattern Can We Trace” — Illustrated
(The Persuasive Power of Metaphor?)

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•  From the “Cheap Repository” series: Early, uncommon printing of this cheerful religious consolation in iambic tetrameter, signed “Z” (i.e., Hannah More). When one weaver grumbles about his hardships, the other turns the seemingly disordered threads of the unfinished carpet in their workshop into a metaphor for man's inability to comprehend the workings of the divine plan.

The ballad is hereillustrated with two handsome woodcuts: the title-page features a large vignette of Dick and John at their loom, and the final text page displays the patterned carpet itself.

Provenance:  From the chapbook collection of American collector Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  ESTC T052020.   Disbound from a nonce volume, with early inked numeral in upper outer corner of title-page. Title-page foot with faint shadow of pencilled annotation; pages with very minor foxing.  (41145)

COLORFUL Engravings & (Sometimes!) “COLORFUL” Verses
(e.g., “I had a little husband . . . ”)

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•  Chapbook of poetry for children, illustrated with hand-colored wood engravings. In addition to the better-known nursery rhymes that have stayed in modern circulation, present here are some grimmer verses about carrion crows, penknives to the heart, little ducks shot through the head, etc., along with a separate section of longer “select pieces” including “The Blind Boy,” “The Beggar's Petition,” and “Winter Reflections.” Each plate offers a pair of images, for a total of 12 illustrations; both the cartoonish engravings and the very bright coloring are vigorously done.

Although the WorldCat entry for this undated edition suggests a publication ca. 1840, John Bysh's peak publishing dates (between 1810 and 1825) and the address given here — as well as the inscription (see below) — indicate an earlier printing. Only two U.S. institutions report holdings via WorldCat (Morgan Library, Princeton).

Provenance:  Frontispiece recto with inked ownership inscription of S.G. Rolls, dated 1828. Later in the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.

•  This ed. not in Opie (see N 953 & N 954 for other Bysh eds.); not in Osborne Collection. 19th-century marbled paper–covered boards, housed in a dark purple cloth–covered clamshell case; binding rubbed, case with remnants of now-absent paper label on spine. Original printed paper wrappers bound in, front with upper and lower margins trimmed. Wrappers darkened and spotted, pages lightly age-toned with scattered small spots of foxing; last leaf with outer margin ragged and with lower portion torn away resulting in loss to the sentimental “Winter Reflections” of about eight lines on each side, neatly repaired some time ago with plain paper. Uncommon and intriguing, with more than a little by way of unexpected content. (40736)

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A Rather EXTENDED Chapbook!
[A Ghost, Here, Too]

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•  Religious conversation with a ghost, whose requests for reparation to those he wronged in life are declined by Mr. Ogilvie. The title-page woodcut vignette shows Mercury with winged staff, helmet and sandals, with “[No.] 48” printed at the foot of the title. A chapbook.

•  This ed. not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume. Title-page with upper margin trimmed a bit closely, touching “The” of title. Pages slightly age-toned, otherwise clean.  (37151)

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The Farmer's Daughter of Essex

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•  A popular melodramatic tale of ruin and misery, first published in 1767: A dissipated nobleman convinces a lovely country maiden that they are honestly married, sets her up in luxury, then abandons her in a London brothel. The plot is notable for its elaborate detailing of Miss Davis's exceedingly cruel treatment from not only her lover, but also various officials and citizens — though by the close of the story her innate virtue earns her a happier ending than one would expect. The stipple-engraved plate, depicting the fair victim swooning in the arms of one of the brothel denizens, was done by Rumford after Edwards.

This is an uncommon edition: WorldCat does not find any institutional locations. There is apparently one copy of the same printing at the University of Essex, and the date given here is based on their assessment.

•  This edition not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume; sewing loosening, with signatures starting to separate. Pages age-toned, with small area of waterstaining to upper outer margins; title-page with small spot of staining; plate mounted (some time ago), with three small spots of staining and some darkening around caption. A very readable copy of a striking and strikingly vivid morality tale.  (37200)

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“A is for Axe” . . .

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•  “Seventh series — No. 1" from Bailey & Noyes, publishers of numerous children's toy- and chapbooks, this example featuringa small wood engraving and couplet for each letter of the alphabet. The firm was listed in extant Portland, ME, directories between 1860 and 1875.

•  Not in Bloch, not in Osborne.   Publisher's blue-green printed paper wrappers, sewn as issued, in excellent condition save for very slight fading at lower and outer edges. Pages clean and fresh. Axe, Bat, and, Comb through Xerxes, Youth, and Zebra. (41516)

“Mini” Natural History Chapbook

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•  Five charming wood engravings of an owl, pony, and other birds and animals mentioned in the text of these short rhymes illustrate this miniature chapbook. It is a later, very good edition from the years when this firm was at 123 & 125 William Street (i.e, 1858–1866).

Provenance:  From the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  Original green wrappers with bird illustration on front wrapper and advertisement on rear. Minor soiling to two pages and small crease in upper corner of rear wrapper, else fine. A very attractive little “toy.”  (38780)

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“A Faint Heart Never Won a Fair Lady”

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•  The continuation of the subtitle is “from the following wise sayings: 'A faint heart never won a fair lady.' 'Safe bind, safe find.' 'Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is a better.' 'A burnt child dreads the fire.' 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' [and] 'Naught is never in danger.' Each of these 16th- and 17th-century proverbs (i.e., “wise sayings') is the basis for a short story.

This threepenny chapbook is illustrated with wood engravings in the Bewick manner; the illustrations include a frontispiece, title-page vignette, and six wood engravings, three of which are signed “Lee.” Although the work is undated, the Scottish Book Trade Index in the National Library of Scotland shows that Oliver & Boyd's years of activity at Netherbow address were 1808 through 1809. (Pages 1 & 32 are blank and are pasted to the inside of the wrappers.)

Provenance:  From the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

WorldCat locates only seven North American libraries reporting ownership (CalBerkeley, UCLA, UFlorida, Wayne State, Princeton, Connecticut College, Toronto Public Library).

•  Osborne Collection, p. 291.   Mauve-colored printed wrappers with only a faint touch of soiling; else very good and clean.  (38904)

“Lass wi' the Bonny Blue E'en” *&* MORE

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•  Chapbook of song lyrics, opening witha comic woodcut illustration of a man with his pants billowing smoke. Present here along with the usual sorts of Irish and English offerings are dialect pieces written in German (“The Vorkhouse Boy”), American Southern black (“Oh Susannah”), and Scots (Burns's “Red, Red Rose”) accents.

This edition of the Quaver chapbook is uncommon: WorldCat does not find any institutional holdings of this Walker printing, and NSTC lists only a slightly different title.

•  This ed. not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume. Page edges untrimmed, several with short tear from outer margin; pages slightly age-toned, otherwise clean.  (37201)

“He Possessed a MATCHLESS Share of Effrontery”

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•  Uncommon DURHAM printing of a popular tale: the biography, several court trials, and eventual fate of a famously stylish criminal, one of the last of the “gentleman highwaymen.” The brief and rather horrifying comic piece “A Boy's Letter,” taken from Hood's Comic Annual for 1832, follows.

A search of WorldCat findsonly three U.S. institutional locations of this Walker edition (Kent State, Northwestern, University of Kentucky).

•  Removed from a nonce volume; upper and outer edges untrimmed. Slightly age-toned, otherwise clean. A good solid copy of this 1838 printing (not a modern reprint). (41467)

Redeemed at Death — Nottinghamshire Printed

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•  Percy Cropper in 1892 pioneered the study of Nottinghamshire chapbooks. His bibliography lists this account of Rochester's atheism and redemption at death as the last entry in the chronology of chapbooks printed in Nottingham City, before proceeding to his discussion and survey of printing in the rest of the shire.

It is nicely printed using a variety of type styles and sizes, and has a woodcut on title-page of St. Mark and an attractive woodcut at the end of an angel among clouds with a banner reading “finis.”

Provenance:  From the chapbook collection of Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  Cropper, Nottinghamshire Chap-books, 31.   Folded as issued; untrimmed; unopened. Very good.  (38806)

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Betrayal/MURDER! in Oxford

•  Title woodcut vignette of a young woman in a bonnet, leaning against a gate. “[No.] 20” printed at the foot of the title.

•  Original self wrappers (unbound; removed). The bottom half inch of the leaves and the top inch of the rear leaf are separated; very good.  (38504)

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With One Large “JOLLY” Cut

•  The woodcut title-page vignette shows three men sitting around a table, smoking pipes and partaking of a punchbowl.

•  This ed. not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume. Pages age-toned, else clean.  (38501)

Illustrated Rulers — STRONG PORTRAITS

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•  A PAIR of illustrated chapbooks, covering the English monarchy up through the birth of Queen Victoria's fourth child in 1844. Each ruler's history features a woodcut portrait — including that of Oliver Cromwell — for a total of26 vignettes plus two repeated on the title-pages. This example does not have the series numbers (133 and 134) seen printed on the title-pages of some copies, and instead is marked “ix. 1" and “ix. 2.”

Provenance: From the chapbook collection of American collector Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  NSTC 2ENG9105.   Removed from a nonce volume. Pages opened slightly roughly with occasional small edge chips, including lower outer corner of part I title-page. Free of foxing or indeed any apparent signs of use other than having been opened, this isa notably clean, crisp set with nice dark impressions of the cuts.  (41522)

LOLs(?)  Including “Irish Blunders”

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a seated man in a kilt, cap and tartan scarf playing the bagpipes. “[No.] 37" printed at foot of title.

•  Original self wrappers, removed from a nonce volume; top margin cropped eliminating the top of the title's decorative frame and three page numbers, tear to the inner edge of last page slightly affecting the text. Good.  (17643)

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Och Hey!

•  Uncommon songster. The title-page lists: “The Bridal Ring. / What Are You Going to Stand. / The Lassies of Scotland. / The MacGregor's Gathering / Farewell to the Mountain / The Banks of the Blue Mozelle. / 'Twas Merry in the Hall.” A woodcut title-page vignette shows a young woman in a bonnet carrying two pails slung from a hoop around her knees, with [no.] “45" at the foot of the title.

Not in NSTC.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Small spot of faint staining to two leaves, otherwise clean and fresh. (16822)

“When bless'd with love and you”

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•  The title woodcut vignette of this chapbook shows a young woman in a bonnet carrying two pails slung over a hoop which encircles her skirt. “[No.] 41" printed at foot of title.

•  Unbound; removed. Very good.  (17463)

“Not got a Bible!”?!

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•  In this charming chapbook a little girl named Emily raises money to buy a Bible for a poor old woman, teaching the reader about family values, math, and, of course, the Bible. First published in 1816, the text is here illustrated withseven hand-colored woodcut vignettes. The frontispiece is affixed to the front wrapper (as issued), and the rear wrapper features a bookseller's advertisement, listing a number of other books by Mrs. Sherwood (Mary Martha Sherwood, 1775–1851), who was a beloved and prolific children's book author.

The title-page calls this the “twenty-second edition” (the date of publication given here is suggested by the Bodleian), and it is uncommon: a search of WorldCat findsjust four copies.

Provenance:  From the children's library of American collector Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  Opie A 211/3; Osborne Collection, p. 935 (for 1837 ed.).   Original green printed paper wrappers, spine extremities slightly rubbed. A notably clean, bright, unworn copy, with excellent hand-coloring.  (41484)

The Exciseman Ends Up inHELL

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•  The first, five-page “tragical” ballad here recounts the tale of the Highland Chieftain Sir Neil, who is supplanted by Glengyle in the affections of the woman he has been wooing. When the woman's brother is falsely informed that Sir Neil has been boasting of favors received from his sister, he forces the chieftain to fight him. In spite of Sir Neil's efforts to avoid hurting him, the brother is killed. Glengyle then sets out to avenge his sweetheart's brother by challenging Sir Neil, and Sir Neil, fighting with great reluctance, is killed.

This is followed by a comic ballad (one-and-a-half pages) about a drunken exciseman who is carried underground by some miners and is persuaded that he has gone to hell.

The title-page bears a woodcut vignette of a soldier in a tunic, cloak and cap, and a “No 5" (with the “N” shaved away) printed at its top left — not at the center foot of the page, as in a variant we have seen.

•  NSTC 2N2681.   Removed from a bound volume. Good++ condition.  (8418)

“A Youth of Folly Breeds an Age of Care”

•  Illustrated withnine half-page woodcuts (one in an oval) and two woodcut tailpieces, this chapbook contains the short story “The Sister's Gift” as well as the poem “My Mother.”  Be warned that this “bad” boy istruly a sociopath and that the details of his misdeeds are harrowing.

Publisher's advertisement on back wrapper for “penny books printed and sold by J. Kendrew.”

Provenance:  From the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  In printed yellow paper wrappers; removed from a nonce volume. Frontispiece and last leaf mounted on inside of covers as issued; a clean, nice copy.  (38467)

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“I leave you to guess — of course she said yes!”

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•  Our caption is the “happy ending” of “By the Margin of Zurich's Waters.”

Title woodcut vignette is of a sailing ship at sea, with “[No.] 58 ” printed at the foot.

•  Not in NSTC.   Removed from a nonce volume. Age-toning and overall browning. Spot of staining to upper inner corner of title-page, else clean.  (37153)

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“Laddie, oh leave me”

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•  The title woodcut vignette of this chapbook shows a man sharpening a scythe which is balanced on his shoulder.

“[No.] 50" printed at foot of title.

•  Very good. Unbound; removed.  (17486)

Favourites . . .

•  The title-page woodcut vignette shows a sailing ship at sea, with “[No.] 51" printed at the foot of the title.

•  NSTC 2S31172.   Removed from a nonce volume. Very clean, unworn copy. (16828)

More, Different “Favourites”

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a man dancing with one arm raised. No. “33" at foot of title.

A scarce songster; we were only able to locate the Minnesota copy.

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17485)

  Six popular songs.  Alice Gray. / England, Europe's glory. / A Light heart & thin pair of breeches. / The Braes of Busbie. / Waes me for Prince Charlie. / Scotland yet. Glasgow [Scotland]: Printed for the Booksellers, [18--]. 12mo. 8 pp.
$75.00

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a man with one arm raised. “[No.] 46" at the foot of title.

• The front edges of the title & second leaf are slightly chipped with darkening to the front edge of the title. Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17554)

The Wrapper Cut Promises Excitement
(Sons, SACRIFICED)

•  Woodcut title vignette of a man remonstrating with a knight in armor who is holding his sword upraised. Also with a woodcut border on the title. Includes the ballads “Bewick and Graham” [10 pages], “The Berkshire Lady's Garland” in four parts [10 pages], and “The Comic Tale of Margaret and the Minister” [4 pages].

“[No.] 102” is printed at the foot of the title.

•  The top margins of the pages are closely cropped & there is a tiny chip out of the top edge of one leaf, else very good. Original self wrappers ([unbound; removed).  (38496)

“Storys” — Spellbindings

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•  In the title story, “Prince Lupin and the White Cat” [11-1/2 pages], a king promises his throne to whichever of his three sons can bring him, first, the most beautiful dog, then a silk cloth that can be threaded through the eye of a needle, then the most beautiful lady in the kingdom. Prince Lupin, the youngest son, finds his way to an enchanted castle where a beautiful white cat, attended by a retinue of cats, rats and mice, gives him an acorn containing an exquisite little dog, and then a millet seed containing a 400-foot long silk cloth that threads easily through the eye of a needle. Finally, she persuades him to cut off her head and feet, whereupon she turns into a beautiful woman, thus assuring the prince of his inheritance — and possibly a rather interesting life.

The second story [9 pages] concerns the trials and eventual death of a princess who becomes betrothed against her will to a yellow dwarf, and the futile struggles of her lover, the King of the Golden Mines, with the Dwarf and the witch-like Desert Fairy to rescue her.

“[No.] 7” printed at foot of title. The title woodcut vignette is of two men pushing out a boat from the shore of a lake with an anchor and basket in the foreground and a castle in the background. Also illustrated with a decorative woodcut border on title & two tailpieces, one depicting the head & shoulders of king with a crown and halberd, the other showing two lovers sitting under a tree and a group of women dancing around a maypole.

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (38498)

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Childhood Amusements & Lessons — Charming & Intricate Illustration

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•  From “Teller's Amusing, Instructive, and Entertaining Tales” series, thefirst edition of this sweet story of domestic life in which seven children grow up in a country house in Connecticut, learning appropriate lessons and writing letters to one another via their in-house “post office.” Set near New Haven, CT, this chapbook was also printed there, and bears a wood-engraved vignette of theNew Haven Green (done by Lossino) on the title-page; it isillustrated with eight plates with central designs of family members at lessons or play both indoors and out, each surrounded by a complex frame composed of variable small renderings of amusements and equipment representing (only “for example”) archery, marbles, fishing, swinging, stilt-walking, boating, kite flying, jump-rope, tug-of-war, bubble-blowing, and — these last showing multiple games or exercises — gymnastics, hoops, and racquet sports including(??) lacrosse. The cover illustration is signed E[dward B.] Purcell.

This story is told by a girl narrator;  Mamma is the family botanist and its general natural historian, while handsome Papa takes care of the children's chemistry lessons and presents entertaining experiments with his “electrical machine.”

•  American Imprints 45-6531.   Publisher's charmingly printed tan paper wrappers; corners rubbed, sides with light staining, spine paper chipped. Plates age-toned; pages with light to moderate foxing and staining. This was not a “luxury” production but it was quite a nice one — appealing both textually and visually.  (41445)

A Trio of Tragedies

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•  Three Scots ballads with unhappy endings: The woodcut title-page vignette shows a young woman leaning against a gate, with “[No.] 22" printed at the foot of the title.

•  NSTC 2S31304.   Removed from a nonce volume. Clean and fresh; what shows in our image as possibly crumpling or tearing at the lower corner with some kind of loss is actually a temoine, a bit of extra paper left as witness of imperfect trimming, surviving because sometime folded up/in.  (17470)

Striking Cover Cut

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•  Woodcut title vignette of a large ship in full sail.

•  There is a piece out of the bottom margin of the second leaf, else very good. Original self wrappers [unbound; removed].  (17571)

A BALLAD “Babes in the Wood” —
(THAT Story Well Known; the Other NOT SO MUCH)

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a girl and a child watching a cock, hen and chickens. Six pages of this chapbook are devoted to the classic fairy tale told in ballad form. Disasters befall the wicked uncle who plans to kill the two orphaned babes for their wealth. One of his two hired murderers kills the other in a fit of remorse and promises to bring the children food. He never returns and they starve to death in the forest with only the robin redbreast to bury them. “[No.] 7” printed at the foot of the title.

“Lord Gregory” is an unhappy tale also!

•  The page edges are slightly darkened. Good. Original self wrappers (disbound, removed).  (17555)

  Two favourite songs.  Sheriff-Muir. / The Bonny boatman. Glasgow [Scotland] : Printed for the Booksellers, 18--] . 12mo. 8 pp.
$95.00

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•  Title woodcut vignette of a man in doublet and hose with a plumed helmet and sword. No. “29" at foot of title.

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17544)

“'Eternal God!' exclaimed the weeping father . . . ”

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•  This chapbook offers not a collection of “songs” buta single extended and indeed “interesting” tale of false appearances, workhouses, betrayed trust, and true love.

Its title-page bears an oval woodcut of a man and woman meeting on a country road.

•  NSTC 2V4202.   Removed from a bound volume. Good++ condition.  (37148)

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With a (Completely Unrelated?) Maritime Woodcut

•  Woodcut title vignette of two ships and billowing smoke; probably a naval battle, possibly being pursued with fire also from land.

•  First two leaves' fore-edges a little chipped, with fore-edge of second dust-soiled; very good, in original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (38495)

Well, SERVES HIM RIGHT!

•  A young nobleman seduces and murders an Oxford merchant's beautiful daughter, then takes to his bed and dies of guilt and despair. The title-page bears a woodcut vignette of a young woman in a bonnet and cloak leaning against a gate, with "[No.] 9." printed at the foot.

This edition not in NSTC.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Pages age-toned; one leaf with outer margin cropped closely. (16768)

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PROPHECIES

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•  Alexander Peden [1626?–86] was a Presbyterian minister at New Glenluce in Galloway, Scotland. This chapbook offers a synopsis of his life and details his prophecies. #115 in the chapbook series.

•  Removed from a bound volume. Top margin of title-page closely trimmed. Very good condition.  (37140)

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Not forLovers of Ye Kitty-cats

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•  The story, told in verse, of a gentlewoman driven from home by the cruelty of her father, who had wanted a son for his second child. Bundling up her fine clothes and jewellery, the young woman makes herself a garment out of cats' skins. She is taken into the household of a knight, whose handsome son falls in love with her when she puts on her fine clothes again to follow him to a ball.

“[No.] 16" printed at the foot of the title.

Scarce. 

•  Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (17591)

Learning about Animals & about Being Cheerfulat the Same Time

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•  From the “Buds and Blossoms” series: Fretful little Dora goes to the zoo with her Aunt Clara, and learns not to make troubles out of trifles. Elijah Whymper provided the cover design, the frontispiece camel, and at least one of the four interior illustrations.

Provenance:  From the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.

•  Publisher's printed salmon paper wrappers; light wear to extremities, paper just starting to split at foot of spine. A few spots of light foxing, pages otherwise generally clean (and entirely unmauled by childish hands). A very attractive copy.  (38462)

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Scots Verse from the Author-Illustrator of
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY

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•  A pair of poems about wandering peddlers and their gear (that is metaphorically to say, their burdens in life — primarily poverty and thwarted love), written in a heavy Scots dialect. The Scottish-born Wilson (1766–1813 ) was briefly a packman himself, before emigrating to America and achieving fame as an ornithologist. He first published The Loss of the Pack in 1795; the publication information for the present copy is suggested by WorldCat.

•  NSTC 2W24750.   Removed from a nonce volume. Pages age-toned. An unusual ephemeral literary item from the man known as the “Father of American ornithology.”  (37236)

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Paisley Imprint

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•  Two brothers from Fife both go to college. The “spruce” and popular Rab gets swollen-headed and drops his native Scots dialect: “He ca'd the Kirk the Church, the yirth the Globe / And chang'd his name, forsooth, frae Rab to Bob.” Rab becomes a gambler and a drunkard while the slower, less confidant Ringan applies himself to his books and becomes a minister. The moral of this tale: “That youthfu' diffidence is certain gain.” The tale is followed by a wonderfully wild and energetic plea to two young men to stop trying to saw lumber in the middle of a violent storm.  Originally published in Glasgow, in 1796.

•  NSTC 2W24752.   Removed from a volume. In self-wrappers. A very good copy.  (17492)

Blind Allan — Sight Lost & Restored

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•  Chapbook; “69” printed below “printed for the booksellers” on title-page. Wilson's “Lights and shadows” first appeared in 1822.

•  NSTC 2W25743.   Removed from a bound volume. Very good condition.  (37138)

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The Woodpecker Gets a Woodcut

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•  Woodcut title vignette of a bird in a tree. A Stirling imprint.

•  Closely trimmed along the top border affecting several of the page numerals. Very good. Original self wrappers (unbound; removed).  (38493)

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Trans-Oceanic Tragedy, 1789

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•  Young Sergeant Grigor is killed and scalped by Indians at Fort Niagara in America on 30 July 1759. Back home in Scotland his lover mourned; and “As she was a-weeping under the green oak, / He quickly past by her and not a word spoke, / Yet, shaking his left hand, where the ring he did wear, / It wanted a finger, and blood dropped there.” Soon after, the young lady died of grief.

No. “13” at foot of title.

•  Unbound; removed. Very Good (slightly darkened).  (37144)

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A “Lovely Indian” Organizes a RESCUE
(Also “Lisette & Login”)

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•  Uncommon early 19th–century edition of this popular tale in which English merchant Rodomond is attacked for having rooted out fraud on the part of native Bombay factory employees, but rescued by the titular Zoa — a fair maiden of half Indian and half French parentage, who is wholly willing to convert to Christianity and marry Rodomond. Following the main piece is the tragic story “Lisette and Login, an Affecting Russian Tale.”

The frontispiece, in which Zoa wears salwar kameez and a turban-style headwrap, was engraved by “S.D.” after a design by Robert Cruikshank, and gives the address on which we base our suggested publication date (Dean & Munday were located at 35 Threadneedle Street from 1808 until 1816, when they moved to 40 Threadneedle).

A search of WorldCat findsonly two U.S institutional holdings (Harvard, University of Pennsylvania) and one additional Canadian.

•  Removed from a nonce volume. Pages gently age-toned, frontispiece lightly foxed (showing primarily in margins), title-page with offsetting from frontispiece, two pages at back with small spot of staining in lower margins. A nice example of a seldom-seen printing. (41469)

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