Illustrated with a great variety of examples from the best English poets; and of translations from the ancients: together with such reflections and critical remarks as may tend to form in our youth an elegant taste, and render the study of this part of the belles lettres more rational and pleasing.
Date of publication:
1762
Publisher:
J. Newbery
Place of publication:
London, at the Bible and Sun in St. Paul’s Church-yard
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
There are 2 volumes
-vol. 1 (1 illustration, viii, 16 unnumbered, 252 numbered pages)
-vol. 2 (title-page,382 pages)
Gold-leaf pages; Marbled paper inside the binding; It is a smaller, pocket-sized book.
CONTENT DESCRIPTION
Both volumes exist as eighteenth-century sources for the study of English literature–poetry, specifically. The intended audience is younger. It is an “educational text.” This is perhaps the reason it is well-worn (from consistent reference) and smaller (so it can be carried around).
BINDING
gold trim around the edges. Mostly plain, non-decorative. Binding is well worn on both volumes indicating the book was used often perhaps vigorously. Parts of the edges of the boards are chipped off. There are stains on the front and back boards. There is discoloration.
HERALDRY
The first bookplate has a Scottish coat of arms. Heraldry in Scotland was unique – each male family member is assigned variant coat of arms. This book belonged to Walter Thomas Wallace. The helmet indicates some sort of rank or achievement. Below the helm sits a shield, blazoned with a lion; the stripes on the shield’s border is a mark of cadency used to distinguish the owner from other sons in the family. Above the helm sits a crest. After Wallace, the book was owned by R.B. Adam (red bookplate)
“Other” provenance in these photos?
The marbled paper on both volumes is torn.
JOHN NEWBERY (1713-1767)
He was called “the Father of Children’s Literature.” Made printing children’s literature sustainable and profitable; he was also a patron of Oliver Goldsmith.
OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1730-1774)
Anglo-Irish essayist, poet, and playwright.
SIGNIFICANCE?
Newbery helped establish a market for children’s literature in bookselling. ‘The art of poetry’ reflects changing attitudes about children and education in the eighteenth century. Why were these attitudes changing? Some attribute it to the rise of the British middle-class – they had more money and time to spend on their children.
OTHER PROVENANCE NOTES
-Penciled-in number “#17070” on both volumes; other pencil marks sparsely throughout
-A gold seal of on scrap paper at before title-page
-Library of the University of Illinois* stamped
-Blue library code printed in both volumes
– What seems like grease stains are splattered throughout both volumes- bleeding through the pages
-Ink stains on 106-107 of volume 1 – they appear a few other pages to a lesser extent, too.
-There is a portion of the page that seemingly burned off/was spilled.
– What seems like grease stains are splattered throughout both volumes- bleeding through the pages
