Details
[MARTIN, Sarah Catherine (1768-1826)]. The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and her Dog. Second Edition. London: J. Harris, 1.t May 1806.
16° (124 x 98mm). 16 leaves, the sheet printed on one side. Engraved thoughout, title, author's dedication, 15 hand-coloured illustrations, the first on title, the second with 6-line verse above, the remainder each with 4-line verse. Original printed grey wrappers, common to Harris's Cabinet of Amusement and Instruction, woodcut of a stork after Bewick on front cover, mounted pink paper strip with letterpress title (small section torn off, affecting "her dog", priced in manuscript 1s. 6d. for the coloured issue.
The first edition of this enormously popular picture book had appeared in the previous year, several states of which are known. S. C. Martin expanded a traditional rhyme and illustrated it herself. She dedicated the work to John Pollexfen Bastard M.P. and the dedication copy survives. According to the publisher upwards of ten thousand copies were sold in a few months, but very few have survived. The plate for the second edition was re-engraved. All early states are EXTREMELY RARE. "This is probably the most significant children's book that John Harris ever published. It is the first sign of his encouragement of a new kind of nursery literature - amusing, pretty, and without any moral teaching whatever" (Moon p.96). FINE CONDITION. Moon H-5592); A & M 22.
16° (124 x 98mm). 16 leaves, the sheet printed on one side. Engraved thoughout, title, author's dedication, 15 hand-coloured illustrations, the first on title, the second with 6-line verse above, the remainder each with 4-line verse. Original printed grey wrappers, common to Harris's Cabinet of Amusement and Instruction, woodcut of a stork after Bewick on front cover, mounted pink paper strip with letterpress title (small section torn off, affecting "her dog", priced in manuscript 1s. 6d. for the coloured issue.
The first edition of this enormously popular picture book had appeared in the previous year, several states of which are known. S. C. Martin expanded a traditional rhyme and illustrated it herself. She dedicated the work to John Pollexfen Bastard M.P. and the dedication copy survives. According to the publisher upwards of ten thousand copies were sold in a few months, but very few have survived. The plate for the second edition was re-engraved. All early states are EXTREMELY RARE. "This is probably the most significant children's book that John Harris ever published. It is the first sign of his encouragement of a new kind of nursery literature - amusing, pretty, and without any moral teaching whatever" (Moon p.96). FINE CONDITION. Moon H-5592); A & M 22.