Early American Children's Books, by A.S.W. Rosenbach, With Bibliographical Descriptions of the Books in His Private Collection; foreword by A. Edward Newton

Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1933. Quarto. (10 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches). [vi]-lix, [2]-354, [4] pp. Illustrated with numerous plates, some in colour. One of 88 copies on Zerkall Halle paper, numbered LXVII. Signed by Rosenbach. Publisher’s full blue morocco, boards blind-decorated, spine with raised bands forming six compartments, blind-tooled and lettered gilt, top edge gilt, uncut. Within original, velvet-lined slipcase, original paper label. A fine copy

The rare Deluxe signed first edition of an important bibliography of early American children's books: 816 books described in detail, with notes about their place in the firmament of (truncated) American juvenile literature.

Rosenbach, a towering figure in the world of rare books and manuscripts, brings his unmatched expertise and passion to this comprehensive exploration of children's books published in America prior to 1821. The work details the origins and development of early American children's literature, tracing its evolution from simple moral primers to imaginative and engaging storytelling. Lavishly produced, the book features a wealth of facsimile illustrations of title pages, engravings, and woodcuts from rare and significant works, capturing the charm and historical significance of these early publications. Rosenbach's meticulous bibliographic descriptions and insightful commentary offer invaluable context for understanding the cultural, educational, and artistic contributions of these works.

Wolf 389. (Inventory #: 42038)