Mother Goose's quarto of nursery rhymes Old Mother Goose to all good children greeting.

New York: McLoughlin Bros. Publishers, 1858. MOTHER GOOSE. New York: McLoughlin Bros. Publishers, [n.d.c.a. 1858-1867].

Publishing date taken from McLoughlin Bros “List of Toy Books” catalog dated 1867. “Mother Goose Old Style” is listed on page 9 of this catalog, and noted as having 48 pages. The American Antiquarian Society states about this item “[not before 1858?]... McLoughlin Bros. was first listed in the New York city directory published in 1858; the firm was active in New York until its sale to Milton Bradley in 1920. Wood engravings and typography are characteristic of the 1850s and 1860s.” They also list two variants, one in yellow (truncated) wrappers and one in pink wrappers (as is present copy). Present copy done not include the address for McLoughlin at 30 Beekman St. on front wrapper as does later issues of this title.

Small quarto (5 x 4 1/8 inches; 127 x 105 mm). 48 pp. With McLoughlin Bros advertisement for “54 Kinds if One Cent Toy Books...” on back wrapper. Current title is not listed in this advertisement. With 94 engraved illustrations. We could only find one copy at auction in over 40 years and it was incomplete.

Original illustrated pink wrappers, printed in red and black. Some minor creasing and dust soiling to front wrapper. A tiny corner repair to inside front wrapper. Overall about fine.

This early Mother Goose collection includes familiar rhymes such as “Hey Diddle Diddle”, “Jack and Jill” and “Little Jack Horner.”

HBS 68450.

$500. (Inventory #: 68450)