COUSIN GRACE'S PRETTY STORY BOOKS NO. 4: NURSERY RHYMES

Lowell [Massachusetts]: J. Merrill, 1850. Very good.. First edition of this scarce little collection of illustrated nursery rhymes, including classics like Little Miss Muffet and Bah Bah Black Sheep. "Children are naturally destructive," observes A. S. W. Rosenbach, "and from time immemorial have realized that the purpose of books was to provide them with a 'feast' of reason [...] the wonder is that and specimens of early American children's books are in existence today" (xxvii). This title is an excellent example of the scarcity that comes as a result of young readers: OCLC locates no holdings, and there are no others on the market. 3.5'' x 2.25''. Original pink pictorial wrapper, saddle-stitched. Eight woodcut illustrations. VIII pages. Wrapper with a bit of soil, slightly tender to spine. Leaves with scattered soil. A sound copy of an ephemeral work.