The History of Almira. Designed to Show the Advantages of a Good Education. By A Youth
- New Hampshire , 1815
New Hampshire, 1815. Good. 3 3/8” x 2”. Boards. Pp. v, [6-]68. Good: front board nearly detached; only remnants of paper over boards; old tape to rear; penultimate leaf printed askew, causing the loss of one line of text; lightly spotted throughout with a few tiny dog ears. Bookplate and penciled signature of former owner to front pastedown.
This is a delightful miniature children's storybook about the education of a young woman named Almira, published and printed by New Hampshire notables and previously owned by a woman in the state.
The anonymous author's preface acknowledged that “It is not my wish to divert the attention of my young readers from their useful books, by putting another into their hands, but, to encourage them in reading more attentively . . .” And if the story was to seem “too trifling to my older readers, let them remember, that they too were once young and were pleased with trifles.”
The text concerned young Almira's “parentage,” “disposition and manners” and how her obedience, “love for study” and “progress in learning” led to her enjoying a “useful” life: “her manners agreeable,” “her mind serene” and ultimately, “her death lamented.” She was said to “treat all classes of people with decency and kindness” and that “less disturbances filled her mind, than are usual with the illiterate and idle.” All this to suggest that “your happiness in this life depends chiefly on your behavior . . . and a strict attention to your book, now while you are young, will certainly make you wise.”
The book's printer, George Hough, put out Concord, New Hampshire's first newspaper in 1790 and the state's first religious newspaper in 1819. Publisher Jason Lothrop was a New Hampshire school teacher who wrote and published several books of poems and hymns. He later became a pastor and founded the first Baptist church and first printing press in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The book holds the bookplate of a woman, Lucy P. Knowlton, who lived from 1808 to 1891 in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, as well as her later signature as Lucy P. Bailey.
A fairly uncommon and charming work for children. OCLC shows 14 holdings of the physical book over two entries.
This is a delightful miniature children's storybook about the education of a young woman named Almira, published and printed by New Hampshire notables and previously owned by a woman in the state.
The anonymous author's preface acknowledged that “It is not my wish to divert the attention of my young readers from their useful books, by putting another into their hands, but, to encourage them in reading more attentively . . .” And if the story was to seem “too trifling to my older readers, let them remember, that they too were once young and were pleased with trifles.”
The text concerned young Almira's “parentage,” “disposition and manners” and how her obedience, “love for study” and “progress in learning” led to her enjoying a “useful” life: “her manners agreeable,” “her mind serene” and ultimately, “her death lamented.” She was said to “treat all classes of people with decency and kindness” and that “less disturbances filled her mind, than are usual with the illiterate and idle.” All this to suggest that “your happiness in this life depends chiefly on your behavior . . . and a strict attention to your book, now while you are young, will certainly make you wise.”
The book's printer, George Hough, put out Concord, New Hampshire's first newspaper in 1790 and the state's first religious newspaper in 1819. Publisher Jason Lothrop was a New Hampshire school teacher who wrote and published several books of poems and hymns. He later became a pastor and founded the first Baptist church and first printing press in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The book holds the bookplate of a woman, Lucy P. Knowlton, who lived from 1808 to 1891 in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, as well as her later signature as Lucy P. Bailey.
A fairly uncommon and charming work for children. OCLC shows 14 holdings of the physical book over two entries.
Details
Title
The History of Almira. Designed to Show the Advantages of a Good Education. By A Youth
Condition
Good
Publisher
New Hampshire
Date
1815