The second of two early children's books this week--both special ones, found at the Deerfield show as part of New Hampshire Antiques week. The title page here appears to be missing but I know this copy of Infantine Knowledge, published by C.S. Francis & Co, Boston, dates to 1850 or so, and it too is a rare one. I fell in love with the alphabets at front, including the dark red on the partially (and emphatically!) hand-painted one, and especially the two pages of "letters promiscuously arranged" --my favorite kind! (I'd be pretty tempted to frame up one of those.) With good words and lessons throughout, plus frequent full page engravings featuring four images per: bears and books, ears and eagles, hands and harps, etc, a few hand-painted. And tucked into the pages, a letter dated 1871 on Salem, MA Jail letterhead--"from the jailor's office!--addressed to Joseph Lord. It seems to report that the sender has been sick but will call in a few days and looks to me to say that he wants a bow and "am willing to give all it is worth"??? I am sure there is an interesting story there to dig into, but for me just the Jail letterhead itself is pretty cool, particularly given the history of Salem, MA!
5 3/4" x 4 1/2", 96 pages. Wear to the wrapper as evident, flagging to upper right corners, and some toning and stains, but interior pages in overall pretty good antique condition, and a charmer of a thing.
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