Peter Parley's Universal history on the basis of geography. For the use of families. Illustrated by maps . [SAMUEL GRISWOLD GOODRICH, NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE & ELIZABETH MANNING HAWTHORNE] Publication Date: 1849

Title: Peter Parley's Universal history on the ...

Publisher: London : William Tegg & Co.

Publication Date: 1849

Binding: Hardcover

Book Condition: Very Good

Edition: 5th Edition

xii, 561 pages, 2 pages of publisher's adverts. 2 unnumbered leaves of steel engraved plates (frontispiece and engraved title-page) : illustrations, maps. Original yellow endpapers. All edges gilt. Ink ownership inscription dated 1907 on verso of front free endpaper (some very light foxing on first few leaves). 12 x 14.5 cm. Original ruby ribbed cloth with blind embossed borders and elaborate gilt centrepiece featuring birds, butterflies & garlands of flowers around an architectural form. Spine has a central figure of a girl, reading a book, and with her dog at her side, embossed in gilt with elaborate gilt decoration surrounds. Corners slightly rubbed or worn, otherwise in very good condition (particularly for a children's book nearly 175 years old). Originally prepared for S.G. Goodrich by Nathaniel Hawthorne and his sister Elizabeth, see Goodrich, S.G. Recollections, 1856 v. 2, p. 541 (footnote) and 544. Nathaniel Hawthorne's four major novels were written between 1850 and 1860: The Scarlet Letter (1850), The House of the Seven Gables (1851), The Blithedale Romance (1852) and The Marble Faun (1860). In 1827, Samuel Goodrich introduced his soon-to-be-famous character, Peter Parley, an elderly, quirky, but also lovable old Bostonian who enjoys telling stories to children. With his gouty foot and crooked hat, Parley became so popular that other children's writers attempted to copy his likeness. By 1856, seven million copies of Goodrich's books had been sold and about three hundred thousand volumes were being marketed annually around the world. Goodrich's books were meant to be instructive: "The design of this little work is to convey to children, under the guise of amusement, the first ideas of Geography and History". WorldCat locates 5 copies in the UK. In unusually good condition. Seller Inventory # 5162