CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

£1,900 · Offered by Peter Harrington · No longer available

The renowned history of Primrose Prettyface, Third and most extensively illustrated edition of this rags-to-riches moral tale for young readers, well-preserved in the original publisher's binding. It is decorated throughout with characterful woodcuts. The tale follows a familiar, Cinderella-style narrative. The protagonist is born to humble but honest circumstances, proves her virtues during tribulations, and is rewarded for her efforts with marriage to a wealthy nobleman. However, aspects of this seemingly timeless story situate it in the world of the late 18th century. As rationalism had become a widespread philosophy, the heroine is not aided by magical intervention, but owes her successes to consistent, diligent attention to her lessons. This trait is shared by the protagonists of the several inset stories. Primrose Prettyface also functions as promotional material for the publishers, as books are shown to be essential material for the virtue of studiousness. John Marshall and Co. were an enterprising firm, who built a reputation for themselves as the dominant children's book producers of their day. In 1789, they opened a "retail bookshop specialising in children's publications" (Stoker, p. 86) at 17 Queen Street, where Primrose Prettyface was sold.We have traced just 12 copies in institutional libraries worldwide.

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