New and Comprehensive Lessons; Containing a General Outline of Antient History; with Forty Engravings
London: Printed for J. Harris, 1817. Twelvemo, measuring 5.25 x 3.25 inches: vi, 7-232 (erratically paginated). Full contemporary sheep, spine ruled in gilt, woodcut vignettes throughout text. Early ownership signatures to flyleaf and advertisement page, a few ink and pencil annotations, early marginal repairs to pages 63 and 109. Light shelfwear.
Early nineteenth-century edition of educator Sarah Trimmer’s illustrated pocket guide to ancient history for young readers, issued in various formats since the 1780s. Crude woodcuts depicting highlights of the Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires are accompanied by pointed lessons: “little Spartans were never allowed to say they could not eat fat, or to ask for nice bits; but they ate whatever was provided for them, even if it was only broth as black as soot; for they ran and jumped about a great deal in the open air, and had hard exercises to perform, which gave them an appetite for any thing.” Gumuchian 5628, Moon 918(3). A very good copy, in a contemporary binding.
Price: $250.00